Matthew 16:12 KJV A Little Leaven

Matthew 16:12 KJV
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 

Verses one through twelve are taken up completely with both the Pharisees and Sadducees who, though nearly opposite in doctrine and philosophy, united in their opposition to Christ. The passage ends with Christ warning them that the doctrines of both are like leaven.

Albert Barnes writes:
“Erroneous doctrines are like leaven in the following respects:

1. They are at first slight and unimportant in appearance, just as leaven is small in quantity as compared with the mass that is to be leavened.
2. They are insinuated into the soul unawares and silently, and are difficult of detection.
3. They act gradually.
4. They act most certainly.
5. They will pervade all the soul, and bring all the faculties under their control.”

I am here interested in that, though on opposite ends of the doctrinal spectrum, Jesus calls both leaven. It teaches us that it does not matter if a person is extremely right or extremely left. What matters is that a person is doctrinally correct. It doesn’t even matter that a person finds balance, common ground between the two, what matters is that a person has the correct relationship with Jesus Christ.

Leaven is an insidious thing. It can seem harmless. A little may even seem desirable. But leaven is never satisfied unless and until it leavens the whole lump.

We need no leaven. We need Christ.

To my reader:
It is so easy for us to get off on one doctrinal “leaven” or another. Are you staying Christ centered? I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.

For this and more than 3000 earlier Daily Visits with God visit Marvin McKenzie’s blogger page. There you will find daily visits going back to 2006.

Matthew 16:12 KJV A Little Leaven

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