Happy Fourth of July week!
Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans as we celebrate the freedoms that God has given us! When you celebrate, are there specific foods and activities that come to your mind? Do you enjoy fireworks, sparklers, hotdogs, watermelon, corn on the cob, grilling and strawberry shortcake? Do you have any food allergies or sensitivities of which you should be mindful?
In our modern living, many of us have a variety of allergies and food intolerances. To this end, it’s not uncommon to hear that someone has a peanut allergy, a sensitivity to crawfish or seafood, lactose intolerance and lots more. In relation to gluten, I have lots of friends who have mostly eliminated gluten from their diets, and they tell me that they feel lots better.
As I’ve been thinking about the gluten thing, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew 16:6, “… ‘Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Leaven is a synonym for yeast which is an ingredient used to make bread, since it partners well with wheat. When Jesus’ disciples heard His directive about leaven / yeast, Pharisees and Sadducees, they misunderstood what He was talking about. Initially, they thought He was unhappy because they forgot to bring bread for their journey.
After some clarification in the next few verses, His disciples came to understand that Jesus meant that they should be careful about, “. . . the deceptive teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (NLT)
Jesus’ warning about the teachings of these religious leaders came as a result of these leaders trying to trap Him and challenge His authority. Indeed, throughout the Gospels, they used manipulation, power plays, crowd pressure, legalism, traditions of elders, Torah particulars, religious zealotry and political alliances to challenge Jesus, repeatedly. They debated with Jesus on a variety of subjects ranging from hand washing, Sabbath compliance, neighbor definitions, unsavory friendships, miracles, punishment for sinners and lots more. In reply, Jesus condemned the Jewish leadership for straining a gnat and swallowing a camel, along with lots of other criticisms in Matthew 23.
If we think about Jesus talking with us today, considering the deceptive teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, what could that mean to us? I’d suggest that the best answer to this question is to read through Matthew 23 where Jesus specifically calls out the erroneous practices of the Jewish leaders and repeatedly zeroes in on the issues of the heart.
Externally, these leaders look pious, upstanding, righteous and dutiful. Internally, they were filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. They could do and say things that seemed right, justifying their choices with clever arguments and tweaks from the Mosaic Law and the traditions of elders. But they lacked compassion, forgiveness, love, faithfulness and justice – Matthew 23:23. Their religious practices and demands were harsh, controlling, constrictive and demanding.
In thinking about avoiding the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, let’s pay attention to our hearts, motives, insecurities and perceptions. Very often these things can influence and control our words and choices, if we aren’t keeping God’s love as the defining essential in our lives. Let’s choose to live free from the shackles of religious deceptions as we celebrate our nations independence this week!
