He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Mark 8:15 NABRE
Jesus is warning His disciples about being influenced by the Pharisees (religious leadership) and Herod (political leadership.) Jesus uses leaven to represent something small having a great impact as leaven in dough. Religious and political authorities can have great influence on the lives of people in their sphere of influence. These authorities try to poison the mind of those following Jesus, influencing them away from Jesus’ teachings to support their own view. Jesus is a Rabbi who is hands on with His disciples, He leads and protects them against bad influences. Each of us as followers of Jesus should be associated with a fellowship community, a church, a community that has Jesus at the heart. In each of these communities we should have a local pastor, a spiritual leader representing and pointing to Jesus. We have entered a technological era where pastors, scriptural authorities, biblical scholars have a larger reach then their own community, through YouTube and other social media platforms. Using these mediums they expand their influence. Jesus is warning us to be careful, guard against the leaven of these leaders. We can hear them lead us to “non-negotiable” Christian issues eliminating followers rather than uniting.
The local church, our local community should have a pastor we know and who knows us. Jesus’ most important message is unity (see John 17:20-23.) Without unity people will not know Jesus was sent for us. Today’s popular religious leaders and political leaders use divisiveness to influence and when they do they undermine the message of Jesus. Listen to your local pastor, avoid today’s Pharisees and Herod’s.
Who is your pastor? Do you allow social media Christian influencers to impact you?
Today's popular religious leaders and political leaders use divisiveness to influence and when they do they undermine the message of Jesus. Listen to your local pastor, avoid today's Pharisees and Herod's. Share on X#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #leaven #youtube #Mark #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways