Our paragraph topic is: (The leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees) Part 3.
The disciples argued among themselves. They argued. They were angry. They opened their hearts to evil thoughts. They were misled. They were becoming infected by the leaven of the Pharisees and yet they did not know. They did not understand. They did not see what was happening. They forgot the miracles that were given them. They had no true belief in the one who stood before them and warned them of the things that were taking place in their presence. Christ called them. Christ accused them. Christ warned them that they might see the truth. Yet they argued over something as petty as to who forgot to bring the bread, even though they had the bread maker in their presence.
It was not the fact that they did not bring bread. It was not the fact that they had to accuse someone of being negligent. It was not the fact that they were angered among themselves. It was the fact that evil was creeping in among them and they could not see it coming. They were unable to understand. They had forgotten the subtlety of its coming. Christ had to call their attention to what was happening. Christ had to teach them. He had to show them. He had to remind them of what was happening now. They had witnessed the miracles take place before their eyes to feed thousands and yet they argued over not having bread when they had the bread maker before them. Christ had to remind them so that they would understand and see how they were being affected by the leaven. He told them: "Do you not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves among five thousand men, and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves among four thousand, and how many large baskets you took up?"
The disciples argued among themselves. They argued. They were angry. They opened their hearts to evil thoughts. They were misled. They were becoming infected by the leaven of the Pharisees and yet they did not know. They did not understand. They did not see what was happening. They forgot the miracles that were given them. They had no true belief in the one who stood before them and warned them of the things that were taking place in their presence. Christ called them. Christ accused them. Christ warned them that they might see the truth. Yet they argued over something as petty as to who forgot to bring the bread, even though they had the bread maker in their presence.
It was not the fact that they did not bring bread. It was not the fact that they had to accuse someone of being negligent. It was not the fact that they were angered among themselves. It was the fact that evil was creeping in among them and they could not see it coming. They were unable to understand. They had forgotten the subtlety of its coming. Christ had to call their attention to what was happening. Christ had to teach them. He had to show them. He had to remind them of what was happening now. They had witnessed the miracles take place before their eyes to feed thousands and yet they argued over not having bread when they had the bread maker before them. Christ had to remind them so that they would understand and see how they were being affected by the leaven. He told them: "Do you not yet understand, nor remember the five loaves among five thousand men, and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves among four thousand, and how many large baskets you took up?"
Just as Christ taught his disciples then, he is teaching us now. Have we forgotten? Do we not understand? The leaven is among us and is working every minute, every second of our lives. It is like a plague, a cold, the flu. It will spread and infect all. We must be on our guard less we forget, less our memory is blinded, less our sight is taken away. For the evil one wants to turn us away from the truth that is before us. He wants us to forget the times when we were down and had no one to turn to. He wants us to forget when Christ answered our prayers and picked us up from the depths of our despair. The leaven wants us to call the miracles that have happened in our lives, mere circumstances. The leaven wants to bring chaos, fear, doubt, frustration, anger, hatred, hopelessness and all the other emotions that will open the door for evil to come into our hearts.
Let us not forget the times when we were in need and he performed a miracle to help us. We did not see it as a miracle but our prayers were answered. We were helped. Add it up to circumstances but God is the circumstance in our lives. He watches over us. He provides for us. He heals us. He forgives us because he loves us so much and does not want to see us suffer the fate that was made for the fallen angels and the evil one. Beware the leaven, it will infect. Beware the leaven, it will blind your memory. Beware the leaven it will open the door to evil. Beware the leaven, it will change you. Remember all the things that have happened in your life, brought you to Christ that he might save you. Come, receive the Holy Spirit and live the life of truth. For once you know who you are, there is no turning back.
Read the signs of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in!
