There's a story in Matthew's Gospel that has been playing over and over in my head since we covered it this past Sunday. There's something about its simplicity that really just cuts me. The story is brief. It's a quick little encounter - but I keep finding myself caught up in it.
Its the story of Jesus and His disciples crossing back over from one side of Galilee on to the other (Matt. 16:5-12). They had all just left behind a very tense disagreement between Jesus and the religious leaders of Israel, but they had also just seen Jesus' great and miraculous display of power as He fed over 4,000 hungry families with just a few loaves of bread and some fish. Apparently, the disciples had forgotten to gather up some of that bread and bring it with them on their trek across the lake. They were concerned.
Jesus begins to teach them: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" I imagine Him in the boat re-playing His argument with the Jewish religious leaders over and over in His head. Like those times after a huge disagreement at work or at home; walking away muttering incomprehensibly as you think of what you should or shouldn't have said. I imagine Jesus in the boat, quiet and reflective as He travels with His disciples across the calm wavy sea. "Careful," He tells them, "guard yourselves against what you just saw."
Then, the camera turns towards the disciples. Now, I really find this part of the story hilarious. You can picture Jesus finally emerging from His contemplation. He's ready now to teach them what has been on His heart since they've left for their journey. Words of wisdom. Bam! There it is, out there for the disciples. And what's their response? "Guys, guys! He knows about the bread! Quick what do we do? What do we say?"
There's something so absolutely ridiculous about their response, so absurd that it doesn't even actually make sense logically in response to what Jesus is saying. The only thing in common between the two is bread. Right over the disciples' heads go Jesus' words. Whoosh! *insert hand gesture of palm flying over the head here*
They're so concerned about the stupid bread that they've filtered everything Jesus is trying to teach them through their concerned preoccupation. Interesting.
So here, Jesus turns to them as patiently as possible: "Seriously? ... I just fed 4,000 people with almost no bread, I fed 5,000 earlier on in the month from almost no bread ... here's a hint; I GOT THE BREAD COVERED!!! GIVE IT A REST!!! That's not what I'm talking about! I'm talking about what you just saw on the other side of the lake. Don't be like the Pharisees and Sadducees. They're like leaven and if you accept a bit of their teaching it will puff you up and it will ruin you."
And all the disciples go - "Ahhhhhhhh! Gotcha Jesus!" Light bulb. Bing! We have a winner. And so the story ends.
-----
Now, two things from the story have stuck out to me and I haven't been able to shake them from my mind since.
First off, Jesus' words: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." This leaven was their teaching. This smug, self-righteous attitude of demand. Jesus, prove yourself to us and if you don't you couldn't possibly be who you say you are; you couldn't possibly be the Christ, the Son of God. There is this attitude in the Pharisees and the Sadducees, this heart of 'well we've exhausted all there is to know about God so its our job to judge you in light of all this knowledge.' Judgmental, skeptical, doubtful etc. This was their attitude. What's more, they cloaked this attitude behind religious language and debate. This apparently made it ok for them?
No, Jesus cuts to the heart of that all. Do not judge, lest you wish to be judged. He cuts into the self-righteous behavior of these Pharisees and Sadducees. But what's even more interesting is the fact that He recognizes the possibility for even His own disciples to adopt that attitude and teaching in their walk with Him. They are in step with the Divine as they walk with Jesus - Jesus says careful lest you are puffed up as the Pharisees and Sadducees. Watch your pride. I am with you graciously - not meritoriously. Beware of the leaven.
The second thing that stands out to me - and this is what I find so absolutely insightful about the story - is that the disciples were so preoccupied with the small, mundane issue of the lack of bread that they missed out on what Jesus was teaching them. Their preoccupation with the small things of life caused them to miss out on what God in Jesus was teaching them!
Isn't this us? Don't we find ourselves worrying about such petty things that in the larger scale picture of our walk with Jesus, we miss out on what He's trying to share with us and teach us? Don't we look absurd and silly as we worry amongst ourselves over the next exam, the next pay-check, the next _________ while Jesus all the while is saying: "Here's a hint; I GOT THE
BREAD COVERED!!! GIVE IT A REST!!!" We worry about all these things, we preoccupy ourselves with the bread in our lives' and in all that preoccupation we filter out Jesus and what He is trying to teach us.
So, not only beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees - beware of the heart of worry and worldly preoccupation. He clothes the lilies, he will clothe you. Resign your worry in the heart of prayer.
-----
It was a good Sunday in so far as I learned these lessons. I hope and pray we all can learn from this simple story; a journey with Jesus and His disciples.
//ExProfundis//
