The Yeast of the Pharisees
- In Mark 8:14f Jesus will warn his disciples of the Yeast of the Pharisees.
- This is it
- i.e. yesterday’s reading where Jesus pointed to the double standards of the Pharisees
- They claimed to fulfil the law by keeping to its demands only technically.
- Not what God really wanted.
- They granted divorce, where in Genesis God speaks of the sacredness of Marriage
- They claimed to fulfil the law, with taking advantages of loopholes to get out of it.
- They were not fully committed to God
- They were riding with their feet in two different boats.
- They were negating the Shema
- e. the command to love God fully
- with ones heart mind and soul
- What Jesus is showing them here is to critically think
- Not get carried away with what is taught
- To search scripture
- And discover the truth for self.
- If what comes from the heart is what defiles
- What then does make us whole?
- God
- And us engaging him with
- All our heart, mind and soul.
- The Jews called this the Great Shema
- Let us then study the word of God
- Sit at his feet
- Live how he challenges us to live.
- And be transformed.
