Conclusion of The Loaves And The Leaven

Having in mind his recent encounter with the Pharisees and the Sadducean supporters of Herod, Jesus admonishes: "Keep your eyes open, look out for the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." Evidently the mention of leaven makes the disciples think that Jesus is referring to their forgetting to bring bread, so they begin to argue about the matter. Noting their misunderstanding, Jesus says: "Why do you argue over your having no loaves?"

Recently, Jesus had miraculously provided for thousands of people, performing this last miracle perhaps only a day or two before. They should know that he is not concerned about a lack of literal loaves. "Do you not remember," he reminds them, "when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand men, how many baskets full of fragments you took up?" "Twelve, they reply.

"Why I broke the seven for the four thousand men, how many provision baskets full of fragments did you take up?" "Seven, they answer.

"Do you not yet get the meaning?" Jesus asks. "How is it you do not discern that I did not talk to you about loaves? But watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

The disciples finally get the point. Leaven, a substance to cause fermentation and made bread rise, was a word used to denote corruption. So now the disciples understand that Jesus is using a symbolism, that he is warning them to be on guard against "the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees," which teaching has a corrupting effect. Mark 8:1-21; Matthew 15:32-16:12.

Next time: Who Really Is Jesus?

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived,1991