Beware - 1

Jesus is Master, Teacher, Leader and Saviour. He is not just their Master, but He is living with His disciples and they are living with Him. They walk in the world, where He walks and experience the world as He also experiences it. For example, Jesus knows all that His disciples are facing, all the open, subtle and hidden evils, living and thriving around them. As Teacher, Lord and Master, Jesus knows what to teach, when to teach it and how to teach it. He is our same Teacher Jesus, in Spirit. He knows what we need to know, when, where and why.

We listen to Jesus as He instructs His disciples on leaven, or yeast of their leaders. Then He charged them saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. Mark 8: 15. To the disciples, this came so suddenly, so unexpectedly, so out of character with what was going on at that moment, they completely had it all wrong.

Think of it! They had just come from witnessing Pharisees disputing with their Master, testing Him and really trying their best to give Him a hard time. They were hounding Him to give them a sign from heaven, if He were truly from heaven. They grieved Jesus to the point where He sighed deeply in the Spirit. These disciples have left all that behind and have got into a boat with Jesus, and sailed way over to the other side. It is here, on the other side of all that had transpired that Jesus charges them, telliing them solemnly and seriously, to take heed and beware.

The Holy Spirit of Truth has also taken us away to the other side, the other side of all that has transpired in our lives thus far, and has brought this warning to us, right now. The Spirit of Truth teaches us the things of Jesus and we too are called to take heed, and to be aware. In other words, to heed is one thing, but unless you are aware, you are left still in deep danger of the unhelpful, dangerous teachings that are being offered by spiritual leaders and secular leaders.

O Holy Spirit, show us how to take heed and how to be aware, for there is not one without the other. Make us take this as a matter of our spiritual health and help. Let us guard our spiritual growth and maturity in You. Show us how to fear truth, for You, Holy Spirit, are Truth. Grant us sound learning, as we surrender and acquiesce to Your will and way. Holy Spirit, You never leave us up to the ruthless, reckless and unrighteous pseudo-teachings of the unwise. Thank You Father, for You are faithful to Truth. It is not Your delight that Your people, Your followers, Your Church, be trapped by falsity. Holy Spirit, thank You for teaching us and showing us. Keep us ever mindful and ever shunning all evil, in Your Invincible Name. Amen!

Jesus has exposed truth before us in some mighty, clear light. This is truth about the leaders who rule. Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. Let’s go slowly here. Jesus has just made us fully aware of some needed truths.

We face the teaching or leaven, from two kinds of names, or titles. There is teaching that comes from those who carry the name or title of Pharisee. There is teaching that comes from the one who carries the name or title of Herod.

Take heed, beware! Names and titles of both kinds are deceiving. Be very aware!

We face teaching or leaven, from two kinds of leaders. There are the Spiritual leaders of law, the Pharisees, and there is the Secular leader of law, Herod. The Pharisees are versed in the law of God and uphold the laws and the prophets without fail. They live by the law and the works of law. Herod is versed in the law of the land and upholds Caesar and the Roman laws without fail. He lives by the law and the works of law.

Take heed, beware! Leaders of both kinds are misguiding. Be very astute!

We complete this tomorrow.