J46 21st Century Leaven

Matthew 16:5 & 12 "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees...[speaking of their teachings]."

Jerome: "[Heresy], if it tosses even a tiny spark into your heart, in a short time a huge flame grows beneath and draws to itself a person's entire substance."

Reflection: Pharisees were false teachers -- that is , they distorted the Law of Moses and the Prophets, in much the same way that Satan distorts God's word to this very day. Why would they do that?

Pharisees wanted to be recognized as holier than others. They did not want others to follow their teachings; that would have eliminated their status as "better persons." No, they wanted others to feel guilt and shame -- the shame, that is, of NOT being like the Pharisees claimed to be.

"For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2)

Society today -- both religious and secular --is suffering a plague worse than locusts. Worse than Pharisees. It is the pestilence of "Virtue Signaling." Self-righteousness in modern clothes. I'm more "woke" than you, because I see wrong where you do not.

"If you disagree with me, you must be morally bankrupt!"

Don't criticize Islam, even though it condones chattel slavery to this day, even though it degrades women, even though it can not condemn unprovoked violence. Don't condemn sexual aberrations, even though they destroy the family (and eventually, society). Don't condemn other cultures, even though they may be brutal. Don't bring literacy to primitive people, lest it destroy their cultural heritage. Don't praise the achievements of America, because it was founded only through compromise. Apologize for the sins of earlier society -- even though we have never embraced their ethos. Don't condemn the pathologies which destroy civic life in our cities, it would make the residents feel bad.

Sorry. I could go on. And on. How many institutions have been brought low by this poison, this leaven?

As for me, and my house...

Father God, help me see truth. Help me rest in your righteousness. My own is filthy in my eyes, and in yours. Clothe me in the clean robe of Jesus' righteousness. He died that I might come before you and be seen not as I am, but as you intended me to be. Let the churches who teach leaven, fall. Let the Pharisees be revealed for the hypocrites and deceivers they are.

(1) Ancient Christian Commentary, NT Vol Ib, Simonetti, ED, IVP 2001. Jerome's Commentary on Matthew 2.16.6-12.

(2) 2 Corinthians 3:6b

4/5/2020