WARNING: The desire to belong and to be accepted is a deterrent to a Christian. "I've never heard anything like that before," the murmurings of any who listen to the words of Jesus. His unique understanding and instruction conveyed the way for lost, dead men to live; ironically, it costs your life. "Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow me." It's lonely. It's difficult. It's fraught with persecution. It's change. It upsets the status quo! It's repentance. It's worth it!

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Ch 44: Jesus Warns Against The Teachings Of The Pharisees And Sadducees

Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-21

WHEN JESUS had left the Pharisees and Sadducees to whom he had refused a sign, he embarked, with his disciples, to cross the sea.

            The disciples forgot to take food with them. There was only one loaf in the ship.

            Jesus said to them:

            “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

            His disciples reasoned the meaning of this among themselves, thinking:

            “It is because we have taken no bread.”

            Jesus knew what they were thinking and said:

            “Why reason ye because ye have no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? And do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?”

            The disciples answered:

            “Twelve.”

            Then Jesus asked:

            “And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?”

            They answered:

            “Seven.”

            Then Jesus said to them:

            “How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?”

            So they understood that Jesus did not bid them beware of the leaven of bread but of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.