The Flip Side

“Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?””

In the passage we just read, we see Jesus compare teaching to leaven. Many of us may know leaven as yeast. Yeast, in the right setting, is an amazing thing to witness. Yeast is able to multiply itself in an effort to completely infect the substance it comes in contact with. In fact, yeast is so good at multiplying, that by simply adding a small piece of yeast filled dough into a batch of dough without yeast will quickly add yeast to the new batch. It truly doesn’t take much, the saying a “dab will do” really applies here. 

We usually use yeast in the making of bread, which is why the disciples thought Jesus was speaking of bread when He mentioned leaven/yeast. When thinking about yeast and the effect it has on certain substances, it becomes easy to understand why Jesus used it as a reference for warning. Negativity spreads as easily as yeast in bread, remember “a dab will do”. However the flip side is, that with the same ease false teachings and lies spread, right teachings and truth may also be spread.

As believers we should be encouraged by this idea. Everybody is looking for a good life and as believers we know that true life can only be found in Jesus. Isn’t it amazing how one positive person can change the mood of a whole room!? 

Most people desire to hear an encouraging word. The sad truth about many of the people who have a word of encouragement, many times lack the courage to share it. Imagine what could happen if we, like yeast, began to spread the truth of Jesus in a loving attempt to multiply? Think about what could happen in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities! Yes, Jesus has warned us to beware of falsehoods, and rightly so, but He didn’t stop there. Let us never forget, He later told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, “The Good News”. A point that the apostle Peter picks up when he says “Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are…” (1 Peter‬ ‭3:15 MSG‬‬). In other words, spread like yeast. 

Prayer:
Lord God helps us to be courageous about sharing our faith with the world. Remind us of the excitement we felt at our own encounter with You Jesus, that we may be excited about introducing You to others. Amen.