Podcasts about leaven

This powerful message from Matthew 16 confronts us with a sobering reality: when our hearts grow hard, no amount of evidence will convince us of God's truth. We explore the dangerous intersection of spiritual blindness and cultural influence, examining how the Pharisees and Sadducees—two groups normally opposed to each other—united in their hostility toward Jesus. Despite witnessing countless miracles, they demanded yet another sign, revealing that their problem wasn't insufficient evidence but rather resistant hearts. The message warns us about the subtle leaven of false teaching that can permeate our lives through social media, entertainment, and cultural voices. We're challenged to examine what we're allowing into our minds and hearts—the podcasts we consume, the shows we stream, the influencers we follow. The ultimate invitation is to stop demanding God prove himself on our terms and instead surrender to the greatest sign already given: the cross and empty tomb.

Mark 8:14-21

What informs you will ultimately form you. In this message from Matthew 16:1–12, Jesus warns His disciples to "beware of the leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees—a powerful reminder that small influences can have massive spiritual impact. Just like yeast quietly works through dough, subtle ideas, attitudes, and relationships can shape our faith from the inside out. As religious leaders demanded signs with skeptical hearts, Jesus exposed the danger of bad teaching, a critical spirit, and corrupt company. A little compromise may seem harmless, but left unchecked, it can redirect your worldview, harden your heart, and erode your trust in God. This message challenges us to take inventory: What voices are shaping your understanding of God? Are you hearing truth with surrender—or with critique? Who has the strongest influence in your life? Jesus' warning isn't meant to create fear, but faithfulness. Guard your heart. Guard your mind. Surround yourself with people who strengthen your calling. Because a little leaven can either corrupt your character—or, when rooted in truth, cultivate Christlikeness. Stay vigilant. Protect your faith. Small influences create big impact.  

In this week's study in the parables of Jesus, we look at the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven to understand how the Kingdom of God grows from small, humble beginnings.

Wednesday evening message from Pastor CJ Elwood. February 18, 2026

February 18, 2026 Gen. 49:1-33; Ps. 21:1-7; Prov. 10:3-4; Matt. 16:1-12

20260208AM - Ministered in the morning service at ‘Incite Church', Pastor Craig Watson ministered on, ‘A Little Leaven Leavens the Whole Lump'.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. — 1 Corinthians 5:6–8 Paul moves from confronting one man's sin to confronting the entire church's tolerance of it, and he does it with a picture everyone in Corinth understood: leaven. Leaven is quiet. Leaven is small. Leaven works invisibly. Yet once it's mixed in, it spreads through the whole batch of dough. It doesn't matter if it starts in a corner—it ends everywhere. That's Paul's point. Sin never stays personal. It always becomes communal. A private compromise eventually affects public integrity. A hidden lust eventually damages relationships. A tolerated sin eventually shapes a church's culture. Just like leaven, sin spreads beyond the person who commits it. That's exactly why Paul confronted Corinth so strongly in the previous passage. Discipline wasn't only about the man—it was about the whole church, because what one person hides, the whole body eventually breathes. This is why Paul commands them to "cleanse out the old leaven." He's pulling from Passover imagery. Every Jewish family searched their home by candlelight, removing every crumb of leaven so the new batch would remain pure. Even a pinch of the old dough could corrupt everything new. Paul is applying that same spiritual search to the church: Remove the old habits. Remove the excuses. Remove the tolerated sins. Remove the attitudes that spread like rot. If we want a healed church, we must remove what is poisoning both the individual and the body. This is not just about your life. This is about our life together. But Paul ends with a powerful statement: "As you really are unleavened…" In other words, you're already made new. So live like it. Your identity is clean. Your standing is pure. Your church has been washed. So stop kneading in old corruption. Stop letting sin expand. Stop pretending one compromise won't spread to others. Don't be leavened with evil—be unleavened with truth. This is Paul's call to you. This is Paul's call to your church. This is Paul's call to every fellowship that wants to remain spiritually healthy. Remove what spreads death. Keep what spreads life. DO THIS: Do a "Passover sweep" of both your personal life and your church involvement. Remove whatever small thing you've been tolerating before it grows and affects more than you realize. ASK THIS: Where have I underestimated the spread of a small sin? How might my compromise be shaping others around me? What leaven needs to be removed so my life—and my church—can stay healthy? PRAY THIS: Father, show me anything in my life that's quietly spreading and corrupting what You want to renew. Give me courage to remove it and help me strengthen the purity of my church as well. Make me unleavened with sincerity and truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Us Clean Hands"

Read OnlineThe disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Mark 8:14–15Jesus and the disciples frequently traveled by boat, visiting many towns and villages along the Sea of Galilee. After a fruitful visit to the Gentile territory of the Decapolis, Jesus and His disciples crossed to Dalmanutha. Upon disembarking, some Pharisees, who had likely heard of His miraculous feeding of the 4,000, demanded a sign from Him. Jesus, deeply grieved by their lack of faith, sighed from the depths of His spirit, refused their request, and departed again by boat. It was during this boat ride that today's Gospel took place.Jesus' holy sorrow over the Pharisees' hardness of heart deeply affected Him. His grief was not one of self-pity over their rejection of Him but stemmed from His divine compassion. He felt the weight of their lack of faith and their refusal to embrace the truth of God's love. It was this profound sorrow that prompted Jesus to caution His disciples, saying, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”“Leaven,” in this context, symbolizes a hidden yet pervasive influence that governed both the Pharisees and Herod. Just as a small amount of yeast permeates an entire batch of dough, causing it to rise, so too the destructive influence of the Pharisees and Herod spread through their actions and teachings, corrupting others. With His sorrowful encounter with the Pharisees fresh in mind, Jesus used the moment to warn His disciples not to allow such corrupting influences to take root in their own hearts.The Pharisees' hidden, pervasive, and destructive quality lay in their excessive focus on external observances of the Law and the traditions derived from it. Their rigid legalism blinded them to the true meaning of God's Law—mercy and the inner disposition of the heart—leading to their own spiritual ruin and to the misleading of others.Herod's “leaven” likely refers to a worldly mindset characterized by a relentless pursuit of power, wealth, and pleasure. Herod chose the fleeting allure of worldly things over God's eternal truths. Herod's pride and destructive behavior epitomize this mindset, which ultimately led him to have John the Baptist executed for courageously speaking the truth about Herod's adulterous relationship with his brother's wife, Herodias.Jesus' admonition to His disciples on the boat is not only a condemnation of the Pharisees' and Herod's sins but a warning about the influence such pervasive sins can have on them. Likewise, just as Jesus cautioned His disciples, so too does He caution us today: “Watch out” and “guard against” the influences that do not arise from God's saving Truth. In our world, it is essential to recognize how pervasive societal ideologies and moralities can subtly shape our thoughts and actions. By remaining vigilant and rooted in Christ, we must discern and reject the leaven of worldliness, hypocrisy, and pride, allowing God's divine light to guide our lives.Reflect today on the influences that shape your life. Do you spend countless hours on social media, browsing the Internet, or watching television? If so, take a moment to consider the hidden yet pervasive effects of the content you consume and discern if it is subtly leading you astray. The only true remedy against such worldly influences is found in prayer and the Word of God. The Gospel must permeate our minds and hearts, acting as leaven to transform us from within. This divine leaven is nourished through prayer, the Sacraments, and an ongoing commitment to the Gospel. Heed Jesus' warning, spoken to His disciples but intended for every generation: Remain vigilant. Guard your heart and mind, ensuring they are firmly rooted in God's saving grace. My grieving Lord, Your heart was filled with holy sorrow over the sins of the Pharisees and Herod, especially as You witnessed the harmful influence they had on others. Please grant me the gift of spiritual insight, so that I may recognize the influences that shape my thoughts and actions. May Your Word and Your Truth alone guide me, and may I become a witness to that Truth, serving as a holy influence for others. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Not all faith is formed the same way. In this message from Matthew 16, Pastor Joshua Brown warns that small influences shape entire lives—and that the way we follow Jesus matters just as much as whether we follow Him at all. Calling the Church back from consumer models and borrowed assumptions, this sermon invites us to examine the yeast shaping our discipleship and to recover a way of life truly formed by the kingdom of God.

Sermon: The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the LeavenScripture: Matthew 13:31-35Speaker: Pastor Nick Williams

Pastor Adrin Muñoz delivered his sermon from Mark 6:45-8.    

In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the harmony of the Gospels, focusing on Jesus' warning about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees and its spiritual implications. He explains the symbolism of leaven as sin and how exposure to corrupting influences affects believers. Fr. Matthias then examines Peter's profession of faith, discussing the meaning of “the rock” on which the Church is built, contrasting Orthodox and Catholic interpretations, and clarifying the authority given to the apostles. He further unpacks Christ's teaching on discipleship, including the cost of self-denial, taking up the cross, and the promise of eternal life. The healing of the blind man in stages is also discussed as a metaphor for gradual spiritual enlightenment. Throughout, Fr. Matthias addresses key Gospel passages, the significance of sacraments, and the nature of Church authority, emphasizing the spiritual depth behind Christ's words and actions. Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

02-03-26 Tues PM “A Little Leaven” Pastor Nathaniel Urshan Galatians 5:7-9You can contact us at https://fpcdurham.org

In this episode we move into Luke 12:1-12 where we see Jesus warn against the Leaven of the Pharisees, speak on fearing God alone, and the encouragement to confess Christ. From this passage we discuss the pervasiveness of hypocrisy in our own lives and the lives of those around us, and the importance of removing our masks so that we may live in authentic relationship with Jesus even now. Too often hypocrisy is rooted in fear of what others may do to us or think about us, and Jesus' invitation in this passage is to keep our focus on Him and trust that He has our back through it all.

Josh Raspberry | Mark 8:1-26 Want more information about First Evangelical Church? firstevan.org/connect  Website: firstevan.org 
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7 takeaways from this study Heaven provides a fresh start. “New garments” symbolize inward transformation and renewed calling, not merely external change. Ordination means being filled and equipped for ongoing service, reaching readiness rather than an endpoint. Anointing signifies overflowing empowerment from the Spirit to perform ministry — hands filled to give and serve. Messiah's work is to fulfill and bring righteousness to fullness, not to abolish God's covenantal purposes. Spiritual gifts are for the common good. Desire prophecy and gifts that build the body, avoiding covetousness that harms others. True leadership requires inward faithfulness. External appearance or position alone can't substitute for devotion to God. The Incarnation and high priesthood of Messiah make Him a relatable, suffering Savior who defeats evil and removes fear of death, enabling bold service. Imagine standing at the entrance of ancient Israel’s Mishkan (Tabernacle), watching Aharon's empty hands slowly fill with oil, bread and sacrificial portions. Those hands, once ordinary, now carry a visible sign: Heaven is putting him to work. This study traces that movement — from empty to filled, from clothed to commissioned. God doesn't just forgive; He clothes, fills and sends. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,My soul will exult in my God;For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness…” Isaiah 61:10 NASB95 This isn't someone admiring a costume. It's someone overwhelmed by transformation. The “garments of salvation” and “robe of righteousness” wrap not only the body but the whole self — “my soul will exult.” The prophets elsewhere describe this same renewal (New Covenant) as a “new heart” and a “new spirit” (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:25–27). The outside should illustrate what Heaven does on the inside. Otherwise, it’s just a show. Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) warned against “whitewashed tombs” — beautifully maintained yet full of decay (“dead men’s bones,” Matthew 23:27–28). Similarly, Isaiah's garments become a test: Am I asking God to decorate my life, or to renew it? Like we studied last Shabbat, the clothing metaphor refuses superficial religion. It invites a deeper honesty: if God robes, He also remakes. Ordination as filling, not finishing Exodus 29 takes that robe imagery and pushes it into vocation. The English word “ordination” can sound like a static status: once ordained, box checked. The Hebrew under it goes in a different direction. The term מְלוּאִים mĕlu'im (“filled, filled up, ordained”), from the root מלא malé (“to fill”), appears in the context of placing offerings, bread, and other items into the hands of Aharon and his sons. This is more than ceremony. The text presents ordination as literal and symbolic “filling of the hands.” The priests stand there with empty hands; the ritual fills them. The message: you are not being set aside (“made holy”) to sit; you are being filled to act. Heaven does not hand Aharon a title; Heaven hands him tasks. This reframes how to think of calling and ministry. Instead of asking, “Am I ordained?” as if ticking a checkbox, the more searching question is, “What has God placed in my hands — and for whom?” When ‘end’ means ‘goal’ The Greek translation of the Torah, the Septuagint, sometimes uses τελέω teleó (“to bring to completion”) to capture this idea of completing a consecration or making something ready. That Greek word translates mĕlu'im in Exodus 29:31. This use in the Septuagint is key to understanding one of apostle Paul's frequently misinterpreted statements: For Christ is the end (τέλος telos) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 NASB95 On a surface reading, “end” might sound like “done with, discarded.” But telos in Greek can mean goal, intended outcome, completion in the sense of maturity. A journey reaches its telos not when the path vanishes, but when the traveler arrives where the path was always leading. Within this framework, Messiah does not abolish the Torah's significance for righteousness; He brings its purpose to its full expression. What ordination does for the priest — bringing him to readiness — telos language does for Torah — it names the destination God always had in mind: righteousness realized in and through Messiah. Oil purity and overflow Oil saturates the priestly ordination ritual described in Exodus 29 (cp. Leviticus 8–9). There is unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil. The key word here is שֶׁמֶן shemen (“oil”). In the ancient world, oil doesn't only function as fuel or food; it signals richness, blessing, and consecration. Clarified olive oil gives a particularly helpful analogy. The more refined the oil, the more purely and cleanly it burns. Likewise, the ritual calls for “pure” elements to make the point: God refines His servants, like oil, by removing impurities, not to make them delicate but to make their light more clear. The more refined the oil, the less smoke; the more purified the life, the less spiritual “smoke” obscures who God is. Seven and the power of eight Under the hood of the Hebrew original text about oil and consecration are numbers that communicate. In Hebrew, the words for seven and oath are bound up in the same root: שֶׁבַע sheva / שָׁבַע shavá. Like an oath, seven signifies completeness, a full cycle, a pledged seriousness. What has been committed will be done. On that backdrop, eight — שְׁמֹנֶה shᵉmōneh — is connected to the verb שָׁמֵן shāmēn (“to be fat”) and the noun שֶׁמֶן shemen (“oil”). That points to what comes after completeness: overflow, newness beyond the cycle. (See how seven and eight are teaching tools in Israel’s annual festival of Shemini Atzeret, Convocation of the Eighth Day, the day after Sukkot, or the Festival of Tabernacles.) In the priestly narratives, the priests undergo seven days of consecration, and then on the eighth day they begin to function in their role. The eighth day doesn't cancel the seven; it activates them. It is not the closing ceremony; it is the first day on the job. Spiritual “high points” (dedications, ordinations, festivals) are not endpoints. They stand as launchpads into long obedience. God's pattern suggests, “Let Me fill you for seven; then live it out on the eighth.” Fulfillment: Not abolition The same logic runs underneath Yeshua's words about the Torah and the Prophets, His preface to the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-19 NASB95 The verb “fulfill” translates a verb similar to teleo: πληρόω pleróō (“to fill, bring to fullness, accomplish”). Yeshua explicitly rejects an “abolish” model and offers a “fill to the brim” one instead. He presents His mission as bringing Scripture's intent to its full expression, not tearing its foundation away. Teleo also shows up in Yeshua's final cry at His execution: Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30 NASB95 “It is finished” here reads as a declaration of work that has reached a goal. In Heaven’s view, the past, present and future are in view at once. That’s reflected by the statement “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8 margin). Heaven's redemptive plan centers on Messiah's work, and that work radiates backward and forward through time. God doesn't improvise; He fulfills. The danger of hollow splendor In a recent study of the Mishkan, we explored how the inner sanctuary is filled with objects made entirely of or covered with זָהָב טָהוֹר zahav tahor (“pure gold”), and how Revelation's image of transparent gold presses the point: God seeks not just shine but purity — substance transformed all the way through. Unleavened bread and clarified oil operate the same way. Leaven often symbolizes corruption; its removal during consecration underscores singular devotion. The physical signs do real work in teaching: they train Israel to see holiness as separation from moral decay, not mere ritual fussiness. Yet the prophets, especially Ezekiel, expose how easily people can keep the externals and lose the center. His visions of abominations inside the temple reveal a brutal truth: a community can polish its gold and keep its liturgy while its heart runs after other gods. The priestly garments then become not a sign of holiness but a cover for hypocrisy. The study draws a clear warning: external forms — robes, rituals, structures — have value only when they match an internal reality of loyalty to the God who gave them. Spirit on the many Numbers 11:24–30 expands the filling imagery into the realm of the Spirit. Moses gathers 70 elders; God takes of the Spirit upon Moses and places it upon them; they prophesy. Two men, Eldad and Medad, remain in the camp yet also receive the Spirit and prophesy. When Joshua urges Moses to stop them, Moses responds: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” Numbers 11:29 NASB-style This response cuts against the instinct to hoard spiritual experiences or status. Rather than guarding a monopoly on prophetic activity, Moses welcomes its spread. The ideal in this passage is not a lone gifted figure but a community saturated with God's Spirit. For understanding calling and gifts, this stands as a crucial insight: the Spirit's abundance does not run on scarcity logic. One person's anointing does not reduce another's; it can invite and encourage it. Spiritual gifts as tools for the common good Paul's description of spiritual gifts in 1Corinthians 12–14 fits squarely within that Numbers 11 perspective. He writes of “varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit,” “varieties of ministries, and the same Lord,” “varieties of effects, but the same God” (1Corinthians 12:4–6). Then he states that “to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1Corinthians 12:7). The key phrase, “for the common good,” reorients the entire discussion. Gifts are not badges; they are tools. They exist so that a community can sustain faith, grow in love, and carry out its mission. Under this framework, the question shifts from “What gift will make me significant?” to “What has God entrusted to me for others' sake?” The study draws a particular line around coveting. Biblically, coveting involves more than strong desire; it involves desiring in such a way that another must lose. When applied to spiritual gifts, coveting appears in attitudes like resenting another's calling or secretly wanting their influence diminished. That posture stands as the opposite of Moses' wish and Paul's “common good.” Saul and David: Bad and better ways to handle anointing The narrative of Saul in 1Samuel 10–15 offers a vivid example of how anointing can go wrong. In 1 Samuel 10, Samuel anoints Saul; the Spirit of the LORD comes mightily upon him, and he prophesies, becoming “another man.” God publicly marks Saul as king. Over time, however, Saul disobeys, fears people more than God, and refuses to fully submit. Eventually, Heaven falls silent: no dreams, no prophets, no answers through priestly means. In this silence, Saul seeks help from a medium at Endor, violating his own earlier decree and Torah's clear prohibitions. Instead of returning to trust and repentance, he attempts to force access to divine guidance through forbidden channels. Simultaneously, David emerges — not as the obvious first choice, but as the overlooked youngest son. When Samuel arrives, Yishai (Jesse) presents seven sons; only after God rejects each does Samuel ask if another remains. David comes in from shepherding and receives the anointing. The contrast becomes stark: Saul, the tall, impressive figure, clings and spirals; David, the unexpected one, eventually takes the throne as God's chosen. This contrast embodies two responses to God's shifting work: grasping or yielding. Saul clings to title and position, even to the point of hunting David. David, for his part, repeatedly refuses to kill Saul, recognizing another's anointing even while he himself has already been anointed. The study uses this to illustrate how callings overlap and transition, and how jealousy can poison what began in genuine anointing. Messiah, the sympathetic High Priest Hebrews 2:10–18 gathers many of these strands into a christological center. The passage describes how God makes “the author of their salvation” perfect through sufferings, so that He can bring “many sons to glory.” Messiah shares “flesh and blood” so that, “through death,” He might “render powerless him who had the power of death,” and “free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Hebrews 2:14–15 NASB95). Here, the High Priest does not remain in a distant holy place untouched by human pain. He enters it. His perfection through suffering does not imply previous moral imperfection; rather, it indicates a completed qualification. He knows the path of obedience from the inside. That qualification places Him in a unique position to represent humans to God and God to humans. For service and calling, this reshapes fear. If death — the ultimate threat — has lost its enslaving power, service no longer needs to orbit self-protection. A community can embrace costly obedience because its High Priest has already walked that road and broken its enslaving grip. Leadership, vulnerability, and God's reputation Prophets repeatedly warned that God's name is blasphemed among the nations because of Israel's behavior (Ezekiel 36:20, 23; Isaiah 52:5). The same principle applies to any community claiming to serve Him: conduct shapes perception of God. When leaders — religious or otherwise — use power to harm, cover abuse, or protect institutions over people, the damage reaches beyond immediate victims. It stains the public sense of who God is. The frequent biblical mention of widows, orphans, and the sojourner (ger) highlights where God's scrutiny often falls: how do His people treat those with the least leverage? Within this frame, ordination and anointing carry weight. They do not only authorize ministry; they heighten responsibility for the vulnerable and for God's reputation. Living as a filled-hands people Messiah sends His followers, empowered by the Spirit, to participate in an ongoing mission. every believer becomes part of an eighth-day people — consecrated, clothed, filled, and then sent. God does not merely rescue individuals from something; He consistently equips them for something: for service that reflects His character, honors His name, and blesses others. The post Called, filled, sent: What the Torah says about anointing, service and spiritual fruit (Exodus 29; Isaiah 61–62; Hebrews 2) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

Strong delusion today; Tree of Knowledge; Intellectuals; Altars = trusts; Maturity; In, but not of the world; Peace offerings; Artistic interpretation of burning offerings; Sacrifice; "wood" for altars?; Charity = freewill offerings; Cities of blood; "Anarchy"; Exercising authority over others; The sin of Sodom; Gen 18:20; Isa 3:9; Ez 16:49; Weakening the poor; Welfare snares; How to form a free society; Israel the republic; Grain reserves; Government of, for and by the people; Private religion; Melchizedek vs Abimelech; Pharisees not following Moses; No biting one another?; Wood on lively unhewn stones of the Altars; Counsell; Tabernacles; Bonds of the kingdom; Knowing the world's laws; Why go to church?; Daily ministration to the needy?; Eating at the table of rulers; Lot and the angels; Explaining the social welfare system of the kingdom; "Call no man on Earth Father"; Returning to rights and responsibilities; Christ's "command"; Network of Charity; Capitalist systems of economy; "Religion"; Human resources; Bishops distributing grain?; "Corban"; Meat with blood in it; Socialism; Making the word of God to none effect; Blind leading the blind; Judging and being judged; Actions have consequences; Making yourself merchandise; "Leaven"; Anarchists on welfare?; Covetousness; Understanding your position; Cursing children; Gal 3:7; Ez 7:23; Asking for help; Teaching God's system; Loving the truth; Ez 9:9; 1 Sam 8; Saul's election; "Strange fire"; Ez 22:2; Idolatry; Forced sacrifice?; Ez 24:6; Addiction to benefit; Ez 11:3; You're not in Israel!; Cauldrons and fleshpots; Creating socialist collectives; Benefits of Christ?; BEing the welfare of the righteous; "world"; Hab 2:7; Gen 9:4; Lev 17:10; Daily bread?; Biblical context; Ps 69:22-23; Darkened eyes; Right reason; Tree of Life; Act 15:20; Strangling = forcing; Having God as your fortress; Repentance; Rom 11:9; Prov 23:1; Ex 23:32; Sin or evidence of sin?; Ex 34:12; Deu 7:16; Looking for evidence; Fear not! Love!; Practicing pure religion; Emotional thinking; God as ruler; Finding the answer; Listening for God's voice; Faith is required; Faith is a gift; Arguing with God; Learning to care about your neighbor; Acceptance of benefits; Consent; Gen 14:18; Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6; Heb 6:20; Righteous king; Start your own repentance today.

Friday, 23 January 2026   Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6   “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘You behold, and you caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees'” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that the disciples had forgotten to take bread as they traveled. Matthew next records, “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘You behold, and you caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'”   Leaven, yeast, is something that has been noted many times in Scripture. It was something the people knew was forbidden during the Passover –   “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. 17 So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.” Exodus 12:15-20   Elsewhere, leaven is forbidden at various times during the instructions for the sacrificial offerings, etc. The disciples would probably not understand Jesus' words outside of that type of context.   In Hosea 7:4, the use of leaven is used in a metaphorical sense, but it is not a verse that most people would look at and understand the scriptural idea that is to be explained by Jesus. There, it says –   “They are all adulterers. Like an oven heated by a baker— He ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough, Until it is leavened.” Hosea 7:4   Jesus used leaven in a parable in Matthew 13:33. That too would be tough to get metaphorical meaning out of unless the disciples specially asked Him what He was talking about. In Matthew 13:51, Jesus asked the disciples if they understood everything He had spoken to them, but it is questionable if they understood it as He is now relaying.   Their thoughts would be directed to Jesus' words being literal, something Matthew will confirm.   Life application: As you read the Bible, there are thoughts that are presented, such as having no leaven in the house during the time of Passover and Unleavened Bread. It is right to stop and ask why that would be included.   Eventually, when you get to the New Testament, the idea of leaven being a metaphor for sin is explained several times. As this is so, we can know exactly why the Lord instructed the people as He did.   It was an instructional tool to teach us about the nature of sin, how God would deal with it in Christ, and our responsibilities, as well as our position in Christ. Because it is explained in the New Testament, we should go no further with metaphorical applications. Scripture has interpreted Scripture –   “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-8   Look for the meaning of things in the unfolding pages of Scripture. If no explanation is given, then careful thought should be given to why certain things are presented. Don't just make stuff up out of your head.   Instead, let the Bible provide insights into the typology. If it is correct, a panorama of interesting information will arise that will then be consistent throughout the rest of Scripture. If this doesn't happen and things don't fit elsewhere, it means your original idea was not correct.   Be careful and contemplative as you consider what the word is saying.   Lord God, what a great and precious word You have given us. May we handle it carefully and analyze it in hope of finding what You intend for it to say, not what we want it to say. Help us in this endeavor, O God. Amen.  

Preached in 2021. For more resources for knowing and loving God's word, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bcnewton.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Further Reading⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Expository Thoughts on Mark | J. C. Ryle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark: An Expositional Commentary | R. C. Sproul⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gospel According to Mark | G. Campbell Morgan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠King's Cross | Timothy Keller⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior | R. Kent Hughes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ESV Expository Commentary Vol VIII: Matthew-Luke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have benefitted from this episode, consider sharing with others. You can also support my work financially⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at this link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nathan Busenitz • Mark 8:13–8:21 • Sermon Notes (Video)

Nathan Busenitz • Mark 8:13–8:21 • Sermon Notes (Video) • Grace Pulpit

Sacred Purpose Trusts; Altars of Israel; Idolatry?; Welfare snares; "Tables"; Policing; X Spaces; "Lively stones"; Coveting not allowed; Laying down your life; "Corban"; Cursing your children; "Religion"; It's not what you think; Faith compels action; Needing anger?; "Fear not!"; Larning to understand Leviticus; "Ideology"; Witchcraft; Overcoming wrong ideas; "Burnt" offerings; Voluntarism; Trust; Fall of Rome?; Essenes; Personal revelation; Private interpretation?; Rituals and ceremonies?; Social welfare; Making the word of God to none effect; "Corban"; Logistics?; Levites; Becoming Israel; Moses and Jesus in agreement; Lev 2:1; "Meat" offering? (Meat 1x); mem-nun-chet-hey; Tribute?; Government of, for and by the people; kuf-resh-biet-nun offering; kuf-resh-biet = draw near; To what?; Divine designer; Spirit underlying substance; Evidence of things not seen; "find flour"?; Taking care of the needy; Fire?; Charity?; Vengeance belongs to God; Doing contrary to the world (bondage); Returning to your family and possessions; A free people; Right to choose; Human resources; Becoming merchandise; Walking in faith; Sons of Aaron?; aleph-hey-resh-vav-nun; Doing the will of the father; Kingdom of Heaven - how it works; Freewill offerings; Loving your neighbor; Recognizing sons of Aaron; Your choice to give; "memorial"; Making things right = atonement; Strengthening the poor; Pure religion; "unleavened"; mem-shem-chet-yod-mem; fire and strange fire; Wise offerings; Corruption; Taking back your responsibilities; The oil; Wood - ayin-tzedek = counsel, advice; Network of charity; Levite criteria; No exercising authority; Leaven in EBT; "burn"? Qatar; Beware imagery and idolatry; Policeman story; Feeding the 5000; Responding to sacrifice in your leaders; Band of Brothers; Modern minsters; Repenting from the world's ways; "sweet savor"?; "firstfruits"?; Giving entirely; Why you give to priests; Role of priests; Salt?; Corn?; Long-stemmed grains; Binding a nation together in love; Heave and wave offerings; Mediation; Dependency on benefits; Casting bread upon the waters?; More in Leviticus; Be a priest and king.

On December 17, 2025 the Alaska Watchman reported, “In a split decision, the Anchorage Assembly narrowly voted to erase all historical references to the famous Captain James Cook from the city's official seal.” In light of the new Municipal Seal, and the controversy about the removal of Captain Cook from it, we return to Season 1: Episode 5. I hope you enjoy this Encore Episode about Captain Cook originally titled, The Legacy of Colonialism Part 1: A Statue, a Banner, and a Covenant.   We want to hear your positive vision of the future! Record a voice memo on your phone of your positive vision for Anchorage's future and send the audio file to anchorageutc@gmail.com. Please put in the subject line of your email “North to the Future – My Vision.”   #anchoredcity https://anchorageutc.org https://www.facebook.com/AnchorageUTC @AnchorageUTC     Resources Used To Make This Episode: https://alaskawatchman.com/2025/12/17/anchorage-assemblyman-blasts-colleagues-for-ignoring-public-and-ditching-historic-city-seal/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOwK3NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeYL4ga-dBxk_uQKg2-t6_n6FyOXsttgf_U3X_3ak8GZ9LXwqEov4HZS-GirE_aem_TkaaknsJa6DMueAYQDgh0w http://www.cc.com/video-playlists/qkhul9/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-between-the-scenes/g34af5 https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/06/29/most-agree-on-the-story-of-captain-cooks-time-in-cook-inlet-they-differ-on-how-to-tell-it/ Oleksa, M., 1992, Orthodox Alaska: A theology of mission, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Crestwood. Newcomb, S., 1992, ‘Five hundred years of injustice', Indigenous Law Institute, n.d., viewed 30 January 2019, from http://ili.nativeweb.org/sdrm_art.html. Indigenous Values Initiative, 2018, Dum diversas, viewed 14 February 2019, from https://doctrineofdiscovery.org/dum-diversas/. Charles, M., 2016, ‘The doctrine of discovery, war, and the myth of America', Leaven 24(3), 147-154. http://www.alaskool.org/projects/JimCrow/cov_res.htm https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/02/28/illegal-for-decades-many-anchorage-homes-still-have-covenants-that-prohibit-sale-to-blacks-and-alaska-natives/ Wohlforth, C., 2017, ‘How some Anchorage neighbors redeemed the city's racist past', Alaska Daily News, 27 February, 2017, viewed 30 January 2019, from https://www.adn.com/opinions/2017/02/27/how-some-anchorage-neighbors-redeemed-the-citys- racist-past/. Ford, A., 2017, ‘Redlining in Fairview', Anchorage Press, 23 February, 2017, viewed 30 January 2019, from https://www.anchoragepress.com/news/redlininginfairview/article_cb0037a0-f9a7-11e6- b9eb-5fef409ab819.html. https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/09/07/hundreds-gather-in-anchorage-over-holiday-to-commemorate-march-on-washington-anniversary/ https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/09/07/anchorage-labor-day-rally-urging-racial-equality-draws-hundreds-of-supporters/ https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/06/25/mayor-berkowitz-to-have-native-village-of-eklutna-decide-what-to-do-with-downtown-captain-cook-statue/ www.smallchurchmusic.com/Song_Display-New.php?SID=2644

Sun 6PM

This Sunday we'll be returning to our study in Matthew, and we'll read Matthew 15:29-16:12. It's a big section, but I think you'll see how it all goes together pretty well.As you read through this section you'll notice that, even connected with last section, there is an ongoing bread theme. The Canaanite woman asked for bread crumbs. Jesus provides bread in the wilderness and then warns about the wrong kind of spiritual bread. There could be a whole teaching in that thematic vein alone…but that's not where I went for this study.In the section that closes out chapter 15, Jesus is doing all sorts of miracles, finishing off with a miraculous feast on a desert mountaintop. Mark's parallel account clues us in that this happened in the Decapolis – a largely gentile region. When Jesus is performing all these miracles in that region, what does it mean? How should it be read?When we come to chapter 16 the Pharisees and Sadducees ask for a sign – ignoring what has been happening right under their noses. They are intent on trying to control God's plan concerning what Messiah would be doing, and with whom. In what ways are we sometimes guilty of trying to dictate to God our own purposes? How can we keep from trying to steal the director's chair in life?in v 5-12, Jesus' disciples are cast in a pretty dim light. They forgot bread and assume Jesus' warning about the leaven of the Pharisees was about a lack of bagels. Leaven is used as a metaphor for an element introduced that changes it's host into something else. Leaven changes bread dough, causing it to rise and inflate. In what way do you think the teaching of the Pharisees had done this as it touched Israel's calling? What is Jesus warning his disciples about? What are the philosophies, politics and religious agendas in our world that could veer us off the path that God originally set the church on? What is lacking, according to v8, that can keep us from falling prey to these aberrant directions?Once again, this will be a challenging and thought provoking passage to dig into. Hope to see you on Sunday!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Social Safety Nets that are a snare/trap; Loss of liberty; Corruption; Electing kings; Government of, for and by the people; Leviticus; Common sense; Right reason; No taxes in Israel; Addiction to benefits; Forcing your neighbor = covetousness; Home schooling; Q from Pensive Ear: Taxes = enslaved? Give to Caesar…; Sanhedrin?; Caesar invited into Judea; Law vs Legal article; Christ's Sanhedrin; "Corban"; Mark of the Beast article (Charagma); Taxpayers; Call No Man Father article; Congregating; Making the state your father: 1) Novation = registration, 2) Tutor = receiving benefits, 3) When of age, start paying in; Why you owe the tax; Legal title; Romans 13 about liberty; Jesus' trial before Pilate; "Pacta Servanda Sunt"; Kings exercising authority; The greatest destroyers of liberty; Savages; Christian social welfare; Charity; Becoming a person; Covetous practices; Mt 20:25; Mk 10:42; Lk 22:25; Voluntarism; Strong delusion; Mk 7:9; Taking choice from your neighbor; Government aid; Deceitful meat; Sharing your extra bread; Temple tax; Tithing; Idolatry; Repentance; Can't save yourself; Workers of iniquity; Relying on Holy Spirit; 1 Cor 5:10; Entitlements; Soldiers choice; Strengthening your neighbor; LBJ's Great Society; Christenings; Seeking His kingdom and righteousness; Q from Mark: Examples of benefits; Birth certificates; Honoring father and mother; Social Security; Starting with the basics; Laying down your life for friends; FDR's New Deal; Networking together; "Tens" article; Leaven; Freedom of choice; Giving up your right to choose; "Jerusalem"; Wrath of God; Kingdom of Heaven "at hand"; Giving sight to the blind; Preaching another government; Finding wellness; Rejecting God; The gods you have chosen; Getting God to hear you; Sacrifice; Stop making excuses.

The meanings of leaven in the Bible. Support us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series for in depth audio commentary on Holy Scripture.  Apply for Saint Paul's House of Formation Email us Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications  Word & Table Episode Index

His Righteousness?; Right reason; Leviticus; God is the same; Kingdom of God = form of government; Instructions to seek it; "World"; Offerings; Meat? Grain?; Imperfect translations; Lesser gods; John the Baptist; Leaven-filled baptisms; Cryptic bible?; Haters; Knowing yourself; Loving your enemy; Our error; Jacob called Israel; The meaning of the mystical story; Leaders; Awakening to the truth; Burnt sacrifice?; Evolution?; Morality; Lev 1:1; Tabernacle of the congregation; Debating; Equality; "Religion"; "Yahweh"; Genocide; Koran; God speaking out of tents of the congregation; "Synagogue"; Having your own house; Returning men to their families and possessions; Altars?; Entangling yourself in the bondage of Egypt; Voluntary offerings; Freewill; State-run social safety nets; Idolatry; The whole truth; Offering = qorban; Hebrew language; Socialism?; Family: Institution of God; Benevolent dictatorship?; Dependency upon government; Taking care of society's needy; "Burnt"?; aleph-tav; kuf-resh-biet-nun+kof+mem; Reason to bring offering; male without blemish?; zayin-kof-resh (male); Without blemish = you own it; Being generous in your sharing; Putting his hand upon it; Burnt offering; Romans 13; Liberty; Helping your neighbor; Diet; No Christian socialists; Detach from the giving - retain freedom; Usage of offerings; Tens, Hundreds and Thousands; Gen 9:5; Early Church social welfare; Temple of Ephesus; Covetousness; Deut 12:27, Deut 19:10; "Strange fire"?; Creating a great nation; Government of, for and by the people; Bible's about government; Character of God; Deeds of Nicolaitans and Error of Baalam; Repentance; Sweet savor?; Choosing your minister; Letting God be the judge; Allowing Holy Spirit to flow through you; Love = Charity; Finding hope; Minister sharing; Join the Living Network.

His Righteousness?; Right reason; Leviticus; God is the same; Kingdom of God = form of government; Instructions to seek it; "World"; Offerings; Meat? Grain?; Imperfect translations; Lesser gods; John the Baptist; Leaven-filled baptisms; Cryptic bible?; Haters; Knowing yourself; Loving your enemy; Our error; Jacob called Israel; The meaning of the mystical story; Leaders; Awakening to the truth; Burnt sacrifice?; Evolution?; Morality; Lev 1:1; Tabernacle of the congregation; Debating; Equality; "Religion"; "Yahweh"; Genocide; Koran; God speaking out of tents of the congregation; "Synagogue"; Having your own house; Returning men to their families and possessions; Altars?; Entangling yourself in the bondage of Egypt; Voluntary offerings; Freewill; State-run social safety nets; Idolatry; The whole truth; Offering = qorban; Hebrew language; Socialism?; Family: Institution of God; Benevolent dictatorship?; Dependency upon government; Taking care of society's needy; "Burnt"?; aleph-tav; kuf-resh-biet-nun+kof+mem; Reason to bring offering; male without blemish?; zayin-kof-resh (male); Without blemish = you own it; Being generous in your sharing; Putting his hand upon it; Burnt offering; Romans 13; Liberty; Helping your neighbor; Diet; No Christian socialists; Detach from the giving - retain freedom; Usage of offerings; Tens, Hundreds and Thousands; Gen 9:5; Early Church social welfare; Temple of Ephesus; Covetousness; Deut 12:27, Deut 19:10; "Strange fire"?; Creating a great nation; Government of, for and by the people; Bible's about government; Character of God; Deeds of Nicolaitans and Error of Baalam; Repentance; Sweet savor?; Choosing your minister; Letting God be the judge; Allowing Holy Spirit to flow through you; Love = Charity; Finding hope; Minister sharing; Join the Living Network.

The Leaven 12-18-2025 by Nick Carswell

Series - The Parables of Jesus: Stories That Shape the Kingdom Heart - Pastor Russ Atter

Mustard Seed and Leaven . Series: The Stories of the King. Type: Sermon

Bible studies at PreparingYou.com; Passionate subject; Divisive ideas; Who is God?; Language confusion; "Covenants of the gods" - based on law; Meaning of words; Public religion?; "Religion" defined; Metaphors and allegory; Sophistry; "Altars"; Imprisoned by your thinking; Idolatry = covetousness; Bringing people together; Bible translations; "world"; 3rd book of Torah; 4th branch of government?; "We the people"; Bringing offerings; "Bondage of Egypt"; Different form of government; "Laity"; Nicolaitans; How to stay free; Perfect law of liberty; vs Human Resources; Seeing yourself; Repentance; "Leviticus"; Religious duty; Who is the real son?; "Leaven"; Sacrifice (Corban); Holy = sacred = separate; Clarifying biblical language; History of Leviticus; Mystery Babylon; God's insecurity?; Allegiance? Or faith?; "Worship"; Charity; Strengthening your neighbor; Sacrificial systems; Entitlements; Today's "Israel"; Freewill; Choosing sides; Righteousness; Atonement?; Faith, hope and charity; Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness; Types of sacrifice; "Kingdom of God"; Righteousness compelled by faith; Practicing pure religion; Countering degeneration; No forced contributions; Divine revelation; Rules for a system of justice; Judicial corruption; Mt 21:43; Fruits of righteousness; Minister network; Recognizing your weakness; Practicing charity; Destroyers of liberty; Hearing your neighbor's need; Responsibilities; "Priest" class; Maintaining individual rights; Government of, for and by the people; Church in the wilderness; Understanding relationships; Helping your fellowman; Join us!

 Luggage And Leaven