Jesus said to the people who believed in Him,
“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32 NLT
Series: The Gift of Faith
When taking a “true or false” exam, we have a 50/50 chance of getting the questions correct. A fact is stated and then we choose whether it is true by what we have learned, heard, studied, etc. A wrong answer to a question won’t necessarily have heavy consequences, but there are times knowing what is true makes all the difference. One significant part of our lives, relying on this discernment, is our faith.
Scripture is the infallible Word of God. How well do you know His word compared to what other sources say about Him? What the world shouts is often filled with partial truths or deliberate deception. True: knowing and believing the Truth Jesus taught will set us free from sin and we WILL have eternal life with Him. False: our ‘version’ of the truth holds the same power. Sounds like there isn’t much wiggle room because there isn’t. Whether we are studying God’s word in a group, or sitting in church for a sermon, it is crucial to discern truth from deception.
Jesus expressed the depth of knowing this difference in Matthew 16:5-12 (NLT):
Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Jesus warned the disciples about the religious leaders teaching falsely, and He wanted them to guard themselves. Despite Jesus’ divine teaching, example, and miracles, the disciples’ thoughts went immediately to physical food. But Jesus’ warning was about the spiritual danger of what the Pharisees and Sadducees were “feeding” them. So often we too see the temporal, what is right in front of us, rather than the impending spiritual impact. Therefore, we may also misunderstand what scripture is revealing to us.
After rowing across the sea, the disciples were probably hungry. But instead of relying on Jesus’ provision, which they had witnessed more than once, they focused on their lack. They missed the point completely. Jesus then takes this opportunity to teach His truth. A small amount of yeast causes a fairly large amount of dough to rise. If the disciples were to listen to the false teaching and believe it, their faith could have been compromised. Jesus didn’t want the leaders’ “yeast” to have any influence on His followers.
The Truth is so vital to Christ. In Matthew 23 we see Him warn the Pharisees over and over:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. (vs 13)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. (vs 14)
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. (vs 23)
Sisters, yeast is overflowing in this world. Let’s pray for wisdom to discern what is true or false as we grow in our faith. Guard your eyes and ears so that the Truth of God is what strengthens you, and leads you closer to Him.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: John 8:31-32; Matthew 16:1-12, 23; Psalm 23:1