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The Leavening of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingJesus warned of three varieties of leaven that we must guard against, staying aware of the pitfalls that will pull us down and corrupt us.
Is 'The Leavening' of the Pharisees in Us?
Sermonette by Bill OnisickIf we feel we are better than our brethren, separating ourselves from them, we are hypocrites and actors, harboring the leavening of the Pharisees in us.
The Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Five): The Parable of the Leaven
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsIn the Parable of the Leaven, as recorded in Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20-21, Jesus Christ forewarns of internal doctrinal distortions within God's church. He uses leaven as a symbol of evil and corruption, consistent with its representation throughout the scriptures as something that disintegrates, breaks up, and corrupts. Specifically, He refers to the leaven of the Pharisees as hypocritical formality, that of the Sadducees as skepticism, and Herod's as shameful self-indulgence in worldly desires. This leaven also encompasses later distortions of doctrine driven by greed, pride, control, and worldly desires, subtly striking against the truth as satan works to corrupt the church from within. The woman in the parable represents a system of beliefs and practices that oppose Christ by surreptitiously hiding the leaven of false doctrine in the church. Her actions signify the encryption or concealment of corrupting ideas that undermine the truth and infuse the church with error. The three measures of meal in the parable symbolize love, service, and loyalty to others, particularly within the church. Jesus Christ warns that the infusion of false doctrines by stealth will erode and destroy these relationships if allowed to grow. The spread of leaven through the meal illustrates how insensitive, uncaring, and self-centered attitudes will plague the church, hindering the love and service that should characterize the brethren.
How Much Leaven Can God Take?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe tares and wheat must coexist until the harvest when the fruit will become clearly seen, at which time a separation and judgment will take place.
Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 2): Leaven
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Kingdom of God or of Heaven has past, present, and future aspects. The Kingdom parables primarily provide instruction for the present aspect.
Beware the Leaven
Sermonette by Mike FordThe Jews establishes a fixed date for Shavuot in contradiction to the instruction for counting to Pentecost. This is part of the leavening of the Pharisees.
Leavening: The Types
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe holy days are reliable teaching tools, emphasizing spaced repetition to reinforce our faulty memories and drive the lesson deep into our thinking.
The Parable of the Leaven, Expanded
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBitterness divides one member of Christ's Body from another. Individuals often look for a 'doctrinal' reason to justify leaving a congregation.
Our Daily Bread of Affliction
Sermonette by Bill OnisickWe have been de-leavened, but we know we still have sin in us that has to be purified through a lengthy process of sanctification.
Infected?
Sermonette by Bill OnisickJesus warned His disciples to cease pretending to be better than they are, focusing on the faults of others while whitewashing and justifying one's own.
Holy Days: Unleavened Bread
Bible Study by StaffThe Feast of Unleavened Bread immediately follows the Passover. In it we see how hard it is to overcome and rid our lives of sin.
Greatest Offering
Sermonette by Bill OnisickGod demands that we love, do justice, and walk humbly, assuming the role of a servant rather than a tyrant, after the manner of the Gentiles.
Unleavened Bread Basics
Sermon by David C. GrabbeThe Feast of Unleavened Bread memorializes God's deliverance from the environment of sin rather than our coming out of sin. Christ embodies sincerity and truth.
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Three): The Meal Offering
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe meal offering represents the fulfillment of the second great commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Here is how to understand this offering.
Matthew (Part Twenty-One)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe Pharisees and Sadducees, who normally opposed each other, joined forces against their common enemy, Jesus. They should have recognized Him as the Messiah.
Sin
Sermonette by James BeaubelleOur carnal nature will always deceive the self, convincing us that our behavior is not so bad, but Paul realized the addictive, toxic nature of sin.
Freedom and Unleavened Bread
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughChristian freedom has nothing to do with location or circumstance but how we think. By imbibing on God's Word, we will incrementally displace our carnality.