The Power of Leaven – Religion vs Faith (YouTube Video Transcript)

(00:00:00) Your YouTube transcript will appear here (00:00:01) [MUSIC] (00:00:31) Okay everyone, a big Shabbat Shalom to all of you, to the (00:00:35) House of Israel, wherever you are (00:00:37) scattered to the four corners of the earth. (00:00:39) We want to wish you a big welcome and we pray that your (00:00:45) Sabbath is blessed or has been blessed (00:00:48) if you're watching this after the fact. (00:00:51) If you are watching this after the (00:00:54) fact but you do wish to come join us live. (00:00:57) We do gather every weekly Shabbat (00:01:00) at 9am PST Pacific Standard Time. (00:01:04) That is our anchor point and if you're wondering how to (00:01:08) come join us, just head over to Riverbranchfellowship.com (00:01:14) and scroll down on the main homepage where you will see a (00:01:17) link to subscribe to the weekly newsletter. (00:01:22) Click that and it will bring up this little box where you (00:01:26) can just type your first, last (00:01:27) name and your email and hit subscribe. (00:01:30) That will put you on our mailing list and every Friday you (00:01:35) will receive not only the community updates but the weekly (00:01:38) newsletter which contains all the Zoom login details. (00:01:43) So that you can come join us and be a part of what the (00:01:47) Father is doing in this portion of His body. (00:01:53) So come join us, we'd love to say hi. (00:01:57) Okay, the power of leaven, religion versus faith. (00:02:03) Some of you are probably thinking, (00:02:05) hang on, it's not an leaven bread. (00:02:07) You are correct. (00:02:08) Don't worry, we haven't come (00:02:10) up with this new crazy calendar. (00:02:13) No, we're going to go on a journey (00:02:15) actually in the lead up to unleavened bread. (00:02:19) We're not that far away actually. (00:02:21) I mean we're talking eight weeks or something and we're (00:02:27) going to go on a bit of a journey under (00:02:28) the umbrella of religion versus faith. (00:02:32) In part one today we're going to be looking at leavens (00:02:35) specifically, the power of it. (00:02:40) For two reasons, mainly, generally when Curtis and I do the (00:02:45) teachings for the appointed times because the appointed (00:02:49) times themselves are so rich and are so deep. (00:02:53) It's very hard to speak to everything that's related to the (00:02:59) appointed time given at the time. (00:03:01) And as a result of that, sometimes Curtis and I tend to (00:03:06) favour more looking at the weightier matters. (00:03:09) And as a result of that, sometimes some of the more, I (00:03:12) don't want to call them basic things, but some of the more (00:03:15) fundamental foundational principles, (00:03:18) especially regarding the shadow picture. (00:03:21) We just don't get the (00:03:23) opportunity to really go at it in detail. (00:03:27) And we've done series in the past (00:03:29) that deal with these more things. (00:03:32) But again, the community is growing, more people are coming (00:03:36) to join us and it will be remiss of us to not revisit these (00:03:42) foundational principles, especially (00:03:44) in regards to the appointed times. (00:03:47) And so one of the reasons we want to begin this journey now (00:03:52) is so that we can relay some of these foundational (00:03:55) principles so that when we get to the (00:03:58) appointed times teachings themselves, (00:04:00) we've got this reminder of the foundation, of the shadow (00:04:05) picture, of the Torah, if you will, so that we can then (00:04:09) look at these deeper weightier matters with a refreshed (00:04:13) pass through the foundation of it. (00:04:16) And so we're going to... (00:04:21) Another reason is, is because I want this series to kind of (00:04:26) almost be like a one stop shop for some of the things (00:04:30) regarding unleavened bread and the spring appointed times. (00:04:34) Because again, Curtis and I have covered some of these (00:04:37) things before, but what tends to happen over the years is (00:04:41) that you get a series here and a series there, (00:04:43) a teaching here, a teaching there. And so (00:04:46) let's bring some of these things together. (00:04:49) That being said, I don't want people to think, oh, no, (00:04:54) we're revisiting the foundation again. We know all of this. (00:04:58) Well, it's always good to revisit these, but I also want to (00:05:02) put this where it's going to be headed to. (00:05:06) I want to take a deeper dive on that specific thing. (00:05:10) What do I mean by that? Let me give everybody a bit of a (00:05:16) series overview of what I hope to achieve with this series (00:05:21) in the lead up to unleavened bread. (00:05:26) We often speak about these topics in our teachings, leaven, (00:05:32) right? We need to get rid of the leaven out of our lives. (00:05:35) We often speak about whitewashing this outward appearance (00:05:40) of religion versus a true work of the heart being done. (00:05:44) Hence the overarching title of religion versus faith. (00:05:50) We often speak about things like the flesh versus the (00:05:53) spirit, the need to overcome in our lives. (00:05:58) This tying in with the renewal of the (00:06:02) mind that the Apostle Paul would speak of. (00:06:05) We often speak about the circumcision of the heart being (00:06:08) more important than say the circumcision of the flesh. (00:06:13) Curtis and I often speak in our (00:06:15) teachings regarding these things. (00:06:18) And like I've said, we've done a (00:06:19) teaching here, a teaching there series here. (00:06:22) And I want to kind of bring all of this together. (00:06:27) These are topics that we think are foundational because the (00:06:31) scripture says these things are important. (00:06:34) This is what the king is looking for. (00:06:37) That being said, though, while all these topics are (00:06:41) important and actually are all (00:06:43) intrinsically linked one to another, (00:06:45) I want this to lead up to the weightier (00:06:50) matter of actually the renewed covenant. (00:06:54) Has anyone ever sat there and thought, what does leaven (00:06:57) have to do with the new covenant? (00:06:59) What does whitewashing have to do with the new covenant? (00:07:03) What does the battle versus flesh versus spirit have to do (00:07:07) with this renewed covenant that's spoken of in scripture? (00:07:11) We often look at these topics in isolation. (00:07:16) And so what I'm wanting to do with this series is kind of (00:07:19) bring it all together actually so that we can have a (00:07:22) bigger, more bird's eye view of it. (00:07:26) Because the more we know about something and the broader (00:07:29) context we have, the better we can understand it. (00:07:33) And I also want to look at how this actually ties into the (00:07:41) fallen state versus what the glorified state will be, (00:07:44) especially through the lens of the new covenant. (00:07:48) This even will get to things to what is at least one of the (00:07:53) purposes of the time domain of (00:07:55) the journey we're in right now. (00:07:57) You know, just to make the point, (00:08:04) Yeshua at the Last Supper, he's about to (00:08:08) go pay the price for the plan of redemption. (00:08:11) He's about to pay that price. (00:08:15) And within the biblical calendar, they were about to enter (00:08:21) in into unleavened bread and (00:08:23) fulfill the spring appointed times. (00:08:26) And he says this really interesting statement. This is my (00:08:29) blood, that which is shed for the renewed covenant. (00:08:34) And so what Yeshua is saying this matters within the (00:08:40) broader context of the plan of redemption. (00:08:43) And so again, we look at these topics like leaven, (00:08:46) whitewashing, overcoming, and we (00:08:49) tend to look at them in isolation. (00:08:50) We don't look at them within the context of the broader (00:08:53) plan of redemption and how this (00:08:55) even ties into the new covenant. (00:08:58) You know, in Ezekiel 36, it speaks of the new covenant that (00:09:03) Elohim will sprinkle our hearts and (00:09:06) that he will circumcise our hearts. (00:09:09) And the outcome of that will be that (00:09:11) we will transgress his covenant no more. (00:09:13) And we from the Western mindset almost have this idea that (00:09:18) once we're glorified, Elohim is essentially going to wave (00:09:22) his magic wand and all of a sudden (00:09:24) we're going to be this perfect new creation. (00:09:27) And we but we missed the thing of well, then why is he (00:09:32) asking us to rid the leaven now while we're fallen? (00:09:36) Why does he ask us to overcome the flesh and yield to the (00:09:41) spirit now while in the fallen state? (00:09:45) Because if God was just going to wave his magic wand and (00:09:48) take all this stuff away from us, well, (00:09:50) what's the purpose of overcoming it now? (00:09:53) And so we never think of these (00:09:55) things in its broader context. (00:09:58) This is why I believe that leaven or ridding leaven from (00:10:02) our lives, you know, dealing with the whitewashing of our (00:10:06) tombs, the power of overcoming this heart circumcision now (00:10:11) in the flesh, now while we're fallen. (00:10:14) How does this all play into what (00:10:17) things will be like in the glorified state? (00:10:19) How does this tie into the renewed covenant? (00:10:21) And ultimately, one of the big drivers for why Elohim would (00:10:26) even put us in a time domain in a fallen state. (00:10:30) So this is what I'm actually hoping to do with the series. (00:10:33) It's not just the, oh, let's (00:10:35) revisit the foundation for the sake of it. (00:10:38) Let's revisit it. (00:10:39) Let's define it so that we can get a better understanding (00:10:44) essentially of his plan of redemption. (00:10:46) And so I hope people hear the heart of where I'm trying to (00:10:51) come from regarding doing this series. (00:10:56) Plus, there is the added benefit that we can relay some of (00:11:00) the foundations so that when we do come to the appointed (00:11:03) times teaching, we can look at the deeper matters within a (00:11:07) broader context, having a better, firmer foundation. (00:11:11) OK. (00:11:13) OK. (00:11:15) Something worth noting. (00:11:18) The Western Greek mindset is more (00:11:22) abstract, conceptual and ethereal. (00:11:27) So when we look at topics like leaven, whitewashing, flesh (00:11:32) versus spirit, overcoming, these topics that I mentioned on (00:11:37) this prior slide, these ones from (00:11:40) our Western Greco-Roman mindsets, (00:11:42) we tend to over-spiritualize these things. (00:11:46) What does it actually mean to have the renewal of the mind? (00:11:50) Again, is this Elohim wave the magic one (00:11:53) moment or is this a journey in a process? (00:11:56) One of the questions we face a lot as teachers is, OK, (00:12:01) Michael Curtis, we understand what you're saying, but how (00:12:03) does this apply to us practically? (00:12:07) Right. (00:12:08) And again, it's a good question. (00:12:11) But we as a culture in this modern Western Greco-Roman (00:12:16) mindset, we tend to spiritualize these things. (00:12:19) Why is this worth noting? (00:12:21) Because the Hebrew mindset is concrete, literal. (00:12:27) It's creation based in the sense that Elohim has created a (00:12:31) creation that is actually teaching us the way it matters (00:12:34) and it's actually action based and practical. (00:12:38) So to an ancient Hebrew topics like overcoming the power of (00:12:44) the Ruach, flesh versus spirit, ridding the leaven in our (00:12:49) lives, these were actually way more practical. (00:12:52) It is us now almost two thousand years removed that have (00:12:56) over-spiritualized these things. (00:12:58) And so this is why I really appreciate the question. (00:13:01) OK, what does this look like practically in our lives? (00:13:06) We have to understand there is a shadow picture, literal (00:13:09) creation based aspect to this, (00:13:12) you know, a Torah commandment. (00:13:15) But these things actually point to a deeper weightier (00:13:19) matter that is spiritual in nature. (00:13:21) So how do we view that from a Hebrew mindset? (00:13:26) And so this is why I want to again go over, revisit some of (00:13:31) the foundations of our faith so that we can view the deeper (00:13:36) weightier spiritual matters like the renewed covenant, like (00:13:39) the glorified state, like the millennial reign, the plan of (00:13:43) redemption from a Hebrew mindset and (00:13:46) not this overly spiritualized mindset. (00:13:49) I hope that makes sense. (00:13:52) So today we're going to look at leaven specifically. (00:13:58) And what leaven is, what the dangers of leaven are, how (00:14:02) this can manifest in our lives, how we are to deal with it, (00:14:05) because once you understand what it is, you can actually (00:14:08) know how to deal with it, too, for the best part. (00:14:12) And today we're going to look at leaven so that next week (00:14:15) we can go to this place of, well, how does leaven then lead (00:14:21) to us whitewashing the outside of our tomb? (00:14:24) OK, so you have a rough idea of where we go in today and (00:14:28) next week, but you also have this (00:14:30) greater context of where we're headed to. (00:14:34) So what is leaven? It's a good question, right? (00:14:36) What is leaven? It doesn't matter what I say or what Curtis (00:14:41) says or even what you say, we need to look at what the king (00:14:46) said because the king defined leaven for (00:14:49) us very, very clearly, extremely clearly. (00:14:53) It's a black and white matter according to the king. So (00:14:56) what does the king have to say on this? (00:15:00) Let's look at Matthew 16 from verses five. (00:15:03) When the disciples reached the other side, they had (00:15:09) forgotten to bring any bread. (00:15:12) Yeshua said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the (00:15:16) Pharisees and the Sadducees." (00:15:19) And they began discussing it among (00:15:20) themselves, saying, "We brought no bread." (00:15:24) But Yeshua, aware of this, said, "O you of little faith, (00:15:29) why are you discussing among (00:15:30) yourselves the fact that you have no bread?" (00:15:34) And so right off the bat, Yeshua is attributing the (00:15:40) definition of leaven to something that was going on at that (00:15:44) particular time, and he's (00:15:45) attributing it to the Pharisees and Sadducees. (00:15:47) But what we see from verse eight is that (00:15:52) leaven is being linked to a lack of faith. (00:15:57) Not that a lack of faith causes leaven in our lives. I (00:16:02) would make the point that leaven causes a lack of faith. (00:16:07) What's really interesting is that the disciples were (00:16:10) focusing on the fleshly matters. (00:16:13) Yeshua is clearly speaking to them in a way, trying to get (00:16:16) away to a matter across to them, right? (00:16:19) He's saying, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and (00:16:21) Sadducees. What are the disciples automatically going to? (00:16:26) The physical. We've got no bread." (00:16:29) And so could it be that leaven in the disciples was (00:16:34) actually preventing them from hearing (00:16:38) and seeing what Yeshua was truly saying? (00:16:40) Because what it was doing, it was shifting the focus away (00:16:45) from the weightier matter and saying focus (00:16:47) on the flesh. Is this an outcome of leaven? (00:16:51) I believe so. And this will become abundantly clear as we (00:16:55) go through today's teaching and the rest of the series. (00:16:59) Their lack of faith, which I would argue was being caused (00:17:03) by leaven, was blinding them from truly (00:17:06) understanding what Yeshua was speaking about. (00:17:08) They were focusing on fleshly matters. OK, so leaven (00:17:15) causing a lack of faith and causing you to focus on the (00:17:20) physical, on the shadow picture. (00:17:24) Let's keep going. (00:17:27) Do you not perceive or do you not understand? Is what (00:17:32) Yeshua is saying to his disciples? (00:17:33) So now leaven is also known. Is it forcing you to not (00:17:39) forcing you, but the outcome of it (00:17:41) is that you focus on what is physical. (00:17:44) What is the shadow picture? But it actually prevents you (00:17:48) from perceiving and understanding something. (00:17:52) Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand (00:17:56) and how many baskets you gathered or the seven loaves for (00:18:00) the four thousand and how many baskets you gathered? (00:18:03) How is it that you failed to understand that I did not (00:18:07) speak about bread? Beware of the (00:18:10) leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. (00:18:14) And so that Yeshua is saying to his disciples, guys, come (00:18:18) on, the leaven is blinding you. (00:18:21) You're not able to understand what I'm hearing. And he's (00:18:25) reminding them of these two miracles. (00:18:28) This is where you see how the leaven in the disciples was (00:18:31) actually causing the disciples to have a lack of faith. (00:18:36) They'd already forgotten. The feeding of the five thousand (00:18:40) had just occurred, by the way, (00:18:41) in the context of this passage. (00:18:44) And you're saying, have you already (00:18:45) forgotten the miracle? Where is your faith? (00:18:49) Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of (00:18:54) the leaven of bread, but of and here's the definition of (00:18:59) the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. (00:19:04) The teachings, the king defined (00:19:07) leaven as the teachings of men. (00:19:10) The men in that particular time were (00:19:13) mainly the Pharisees and Sadducees. (00:19:16) But today, obviously, we don't have literal Pharisees and (00:19:20) Sadducees, but we do have those in (00:19:22) positions of spiritual authority, shall we say. (00:19:28) The king defined leaven as the teachings of men. (00:19:32) And in this specific passage, it's (00:19:34) speaking of the leaven within a religious context. (00:19:37) I say this because it's important. (00:19:42) When you understand that leaven is the teachings of men, (00:19:47) the teachings of men, not that of (00:19:50) Elohim, can come through various avenues. (00:19:54) It can come from the religious side, but (00:19:57) it can also come from the secular side. (00:20:01) It can come from the political side, (00:20:04) as we're going to see in this teaching. (00:20:07) It can even come through the cultural side. (00:20:11) Let me give an example. (00:20:14) Leaven are the teachings of men that would teach contrary (00:20:20) to things that are clearly defined in scripture. (00:20:24) So let's use the family nucleus as an example. (00:20:30) The Torah and the word is very clear as to what the order (00:20:34) of the family nucleus should look like. (00:20:38) That it's Elohim, that it's Messiah, the husband, the (00:20:43) mother, and then the children. (00:20:46) Scripture defines what a family should look like. (00:20:48) Now, in some religions, that has been put upside down. (00:20:56) But culture, right? (00:20:58) There are certain cultures right now on the earth that have (00:21:01) a different definition of what a (00:21:03) family nucleus should look like. (00:21:06) This can also come from the secular world. (00:21:08) The secular world right now, especially in the Western (00:21:11) world, has its own definition of (00:21:15) what a family should look like. (00:21:16) But what does the scripture say? (00:21:22) So when we're dealing with things regarding what scripture (00:21:26) clearly defines, do the teachings of men contradict that? (00:21:31) Because if they do, leaven is creeping in. (00:21:35) This is only in regards to things (00:21:37) that are defined by the scripture. (00:21:38) We have to be very careful. (00:21:40) And I can give many, many, many other examples of leaven. (00:21:44) You know, let's look at... (00:21:47) Look, we're dealing essentially (00:21:49) with the lead up to the spring feasts. (00:21:51) The Torah clearly defines what (00:21:54) the spring feasts are to look like. (00:21:57) But unfortunately, through mystery Babylon, there's been (00:22:04) some of the teachings of men that have crept in. (00:22:07) And this is how things like Easter, (00:22:12) Christmas, these things have come in. (00:22:16) The teachings of men have come in and (00:22:18) contradicted what the scripture clearly defines. (00:22:23) And so the king is defining leaven as the teachings of men (00:22:27) that would seek to redefine things (00:22:30) that are clearly listed in scripture. (00:22:32) Now, in this particular context, it was a religious one, (00:22:36) but understand that it can come from other avenues. (00:22:40) When you have the definition that is the teachings of men, (00:22:45) that's changing the depth, (00:22:47) trying to change what scripture says, (00:22:49) now you realize that leaven can (00:22:51) come in from many different angles. (00:22:53) Whether it seeks to redefine the appointed times, whether (00:22:58) it seeks to redefine the order of the (00:23:01) family nucleus, like fill in the blank. (00:23:05) Okay. (00:23:06) Leaven is the teachings of men. (00:23:12) Let's keep going. (00:23:14) Leaven will have many outcomes and (00:23:17) one of them is clearly stated here. (00:23:19) Luke 12 verse 1. (00:23:24) "In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had (00:23:28) gathered together that they were trampling one another, (00:23:31) he began to say to his disciples first, beware of the (00:23:35) leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." (00:23:40) Okay. (00:23:41) Now, people will say that leaven is hypocrisy. (00:23:42) The Greek is a, the translation from Greek into Hebrew, (00:23:48) into English, sorry, kind of makes (00:23:51) it seem like leaven is hypocrisy, (00:23:54) but we've just read that leaven is the teachings of men. (00:24:00) When you have leaven in your life, the outcome of (00:24:05) entertaining that leaven will actually lead us to becoming (00:24:09) hypocrites regarding our faith. (00:24:10) I believe that what the word is saying is that the outcome (00:24:15) of leaven will be hypocrisy, (00:24:17) especially regarding our faith. (00:24:21) And so again, let's use a really easy (00:24:25) example with the spring appointed times. (00:24:28) Scripture very clearly defines what (00:24:30) the spring appointed times looks like. (00:24:32) Not only does it define it, it actually gives us the (00:24:35) witness of how those spring (00:24:37) appointed times were literally fulfilled, (00:24:40) almost 2000 years ago. (00:24:43) Unfortunately, many of us that came from, let's say, a (00:24:46) Christian background, inherited this leaven called Easter, (00:24:50) where you have Easter bunnies and eggs and all of this, and (00:24:54) we say, "Oh, this is all about Jesus." (00:24:57) Can you see how entertaining, say, the leaven of Easter may (00:25:01) cause us to be hypocrites regarding the biblical faith? (00:25:05) We claim to follow Scripture, yet (00:25:09) we're entertaining this teaching of man. (00:25:12) Same with Christmas. (00:25:14) How about the order of the family nucleus? (00:25:18) Oh, we claim to be biblical, but yet our (00:25:23) family nucleus is completely upside down. (00:25:25) You get a disconnect, and this hypocrisy that comes about (00:25:32) as an outcome of entertaining leaven is actually one of the (00:25:35) main reasons non-believers would actually ridicule you, (00:25:40) because they can see the hypocrisy. (00:25:43) They can go, "Well, hang on. Your Bible (00:25:46) says this, yet you do that. What's going on?" (00:25:49) They can see it. (00:25:51) And so leaven in our lives will lead us to becoming (00:25:56) hypocrites regarding our faith. (00:25:59) Again, I could give many, many, many examples regarding (00:26:01) this, but let's just use obvious ones, okay? (00:26:12) Point in case, let's look for another witness in this that (00:26:15) will bring about these definitions and the outcome of (00:26:19) leaven in clear, sharp focus. (00:26:21) This is a famous passage that many of us have come across (00:26:24) already. It's Mark, chapter 7. (00:26:27) Now, when the Pharisees gathered to him with some of the (00:26:30) scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of (00:26:34) his disciples ate with hands that (00:26:36) were defiled, that is, unwashed. (00:26:40) And it goes on to define what Mark is saying. (00:26:43) "For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they (00:26:47) wash their hands properly, (00:26:49) holding to the tradition of the elders. (00:26:53) Not according to the Torah, according to the traditions. (00:26:58) And when they come from the (00:26:59) marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. (00:27:03) And there are many other traditions that they observe, such (00:27:07) as the washing of cups and pots and (00:27:09) copper vessels and dining couches." (00:27:12) If any of you have ever read Mishneh-Iqh or Talmudic (00:27:16) literature, you'll see that these traditions are very (00:27:19) extensive, extremely extensive, and (00:27:22) actually they create a form of bondage. (00:27:27) And so, again, Mark is clearly defining that the religious (00:27:33) elders have got these teachings, the teachings and (00:27:36) traditions of men that are being (00:27:39) used to address faith-based matters. (00:27:43) Now, here's what's interesting. While these traditions are (00:27:47) not found in the Torah, the traditions actually had a (00:27:52) "Torah basis" for their existence. (00:27:58) The Pharisees and the Sadducees, they (00:28:03) didn't just pluck these ideas out of thin air. (00:28:07) They read things in the Torah regarding ritual washing, but (00:28:12) what they then did is that they took that (00:28:14) concept and added to it of their own volition. (00:28:20) This is key to understand because the traditions would have (00:28:26) had a "Torah basis" for them, (00:28:29) even though they were not Torah. (00:28:31) This gives this tradition a false sense of credibility, if (00:28:37) that makes sense. It essentially (00:28:38) has a Torah or biblical veneer. (00:28:43) Again, let's use Christmas as an example. It's a clear (00:28:46) tradition of men that has come in, but what is said, "Oh, (00:28:50) you know, Jesus is the reason for the season." (00:28:53) They attach a biblical veneer to it that's actually not (00:28:57) found in Scripture. This is what the Pharisees and (00:29:01) Sadducees were doing with these traditions. (00:29:05) This is nothing more than a (00:29:07) veneer to justify honoring them. (00:29:10) Hear me on this. Even though it sounds biblical, even (00:29:16) though it sounds faith-based, (00:29:20) it's not actually in the Scripture. (00:29:23) Because it sounds it, it gives (00:29:25) this false sense of credibility to it. (00:29:28) Why did we in our Christian journeys celebrate Easter with (00:29:35) all its traditions associated? (00:29:37) Why did we celebrate Christmas? (00:29:40) Why did we do these things? We didn't do these things (00:29:42) because we thought we were honoring traditions of men. (00:29:46) When we woke up to that fact, we were (00:29:48) like, "Hang on a minute, what's going on?" (00:29:51) We have to understand that what this is telling you is (00:30:00) actually one of the deceptive aspects to leaven. (00:30:03) It will sound biblical. It will sound reasonable. It will (00:30:08) sound like, "Oh, yeah, I can see why you would do that." (00:30:10) But what does the foundation of the faith (00:30:15) actually say? What does it actually say? (00:30:20) Because if it's not actually there, (00:30:21) anything added on top of it comes from man. (00:30:28) Let's keep going. (00:30:31) The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your (00:30:33) disciples not walk according (00:30:35) to the tradition of the elders?" (00:30:36) Notice even the Pharisees, they weren't saying, "Why do (00:30:41) they not walk according to the Torah?" (00:30:44) They're not even asking that. And the question is saying, (00:30:46) "Why do you not walk according to our (00:30:48) traditions, but eat with defiled hands?" (00:30:52) And he said to them, "Well, did (00:30:54) Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites?" (00:30:58) Now we're going to see how the (00:31:01) outcome of leaven is hypocrisy. (00:31:03) As it is written, "This people honours me with their lips, (00:31:09) but their heart is far from me. (00:31:12) In vain do they worship me, teaching (00:31:15) as doctrines the commandments of men. (00:31:19) You leave the commandment of Elohim (00:31:21) and hold to the tradition of men." (00:31:25) And so Mark chapter seven is clearly showing you that (00:31:29) leaven is not hypocrisy in of itself. (00:31:35) Leaven will lead you to being a hypocrite. The outcome of (00:31:40) entertaining leaven in our lives, which is clearly defined (00:31:43) as the teachings and traditions of men, (00:31:48) entertaining that the outcome of that will be hypocrisy (00:31:51) because you claim one thing but do another, (00:31:56) which means that now your (00:31:58) faith-based witness is found wanting. (00:32:03) You claim to be a biblical follower, but yet you're holding (00:32:08) this over the Bible. There's a disconnect. (00:32:12) This passage is also telling you some of the other outcomes (00:32:16) of leaven. Hypocrisy, no heart circumcision. (00:32:21) Look, "You honour me with your (00:32:25) lips, but their heart is far from me." (00:32:29) You get this thing of they have the outward appearance of (00:32:33) godliness but deny its power, right? (00:32:36) A religious outward appearance (00:32:39) that actually amounts to nothing. (00:32:43) In vain do they worship me. You're saying you're (00:32:47) worshipping me, but it's for naught. (00:32:50) So the outcome of entertaining this stuff is that, yeah, we (00:32:53) may look good on the outside. It may sound biblical. (00:32:57) It may even have a biblical basis to some degree, but it's (00:33:03) not actually there and it (00:33:06) doesn't actually amount to anything. (00:33:08) Now, Yeshua is quoting Isaiah 29 verses 9 through to 14. (00:33:15) When you read what that passage actually says, it also (00:33:19) tells you that the outcome of this (00:33:20) is spiritual blindness and deafness. (00:33:24) That literally Yah will pour out the spirit of deep sleep. (00:33:28) And not only that, the another outcome is no discernment (00:33:33) because Isaiah goes on to say it will be (00:33:36) like they're reading a book or a scroll. (00:33:39) And even though they can read it, they can't understand it. (00:33:41) It's as if they're reading it and go in, I can't read. (00:33:45) And so what Yeshua is literally saying is, guys, because (00:33:50) you entertain the traditions and teachings of men, it's (00:33:55) causing you to be hypocrites. (00:33:58) Your heart is not being circumcised. You have an outward (00:34:01) religious appearance that (00:34:02) doesn't mean anything to well, oh, him. (00:34:05) And not only that, you're becoming spiritually blind and (00:34:08) deaf and you have no discernment. (00:34:11) Again, think back to what Yeshua was saying to his (00:34:14) disciples. Do you not yet perceive? (00:34:18) And what was one of the reasons for that? Because they were (00:34:21) focusing on fleshly physical matters. (00:34:25) It's like they couldn't see the way (00:34:27) to your matter. All because of leaven. (00:34:29) We forget that the disciples were raised before they came (00:34:39) to you. Well, before Yeshua came (00:34:40) to them and said, come follow me. (00:34:43) What was their experience? What was the disciples (00:34:45) experience of the faith? It was the (00:34:47) synagogues. It was the scribes, the Pharisees. (00:34:51) This meant that the disciples came (00:34:53) with leaven. In fact, we know they did. (00:34:56) And part of the reason that Yeshua (00:34:58) discipled them was to get that leaven out. (00:35:07) Why did he need to get that leaven out? Yeshua was going to (00:35:09) use them in a very powerful way. And it's like, guys, if (00:35:12) I'm to use you, I can't have you (00:35:14) running around on the battlefield blind, deaf, (00:35:17) undiscerning, full of hypocrisy. I can't have that. (00:35:26) Let's keep going. And he said to them, you have a fine way (00:35:28) of rejecting the commandment of Elohim (00:35:31) in order to establish your tradition. (00:35:33) So now Yeshua is literally going to expose how their leaven (00:35:37) is causing them to be hypocrites. (00:35:40) For Moses said, honor your father and your mother and (00:35:44) whoever reviles father or mother must surely die. (00:35:48) But you say if a man tells his father or mother, whatever (00:35:52) you would have gained from me is Corban, that is given to (00:35:56) Elohim, then you no longer permit him (00:35:59) to do anything for his father or mother. (00:36:01) Thus making void the word of Elohim by your tradition that (00:36:06) you have handed down and many such things you do. (00:36:11) For those of you who don't know, one of the traditions that (00:36:15) the Pharisees have, what would happen is that when the (00:36:21) father and mother would give the inheritance to the (00:36:24) children, they would normally (00:36:26) give a double portion to the eldest. (00:36:30) The reason that was is that the eldest would then become (00:36:35) the new leader of the family and that double portion would (00:36:38) actually help them to A) keep the family afloat, to run the (00:36:42) family financially, but it would have also meant that the (00:36:46) mother and father could have (00:36:47) been looked after in their old age. (00:36:50) Again, why? Honor your father and your mother. (00:36:55) You know, things are very different today where people have (00:36:58) their own wages and every generation of a family is (00:37:02) essentially its own family unit. (00:37:04) That wasn't the case back then. (00:37:06) It was literally multiple generations of one family, all (00:37:12) essentially in one abode, if you want to call it that. (00:37:17) And you had one person overseeing the family. Now, what the (00:37:21) Pharisees and Sadducees were saying, if you give this (00:37:26) money, this double portion, this extra money, if you give (00:37:30) it to the temple, you don't have to look after your father (00:37:34) and mother because you've given it to Elohim. (00:37:37) That's the reason that's what Yeshua is exposing. (00:37:42) And so what would end up happening is that now you have an (00:37:46) elderly father and mother passing on the inheritance and (00:37:50) the religious authorities are saying, no, no, no, no, you (00:37:52) can give this to the temple and you know, that's more (00:37:56) honorable than this, essentially. (00:37:59) Do you see what was going on? (00:38:01) And here's the other thing, the religious elites actually (00:38:07) stood to gain a lot because of this tradition. (00:38:12) They actually, believe me, they were (00:38:14) lining their pockets because of this. (00:38:19) And so here you're seeing that the outcome of entertaining (00:38:24) leaven, not only is it damaging family nucleuses in a very (00:38:28) real way, it's causing people to not be able to get their own wages. (00:38:29) It's causing people to not be cared and (00:38:31) looked after as per the will of Elohim. (00:38:34) But another outcome is that it will put (00:38:36) men in the place that Messiah ought to be. (00:38:41) Because look what this Pharisees through their tradition, (00:38:45) they're saying, oh, no, no, no, it doesn't matter. (00:38:49) It doesn't matter about your. (00:38:53) Yah's asking the family overseer, you look after your (00:38:59) father and mother in their old age, but the religious (00:39:02) authorities are saying, don't worry about that. (00:39:05) Who's now above? (00:39:08) Who's now on the throne? (00:39:09) Is Elohim on throne or are the (00:39:11) religious authorities on the throne? (00:39:13) Do you see what's going on? (00:39:17) All because of the teachings and traditions of men, family (00:39:21) units being broken, elderly fathers (00:39:26) and mothers being kicked to the dirt. (00:39:30) Again, men being put in the place of Messiah. (00:39:35) All because of a tradition. (00:39:38) And this is just one of them. (00:39:40) And so it wreaks destruction in our lives. (00:39:46) It wreaks bad fruit. (00:39:52) Again, look at the family nucleus now and what's happening (00:39:55) with the modern day family agenda. (00:39:58) Look at the fruit that is causing broken (00:40:01) children, broken parents, broken societies. (00:40:04) The list goes on. All because we forgot what the biblical wisdom is. (00:40:14) Let's define leaven further. (00:40:21) Mark chapter eight. (00:40:24) This is the same incident, but it gives a different detail. (00:40:28) Now they had forgotten to bring bread and (00:40:31) they only had one loaf with them in the boat. (00:40:33) And he cautioned them saying, watch out, beware of the (00:40:37) leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. (00:40:40) And they began discussing with one (00:40:41) another the fact that they had no bread. (00:40:45) Same incident. (00:40:46) But what's really interesting is that in the previous (00:40:49) passage, it says, watch out for the (00:40:51) leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. (00:40:54) Here it's saying the leaven of the (00:40:56) Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. (00:40:58) Now we know who Herod was, right? (00:41:00) He was the ruler of the area at the time. (00:41:05) He was a political figure. (00:41:07) Okay. (00:41:08) Now, what's interesting in verse 15 is actually an (00:41:11) alternate reading, which says, (00:41:14) beware of the leaven of the Herodians. (00:41:17) And this group is identified instead of the Sadducees. (00:41:21) And so do we have a disconnect in scripture? (00:41:26) I believe not. (00:41:28) I believe it's actually giving you added detail. (00:41:31) It's actually giving you added detail. (00:41:34) But for that, what did you sure mean, the leaven of Herod? (00:41:38) Because, okay, Pharisees, (00:41:41) Sadducees, that's a religious context. (00:41:44) Herod, that's a political context. (00:41:48) And who are these Herodians? (00:41:50) Because they show up in other places in the Gospels. (00:41:53) And so who are the Herodians? (00:41:55) What are the Herodians? (00:41:56) And what is their leaven? (00:41:59) Because you're sure saying, watch out for this stuff. (00:42:06) You sure aware of this. (00:42:08) We'll get to this, by the way, who the Herodians are. (00:42:11) Said to them, why are you (00:42:12) discussing the fact that you have no bread? (00:42:15) Do you not yet perceive or understand? (00:42:17) Are your hearts hardened? (00:42:20) Having eyes, do you not see? (00:42:22) And having ears, do you not hear? (00:42:24) And do you not remember? (00:42:26) So now this passage is giving (00:42:28) us even more outcomes of leaven. (00:42:31) Not being able to understand, having hard hearts, eyes that (00:42:36) do not see, ears that do not hear, (00:42:38) and a very, you know, a short term memory. (00:42:43) When I broke up the five loaves for the 5,000, how many (00:42:46) baskets of full broken pieces did you take up? (00:42:49) They said to him, 12. (00:42:50) And the seven for the 4,000, how many baskets full of (00:42:54) broken pieces did you take up? (00:42:56) And they said to him, seven. (00:42:58) And he said to them, do you not yet understand? (00:43:03) Do you see what's going on? (00:43:05) Because remember, the disciples (00:43:06) came to Yeshua filled with leaven. (00:43:10) And that was part of the reason of the discipleship (00:43:12) process, to get that stuff out of (00:43:14) them so that they could be used. (00:43:22) So who were the Herodians? (00:43:25) Because Yeshua is saying, watch out for this stuff. (00:43:28) Watch out for the religious stuff. (00:43:30) But also watch out for this stuff that (00:43:32) actually has a political aspect to it. (00:43:35) Interesting. (00:43:36) Especially when you see what's going (00:43:37) on now in the modern Western world. (00:43:41) And politics is being brought into faith-based ideology. (00:43:46) Nothing new under the sun. (00:43:49) Who were the Herodians? (00:43:51) Okay. (00:43:53) A little history lesson. (00:43:55) And this is very broad brushstrokes. (00:43:57) I went on a really deep dive on this. (00:43:59) It's fascinating. (00:44:00) In the time of Yeshua, the two main religious groups that (00:44:06) held religious and political power (00:44:08) were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. (00:44:11) Okay. (00:44:11) Now, the Pharisees and Sadducees did not get on at all. (00:44:14) To the point where the Pharisees basically said that the (00:44:19) Sadducees would burn in the lake of fire. (00:44:22) We actually have record of this (00:44:23) in the Mishnah and the Talmud. (00:44:26) The Pharisees hated the Sadducees. (00:44:29) Okay. (00:44:30) And we see evidence of this even in the Gospels. (00:44:33) Okay. (00:44:34) Now, people will say, well, what about the Essenes? (00:44:37) The Essenes did not hold prestigious influential positions. (00:44:43) Okay. (00:44:45) It was the Pharisees and the Sadducees that held the (00:44:50) influential prestigious things. (00:44:53) Okay. (00:44:55) Within the Sadducees, however, again, you can divide the (00:44:59) Sadducees into two main groups. (00:45:01) There were other little ones, but there (00:45:03) were two main groups within the Sadducees. (00:45:07) There were those that were (00:45:08) pro-Herodian and those that were pro-Hasmonean. (00:45:12) Okay. (00:45:13) What does this mean? (00:45:15) Herod, the Herodians and the Hasmoneans were the two main (00:45:20) kingly lines, if I can call it that. (00:45:24) The two main families that had rulership over Judea. (00:45:30) You've got to remember that the ancient biblical lands of (00:45:34) that time were overseen by Rome. (00:45:37) And what Rome would do, it would (00:45:39) put people in positions of power. (00:45:41) So you would have things like Pilate, you would have Herod, (00:45:46) and think of them as these many rulers that had rules over (00:45:50) areas that were all subservient under Rome. (00:45:54) It was like a ruling governance. (00:45:56) Okay. (00:45:57) You know, pardon the analogy or, you know, rulers of tens, (00:46:02) fifties, hundreds and so forth. (00:46:04) You essentially had this (00:46:05) pyramid top-down government going on. (00:46:07) Now, the Hasmoneans, these were the ones that you read (00:46:13) about regarding the Maccabees. (00:46:15) You know, Judah Maccabee? (00:46:17) He was a Hasmonean. (00:46:19) Okay. (00:46:19) And the Hasmonean line came from (00:46:22) Judah Maccabees and his family. (00:46:25) Now, Herod was another, the Herodians were another family (00:46:29) group that had political power over the ancient lands and (00:46:34) various parts of those things. (00:46:36) And these, again, all subservient under Rome. (00:46:41) Okay. (00:46:42) And so within the Sadducees, they all agreed on doctrine (00:46:49) amongst themselves, but where they (00:46:51) differed were their political views. (00:46:54) And so they were divided over politics. (00:46:58) It's interesting. (00:46:58) So you have Pharisees on one side that were very (00:47:02) anti-government, but just grin and bore it, so to speak. (00:47:07) Then you had the Sadducees, but the Sadducees were divided (00:47:10) over their political alignment. (00:47:13) Think left, right. (00:47:15) Herodian, Hasmonean. (00:47:18) Interesting. (00:47:19) This is probably why Herod Antipas married his brother's (00:47:26) ex-wife Herodias, as she was of (00:47:29) Hasmonean descent on her mother's side. (00:47:33) So Herod Antipas, when you look at the Herodian family (00:47:36) line, all of the men are called Herod something. (00:47:41) Herod Antipas. (00:47:42) Herod the Great. (00:47:43) It was like a name associated with the title. (00:47:50) Now, remember, you know, the (00:47:53) whole incident with John the Baptist. (00:47:55) This is this particular Herod that we're speaking of. (00:47:58) This is not the Herod that tried to kill Yeshua by sending (00:48:03) out the decree to kill all the young (00:48:06) men under two, the young boys under two. (00:48:08) That was Herod the Great. (00:48:09) This is his grandson, if I'm not mistaken here. (00:48:15) Now, remember that John the Baptist was like saying, "Hey, (00:48:18) you can't marry your brother's wife?" (00:48:21) Well, this is this incident here. (00:48:24) Now, Herodias was actually of (00:48:26) Hasmonean descent on her mother's side. (00:48:30) So what Herod was actually doing by marrying her, it's (00:48:35) thought that he was actually trying to gain. (00:48:38) He was trying to get the support from (00:48:41) the Sadducees who were Pro-Hasmonean. (00:48:45) It was all politics. (00:48:49) And those of the faith were being caught up in it. (00:48:52) And Yeshua is saying, "Watch out for this stuff." (00:48:58) Herodias was also Herod's niece, making her a Herodian. (00:49:03) Most people don't know this. (00:49:04) So not only was Herod marrying his brother's wife, (00:49:09) technically his half-brother, (00:49:11) he was also marrying his niece. (00:49:15) And when I was doing a deep dive on the Herodian family, I (00:49:18) realized that they're actually really incestual. (00:49:21) There's a lot of incest going on within Herod's family (00:49:23) line, and most people don't know that. (00:49:27) And so Herodias on her father's side was Herodian, but on (00:49:34) her mother's side she was Hasmonean. (00:49:37) And so it would serve Herod (00:49:39) very well politically to marry her. (00:49:45) I know this sounds a bit confusing, so (00:49:47) let's actually look at a family tree. (00:49:50) Now, this is really important to understand the social (00:49:53) religious context of what was going on at the time. (00:49:56) At the very top here we have Herod the Great. (00:50:00) Herod the Great is the one that sent out (00:50:03) the order to kill all the boys to and under. (00:50:06) So he tried to kill Yeshua. That was Herod the Great. (00:50:11) Herod the Great, as you can see from (00:50:13) this line, had many wives. Okay? Many wives. (00:50:18) And so we have this wife here, Mariame the First. She was (00:50:24) Hasmonean, and her granddaughter was Herodias. Okay? (00:50:32) Now again, Herod the Great had many wives. From Malthus, (00:50:38) the Samaritan woman, came Herod Antipas. (00:50:41) This is the Herod mentioned regarding (00:50:44) John the Baptist and chopping off his head. (00:50:48) Now, Herod Antipas had a brother or a (00:50:54) half-brother called Herod Philip. Okay? (00:50:59) Herod Philip is the brother (00:51:02) spoken of in the Gospel accounts. Okay? (00:51:06) He was the first husband of Herodias. (00:51:09) So Herod Philip was Herod Antipas' half-brother. Same (00:51:16) father, different mothers. Okay? (00:51:21) And so Herodias goes from Herod Philip to Herod Antipas. (00:51:26) This is what John the Baptist was rebuking. (00:51:29) But what's interesting, you can see (00:51:31) that Herodias was a niece to both of them. (00:51:35) And there's all kinds of incest (00:51:37) going on within the Herodian family line. (00:51:42) So not only was the marriage biblically unlawful because (00:51:46) he's marrying his brother's wife, it's incestuous. (00:51:51) And yeah, so know that this is what's going on. (00:51:56) But another reason that Herodias married Herod Antipas? (00:52:01) Herodias was a scheming kniver (00:52:03) when you read up the history on her. (00:52:06) She left Herod Philip because Herod Philip at the time was (00:52:09) not a ruler like Herod Antipas was. (00:52:12) So she went to Herod Antipas so that she could be the wife (00:52:16) of a ruler. She had political motivations. (00:52:19) But Herod Antipas was doing it, I believe, to gain support (00:52:24) from the Sadducees that were pro-Hazmonian. (00:52:27) It was all politics going on. And you're sure saying, don't (00:52:32) let this stuff come in. Watch out. (00:52:36) Because I can guarantee you that this (00:52:38) was dressed up with a religious veneer. (00:52:42) Oh, we need to follow this ruler because they support the (00:52:46) Hasmonean line. And look at what the Maccabees did. (00:52:51) Believe me, the political leaven came into the faith at the (00:52:55) time. In fact, you sure dealt with (00:52:58) political leaven with Peter and Judas. (00:53:01) The Herodian Sadducees are thought to be the same as a (00:53:10) group called the Boethusians. What does this even mean? (00:53:16) The House of Boethus was a family that was picked by the (00:53:20) Herodian dynasty from which several high priests came from. (00:53:24) So remember Herod the Great at the top of the family chart? (00:53:31) He did something very interesting. (00:53:34) In 25 BC, Herod the Great made Simon the son of Boethus. (00:53:39) Boethus was a family. He made (00:53:43) Simon the son of Boethus high priest. (00:53:46) Already we can see a Torah conflict going on because how (00:53:50) were the high priests determined? Not by (00:53:53) political power, but by the line of Aaron. (00:53:56) And so now politics is mucking around with the lineage of (00:54:00) the high priest. This political leaven, this teaching of (00:54:04) men is coming in and corrupting the faith. (00:54:06) The reason he did that is so that he could marry Simon's (00:54:11) sister and it not be viewed as mizalience. (00:54:16) Mizalience is essentially when you marry (00:54:19) someone that is below your social status. (00:54:23) And so Herod the Great wanted to marry Simon's sister. And (00:54:28) I believe it was to bring fresh blood into the family line (00:54:32) because of how incestuous it was. (00:54:35) And so the problem he faced is that he was a ruler and he (00:54:40) cannot be seen to marry someone of lower social status. (00:54:42) So what he did, he raised this family up to essentially the (00:54:47) level of high priests so that he could (00:54:50) marry the daughter and it all be good. (00:54:53) Do you see some conflict going on here? This is what was (00:54:57) going on in the time of Yeshua. (00:55:00) And in fact, from this house of Boethus came several high (00:55:05) priests, which by the way, the (00:55:07) Pharisees did not like at all. (00:55:09) Again, they were vehemently against it. (00:55:15) The Pharisees were vehemently against the Boethusians and (00:55:18) Sadducees, not only for the political reasons, but also the (00:55:22) religious ones, faith-based reasons. (00:55:26) Understand how screwed up it was (00:55:29) essentially is what I'm saying. (00:55:31) But this is going to be interesting because when you (00:55:33) understand the social backdrop of (00:55:35) what was going on in Yeshua's day, (00:55:35) you're really going to begin to (00:55:38) see the power that leaven can have. (00:55:42) And we miss this because we don't (00:55:44) understand the historical context. (00:55:50) Matthew 3 verses 1 to 4. (00:55:53) Again, Yeshua entered the synagogue and a man was there (00:55:56) with a withered hand and they watched Yeshua to see whether (00:56:00) he would heal him on the (00:56:01) Sabbath so that they might accuse him. (00:56:04) So remember, like the Pharisees were taking the Sabbath (00:56:10) rules way out of context and they (00:56:13) were adding in their own things. (00:56:15) So it had a Torah veneer, if you see. It sounded biblical. (00:56:22) And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." (00:56:25) And he said to them, "Is it lawful? (00:56:28) I.e. Is it according to the Torah that on the Sabbath to do (00:56:34) good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" (00:56:39) But they were silent. Yeshua is going right to the word. Is (00:56:43) it lawful? Is it according to the Torah? (00:56:46) "Leaven will eventually make you (00:56:50) become accuser of the unleavened." (00:56:54) Yeshua is exposing their leaven in the synagogue. (00:56:59) Okay. And what are they wanting to do? We need to accuse (00:57:02) him. We need to find a way to trap (00:57:05) him. Why? Because he's exposing them. (00:57:15) It continues, "And he looked around at them with anger, (00:57:20) grieved at their hardness of heart." (00:57:23) Again, their leaven is causing them to be hard-hearted. (00:57:26) "And he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he (00:57:29) stretched it out and his hand was restored." (00:57:32) Now look at this. "The Pharisees (00:57:35) went out and immediately held counsel." (00:57:38) Ooh, look with the Herodians (00:57:40) against him how to destroy him. (00:57:45) When you understand the social political landscape, the (00:57:51) Pharisees would have thrown the (00:57:54) Herodians in the lake of fire. (00:57:56) They were political and spiritual enemies when it came to (00:58:02) doctrine and politics. They were enemies. (00:58:05) But, oh no, now that Yeshua is exposing their leaven, oh (00:58:12) no, no, no. Now we can be (00:58:15) friends with our "mortal enemies." (00:58:20) The leavened would rather join forces with their political (00:58:24) and religious adversaries (00:58:26) rather than let go of their leaven. (00:58:31) This is the power of leaven. (00:58:35) This is its power. (00:58:38) I'm trying to think of a... This is no different than, say, (00:58:44) the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Adventists banding together (00:58:47) because they've got a common enemy. (00:58:51) Those of you who've had SDA and Jehovah Witness backgrounds (00:58:55) know the absurdity of the statement I've just made. (00:58:58) But that's what was going on in (00:59:00) the equivalent of the first century. (00:59:03) This is no different than the Catholics and the Protestants (00:59:07) getting together because they're both being exposed. (00:59:12) This is the power of leaven. (00:59:16) Rather than let go of it and (00:59:18) humble yourself, no, take him out. (00:59:24) Oh, but that couldn't happen to us. Oh no, no, no. (00:59:27) Oh, I've seen this. (00:59:30) People that have been at odds with each other and you give (00:59:34) them some wisdom or counsel or reproof, (00:59:37) and two people that formerly didn't get on now band (00:59:40) together against you because you're (00:59:42) bringing a bit of hard truth into the mix. (00:59:46) Oh, I've had this happen to me, believe me. (00:59:53) Matthew 22, 15 to 18. (00:59:55) And then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him (00:59:58) in his words, and they sent their (01:00:01) disciples to him along with the Herodians saying. (01:00:07) So again, this is... It's (01:00:08) important to know who the Herodians were. (01:00:11) They were more than likely this group (01:00:13) of Sadducees that were pro-Herodian. (01:00:16) Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of (01:00:24) Elohim truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's (01:00:27) opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. (01:00:31) If they really meant this, why (01:00:33) did they not follow his words? (01:00:36) You're seeing the sheer hypocrisy. (01:00:38) Tell us then what you think. (01:00:42) Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (01:00:46) Look at what they're trying to do. (01:00:48) They know they can't catch him out on faith-based matters. (01:00:52) You sure had them cornered on faith-based matters. (01:00:55) So what are they trying to do? (01:00:57) Let's bring politics into it. (01:01:01) They knew exactly what they were doing. (01:01:05) They knew it. (01:01:08) But Yeshua, aware of their malice, said, "Why do you put me (01:01:12) to the test, you hypocrites?" (01:01:16) The outcome of leaven... They will (01:01:18) defend their leaven at all costs. (01:01:20) Not only are they willing to now make an alliance, a (01:01:24) temporary alliance, with their political (01:01:27) and spiritual mortal enemies, so to speak, (01:01:30) but they're willing to do it. (01:01:33) They're scheming, they're machinating, they're plotting, (01:01:38) and they know they're cornered spiritually. (01:01:40) So what do they do? Let's bring politics into it. (01:01:45) Do you now understand why Curtis often (01:01:47) says, "Be biblical and not political"? (01:01:53) Note the mixing of religion and politics. (01:01:55) And Yeshua said, "Do not do it. Watch out for this stuff." (01:02:03) Why? (01:02:05) Again, Yeshua is essentially saying, "Guys, if I'm going to (01:02:08) use you, you can't be blind, you can't be deaf, (01:02:12) and you can't be allowing the things of (01:02:14) this world coming into it, or I can't use you. (01:02:19) It will make you hard-hearted, blind, deaf, undiscerning. (01:02:23) You won't be able to understand the scriptures you read. (01:02:27) You won't be able to hear my voice." (01:02:34) Collosions 2, the Apostle Paul would (01:02:36) go on, "Let no one disqualify you." (01:02:42) Think about that. Disqualify you from what? (01:02:45) The race? How about a reward? (01:02:52) I actually believe Paul is saying, "Let (01:02:54) no one disqualify you from your rewards." (01:02:58) Look at this, insisting on ascetism and worship of angels. (01:03:03) In the English, you get this one word. This is, I think, (01:03:07) the ESV translates it like this. (01:03:09) In the King James, you'll see voluntary humility. In other (01:03:14) translations, you'll see this self-imposed religious thing. (01:03:23) In the Greek, it's actually two words. The first one is (01:03:27) "thello," to have a desire for (01:03:28) something, to have something in mind for oneself. (01:03:31) Look at this, to take pleasure in, to have an opinion, to (01:03:35) wish, to will, to do something voluntarily. (01:03:39) The other word, "to pay no fro su ne," the having of a (01:03:46) humble opinion of oneself, a deep sense of one's (01:03:50) littleness, modesty, humility, lowliness of mind. (01:03:56) What Paul is saying is essentially, "Let no one disqualify (01:04:00) you," insisting on false humility. (01:04:03) You're taking pleasure in the fact that you're putting (01:04:08) yourself across as humble, is what Paul is saying. (01:04:12) Watch out for this, false (01:04:14) humility, and he'll go on to explain. (01:04:17) Go in on in detail about visions puffed (01:04:21) up without reason by his sensuous mind. (01:04:26) We're going to see that this is speaking about the (01:04:29) traditions of men, i.e. the teachings of men, leaven. (01:04:35) Leaven causes you to be puffed up, and the sensuous mind is (01:04:39) essentially speaking of the flesh. (01:04:42) You're focusing on the flesh. You're focusing on this stuff (01:04:46) that has an outward appearance of looking humble. (01:04:51) He's saying, "If you entertain this stuff, you will not (01:04:56) hold fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished (01:05:00) and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows (01:05:03) with the growth that is from Elohim." (01:05:07) Paul is saying, "If you entertain this (01:05:09) stuff, you're not holding fast to the head." (01:05:12) Remember what I said, that leaven will cause you to put man (01:05:16) above Elohim in the place of Messiah. (01:05:20) And not only that, if you're not (01:05:22) holding fast to the head, you're not growing. (01:05:26) You're getting puffed up, but you're not growing. (01:05:30) Leaven will literally stunt spiritual growth. It will stop (01:05:34) it dead in its tracks, believe me. (01:05:37) I've seen people go round and round and round, the (01:05:39) proverbial mountain, year in, year out. Why? Because (01:05:43) leaven. And they can't see it. Why? Because it blinds you. (01:05:53) He goes on, "If with Messiah you died to the elemental (01:05:58) spirits of the world." Okay. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. (01:06:01) The ESV translates as elemental spirits. Other translations (01:06:06) will say the elementary matters. (01:06:10) When you look at the Greek for (01:06:12) this, it's actually one word, stoiheion. (01:06:17) Any first thing, from which others belong into some series (01:06:22) or composite whole take their (01:06:24) eyes. But look at this, an element. (01:06:25) Think the elements that make, you know, think the periodic (01:06:30) table when you see the elements. First principle, the (01:06:35) elements from which all things have come. (01:06:39) Right? The building blocks of the creation, the material (01:06:44) causes of the universe, the elements, the rudiments, (01:06:49) primary and fundamental principles (01:06:50) of any art, science or discipline. (01:06:51) It's essentially speaking about that which makes up the (01:06:56) cosmos, i.e. the creation, i.e. the time (01:07:01) domain. That which is physical, the fleshly. (01:07:09) Okay. It makes, when you know that that's what the word (01:07:13) means, his next statement makes far more sense. (01:07:16) If you died to what is of the time domain, of the creation, (01:07:23) of what is physical, of the world, why as if you were still (01:07:28) alive in the world do you submit to regulations? (01:07:33) Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch. Look at this, (01:07:39) referring to things that all perishes, (01:07:40) they are used, i.e. that which is temporary. (01:07:44) Now look at this, according to (01:07:48) human precepts and teachings. (01:07:53) Paul is saying, if you died to these things, why are you (01:07:58) still going on about them? Why do you (01:08:00) still impose these things upon yourself? (01:08:03) Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch. And he's not (01:08:07) speaking of Torah here. Let's make this abundantly clear. (01:08:13) He's not saying do not taste. He's not speaking of food (01:08:17) laws here. He's speaking about human precepts and (01:08:21) teachings, the traditions of men. (01:08:27) Remember that Paul was dealing with people that were (01:08:29) saying, "Well, you can't eat meat." Where does it say that (01:08:32) in Scripture? It doesn't. It doesn't. (01:08:38) These, now listen to this, these have indeed an appearance (01:08:44) of wisdom. Oh, it sounds good. Oh, it sounds biblical. (01:08:51) In promoting, look at this, self-made (01:08:54) religion. It's not in Scripture, it's from man. (01:08:58) In promoting self-made religion and ascetism, again, this (01:09:04) word again, tepay nōfrosune. (01:09:08) It promotes self-made religion and false humility and (01:09:13) severity to the body, i.e. that which is physical. (01:09:18) But look at this, there of no value in stopping the (01:09:22) indulgence of the flesh. No (01:09:25) value. It looks good, sounds good. (01:09:29) This leaven may even sound biblical. All it's doing is (01:09:34) feeding your flesh. Even if you're (01:09:37) pretend, even this is the irony of it. (01:09:40) You could be promoting false humility and severity and (01:09:44) harshness of the body and it's (01:09:46) actually feeding your flesh. How can that be? (01:09:51) Remember what Paul was dealing with? Oh, well, you can't (01:09:56) eat meat. Oh, you have to fast on this (01:09:58) day. No, you have to fast on that day. (01:10:02) And Paul's saying, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Oh, sure, you (01:10:06) sound and look religious and humble, but actually all (01:10:09) you're doing is feeding your (01:10:11) fleshly nature." How? We'll get to that. (01:10:14) Leaven feeds the flesh. It may have an appearance of (01:10:19) wisdom, but it's self-made religion and false humility. And (01:10:24) boy, is this alive well today. (01:10:28) Look, I'm going to pick on the SDAs because this is where I (01:10:32) came from, so I know this one. But in the SDA theology, (01:10:38) you'll get stuff like you're not (01:10:41) allowed to drink any form of alcohol. (01:10:43) You're not even allowed to drink caffeine in some of them. (01:10:48) Some say it's sin, some say it's not, you know, like they (01:10:52) divide over this a little bit, but you get (01:10:54) these self-made impositions. Don't eat meat. (01:10:59) In fact, they go beyond vegetarianism. They go into (01:11:01) veganism and they make it about their faith. So there's (01:11:06) this promoted veganism and vegetarianism. (01:11:10) You can't drink caffeine. You can't drink a drop of alcohol (01:11:14) to the point that some will take it to the extreme that you (01:11:18) can't even have vanilla essence and (01:11:21) extract because there's alcohol in that. (01:11:25) I'm not kidding. I've seen it. I've been in the (01:11:29) denomination. I came from it. Where (01:11:33) is any of that stuff in Scripture? (01:11:34) Look, I'm not talking about self-control and promoting (01:11:40) health. That's fine. In fact, I believe the Torah says, you (01:11:44) know, look after yourself. But (01:11:46) do you see what I'm getting at? (01:11:49) And here's the thing is that what will happen. I witnessed (01:11:53) this firsthand in the SDA is that you'll get groups that (01:11:57) don't do this stuff that will look down (01:12:00) on those that do quietly in the background. (01:12:04) And that's just one denomination. Every denomination is (01:12:08) guilty of this in some respect (01:12:10) in one way or the other. Why? 11. (01:12:14) And so now what you're seeing is that leaven will actually (01:12:17) cause you to puff yourself up above (01:12:20) others in the faith. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. (01:12:30) First John 2 15 to 17. If we know that leaven is the (01:12:34) teachings of men, that means we know that (01:12:37) leaven is that of which is of this world. (01:12:40) Paul was very clear in Colossians that and you sure (01:12:44) actually that leaven will shift the focus on that which is (01:12:49) fleshly. It always shifts (01:12:51) things to that which is of the flesh. (01:12:56) First John 2 15 do not love the world or the things in the (01:13:00) world. It doesn't say don't appreciate (01:13:03) it. It says don't love it. Don't love it. (01:13:07) Why would you sure say if you love this more than me, (01:13:11) you're not worthy to be my disciple? Remember, leaven will (01:13:15) cause you to put men in the place of Yeshua. (01:13:20) If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in (01:13:23) him. For all that is now John's going to define this. All (01:13:28) that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires (01:13:31) of the eyes and the pride of life is not (01:13:35) from the Father, but is from the world. (01:13:38) The world is passing away along with its desires. But (01:13:42) whoever does the will of Elohim abides forever. (01:13:45) What I've seen over the years and I speak as the guilty (01:13:51) party here because guess what? We've all got leaven. We've (01:13:54) all inherited leaven and we've all had (01:13:57) to go on his journey of ridding leaven. (01:13:58) Leaven will always feed these three things in some way. The (01:14:04) flesh, the eyes, the pride of life. I used to think it (01:14:08) would be one or more. It's actually all three. All three. (01:14:14) Look, let's use Christmas. Desires of the flesh. Well, look (01:14:19) at presents, you know, all of this stuff and the pomp and (01:14:23) the circumstance and you know, all of this stuff. (01:14:25) What about the desires of the eyes? It's like all the (01:14:31) decorations and all of this pride of (01:14:33) life. Look, I used the SDA example, right? (01:14:38) Oh, we don't do this stuff. We're more spiritual. We're (01:14:48) more spiritual than they are. They do this stuff. We don't. (01:14:54) We're better than that. That's the pride of life. (01:14:58) It feeds pride, which feeds the flesh and it feeds the (01:15:04) desire of the eyes because you're able to literally put (01:15:07) your head up above and look down on everyone. Leaven will (01:15:11) feed all three of these things. Do you want to know which (01:15:15) one it feeds more? Expose the (01:15:17) leaven and watch the reaction. (01:15:19) Look at what happened with Yeshua. He exposed the leaven. (01:15:24) What was the reaction from the Pharisees? It was a fleshly (01:15:29) reaction in that they will accuse him. (01:15:35) It fed the pride of life because what the way they went (01:15:38) about. Yeshua was threatening their religious rule. (01:15:43) You've got to remember the Sadducees and the Pharisees held (01:15:47) positions of political and religious influence across the (01:15:51) whole land. Yeshua was threatening that. So now it's (01:15:56) threatening their pride of (01:15:57) life and the desires of the eyes. (01:16:01) More importantly, here's the thing. One of the reasons (01:16:06) people react so badly when leaven is challenged is because (01:16:11) no one wants to admit they were deceived. No one does. (01:16:16) That is one of the hardest things and this is where it (01:16:21) really hits the pride of life. I (01:16:24) was deceived. I got this wrong. (01:16:29) But I've come out of Christianity. I've come out of (01:16:33) spiritualism. I've come out of atheism. I'm better now. I (01:16:38) honor the Torah as best as I (01:16:40) can. I read my word. I'm growing. (01:16:41) Surely I'm not still deceived in this area. And that's (01:16:48) where the brunt of the reaction (01:16:50) comes from. It's pride of life. (01:16:56) Question is, are we in a repentant state that are willing (01:16:59) to look at ourselves and go, "huh, (01:17:02) yet again, I was deceived in this area." (01:17:06) Do you think that maybe you need a safe environment to be (01:17:12) able to deal with all this stuff? (01:17:19) Galatians 5, 16 and 17. But I say, walk by the Spirit and (01:17:24) you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (01:17:27) Leaven will always feed the desires of the flesh. Always. (01:17:33) And the three pronged attack is flesh (01:17:35) eyes pride of life every single time. (01:17:40) When you strip the leaven back and you watch the reaction, (01:17:43) you will always see those three things. (01:17:47) For the desires of the flesh are against the spirit and the (01:17:51) desires of the spirit are against the flesh. For these are (01:17:54) opposed to each other to keep you (01:17:56) from doing the things you want to do. (01:18:01) The Apostle Paul is using this flesh versus spirit, being (01:18:05) at war with each other. And so the question to ask is, (01:18:08) where does this battle take place? (01:18:12) Where is the battleground between (01:18:14) flesh and spirit? Where does this occur? (01:18:21) Because when you are challenged by your leaven, a battle (01:18:27) takes place. Where does it occur? (01:18:28) Remember what leaven does. He keeps you focused on the (01:18:36) flesh, doesn't it? So say there's this battleground, this (01:18:40) arena, if you want to call it that. Either flesh war now or (01:18:44) spirit. Now leaven is keeping you towards the flesh. (01:18:49) Which means that guess what's being (01:18:51) left out? The spirit. No spiritual growth. (01:18:59) First Peter 2 11, beloved, I urge you as sojourners and (01:19:03) exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which is (01:19:07) what leaven will feed, which wage war against your soul. (01:19:12) I believe the soul is where the battle will be either won (01:19:17) to the spirit or lost to the flesh. (01:19:21) The soul. This is why you have emotions attached to it. (01:19:27) Your emotional state is a barometer of (01:19:29) what's going on in your soul, in your nafesh. (01:19:33) And this is why you have this thing called the battleground (01:19:40) of the mind. Paul would speak that your mind needs to be (01:19:46) renewed. There's this battle going on. (01:19:49) And either you will lose to the flesh or you will win to (01:19:52) the spirit. But I believe this is occurring (01:19:55) at your soul, at your heart, in your mind. (01:20:02) And so you are a nafesh. Right. We'll see the scripture for (01:20:07) this in a second. You are a living soul. You are a living (01:20:11) soul. Which way will you go? Will you turn to the flesh or (01:20:17) will you turn to that which is spiritual? (01:20:20) Because leaven in your life will keep you turned to the (01:20:23) flesh. And if you are turned to the flesh, you will be (01:20:27) fleshly and you will not grow spiritually. (01:20:32) And as an outcome of that, you will not be able to see and (01:20:35) hear spiritual matters. Hence why leaven blinds and deafens (01:20:41) and then your heart will become hard. (01:20:50) You are a three part being. (01:20:54) Body, soul, spirit. (01:20:58) Genesis 2 7. YAH Elohim formed the man of the dust from the (01:21:04) ground, your flesh, your suit, you know, for your nafesh, (01:21:09) the vessel. And he breathed into his nostrils the breath of (01:21:15) life and the man became a living soul. (01:21:19) What's interesting, the breath of life in the Hebrew, (01:21:23) nishmat chayim. It literally means the breath of lives, (01:21:27) plural, which I find interesting. (01:21:31) Now the word neshama, which is the word for breath. (01:21:35) Throughout scripture, this word is (01:21:39) often parallel by the word ruach, spirit. (01:21:45) It's a very common Hebrew literary device to say the same (01:21:50) thing twice, but to use different words for each of the. (01:21:54) So, you know, by the word of YAH, the heavens were made by (01:21:59) the spirit of his mouth, the earth was put in place. (01:22:03) It's saying the same thing twice that Elohim created (01:22:06) everything. But the first time it will say by his word, the (01:22:11) second time it will say by his spirit. (01:22:14) And you see this over and over and (01:22:17) over and over again in the Tanakh. (01:22:20) What you're seeing is that YAH is forming the body, the (01:22:26) flesh. He's breathing into it the breath of life, the (01:22:30) spirit. We know that the spirit comes from Elohim, that on (01:22:35) death the spirit returns to YAH, but (01:22:37) that the soul goes to Sheol, right? (01:22:40) It's actually the combination of flesh and the spirit being (01:22:46) breathed into it that the soul comes about. (01:22:50) Look, Genesis is telling you, your soul is a byproduct of (01:22:56) flesh and spirit coming together. And (01:22:58) it's this, so you, you are a living soul. (01:23:00) And so which way will you go? To the flesh, to the spirit? (01:23:08) Which way will you go? Because leaven will keep you in the (01:23:11) flesh. It will sound spiritual, it will sound biblical, but (01:23:18) it will keep you trapped in an area that will deafen you, (01:23:22) blind you, stunt your growth spiritually, harden your heart (01:23:26) and would even cause you to come again. (01:23:30) And you will be convinced and banned with those that you (01:23:33) don't like, so that you can take out those exposing you. (01:23:46) This is just setting up the foundation for where we're (01:23:49) going to go next week, because when you understand that (01:23:53) leaven keeps you in the flesh, that it keeps you locked in (01:23:57) this place, what then ends up happening is that you end up (01:24:03) painting the outside of your tomb white. (01:24:07) You get stuck on the outside appearance, you get stuck on (01:24:12) that which is fleshly. And so the spirit never grows. (01:24:18) And so what I wanted to do today is (01:24:23) A, go back to the definition of leaven. (01:24:27) B, to show the power of it, because in the time of Yeshua, (01:24:33) religious and political enemies would sooner have banded (01:24:38) together so that they could take out the one exposing them. (01:24:43) This is how powerful this stuff can be. Why is leaven so (01:24:48) powerful? Because it hits the pride of life. (01:24:55) Surely I am not deceived. I cannot be (01:24:59) deceived. This is why it's so powerful. (01:25:03) It's so powerful to the point that you're willing to come (01:25:12) against those exposing you, even this fellowship people. (01:25:16) This is how denomination splits occur. (01:25:20) You have one group of people exposing their leaven and then (01:25:23) this group is exposing their leaven and it's like, you know (01:25:26) what, let's just murder the body of (01:25:29) Messiah by having all these factions. (01:25:30) They would rather murder the body of Messiah, spiritually (01:25:34) speaking, than deal with their leaven and then watch the (01:25:39) trail of carnage and blood that has (01:25:44) come as a result of the religious world. (01:25:48) Hence why Revelation would say that Mystery Babylon is (01:25:52) drunk on the blood of the saints. Why? Because of the (01:25:55) leaven it has polluted the body with. (01:26:01) And YHAR is asking us to get rid of this stuff now while (01:26:05) we're in the fallen state so that (01:26:07) we can be of use for an age to come. (01:26:13) Let's stop here for today because next week we'll start to (01:26:16) see how leaven causes us to whitewash and get into some of (01:26:20) the deeper details of that. Amen.