It is evident that Jesus' disciples did not understand His words about leaven—or rather, they understood them in their own, wholly inadequate way. The Savior had to remind them of the recent miracle of the multiplication of the loaves so that they would realize He was not speaking about what they had imagined. At first glance, it may seem that...
It is evident that Jesus' disciples did not understand His words about leaven—or rather, they understood them in their own, wholly inadequate way. The Savior had to remind them of the recent miracle of the multiplication of the loaves so that they would realize He was not speaking about what they had imagined.
At first glance, it may seem that the apostles simply failed to understand the allegory used by their Teacher. But that was probably not the whole matter. On the one hand, one could say that the apostles had indeed forgotten the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves; on the other, they probably thought that such miracles could not happen continually.
By “the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” they undoubtedly understood leaven itself and nothing else. In other words, they continued to think in the categories of their former life, the categories of the untransformed world—a world where miracles do occur, of course, but only as exceptions, and where one must live by the laws of that untransformed world, trying merely to avoid, as far as possible, a direct violation of the Torah, the commandments given by God.
This is how the disciples understood the Savior's words about leaven: they could no longer have dealings with either Sadducees or Pharisees. But then, as the apostles reasonably concluded, there would be nowhere for them to obtain bread. Jesus, however, is speaking of something entirely different: spiritual leaven, that which spiritually nourishes a person seeking the Kingdom. And it turns out that the spiritual food offered by people who live chiefly or exclusively by religion is not suitable for such a person.
Indeed, now that the Kingdom, in the Savior's words, had “drawn near” and was ready to begin its transforming advance through our world, anyone wishing to partake of its life could not limit himself to what religion could offer, even the most spiritually profound and systematically developed religion. The fullness of the Kingdom cannot be contained within the framework of any religion on earth, which is hardly surprising, since every religion is the work of human hands and minds. Jesus calls His disciples to feed directly on the life of the Kingdom, sharing in it through Him Himself—the only way anyone can share in the life of the Kingdom.
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8:7 For if the first had been faultless - If that dispensation had answered all God's designs and man's wants, if it had not been weak and unprofitable unable to make anything perfect, no place would have been for a second.
8:8 But there is; for finding fault with them - Who were under the old covenant he saith, I make a new covenant with the house of Israel - With all the Israel of God, in all ages and nations. It is new in many respects, though not as to the substance of it:
8:9 When I took them by the hand - With the care and tenderness of a parent. And just while this was fresh in their memory, they obeyed; but presently after they shook off the yoke.They continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not - So that covenant was soon broken in pieces.
8:10 This is the covenant I will make after those days - After the Mosaic dispensation is abolished. I will put mylaws in their minds - I will open their eyes, and enlighten their understanding, to see the true, full, spiritual meaning thereof. And write them on their hearts - So that they shall inwardly experience whatever I have commanded. And I will be to them a God - Their all - sufficient portion, and exceeding great reward. And they shall be to me a people - My treasure, my beloved, loving, and obedient children.
8:11 And they who are under this covenant (though in other respects they will have need to teach each other to their lives' end, yet) shall not need to teach every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me - All real Christians. From the least to the greatest - In this order the saving knowledge of God ever did and ever will proceed; not first to the greatest, and then to the least.But "the Lord shall save the tents," the poorest, "of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David," the royal seed, "and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem," the noblesand the rich citizens, "do not magnify themselves," Zec 12:7.
8:12 For I will justify them, which is the root of all true knowledge of God. This, therefore, is God's method.First, a sinner is pardoned: then he knows God, as gracious and merciful then God's laws are written on his heart: he is God's, and God is his.
8:13 In saying, A new covenant, he hath antiquated the first - Hath shown that it is disannulled, and out of date. Now that which is antiquated is ready to vanish away - As it did quickly after, when the temple was destroyed.