Main news for 15 May 2025

King James Version (en)

Mark, Chapter 8, verse 18

¹⁴ admonisheth his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod

¹⁸Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

NOTES

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...

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.

How new the Revelation given by God through the Lord Jesus Christ was can be seen in the disciples' confusion, which we read about in today's Gospel passage. The Lord speaks of invisible things and uses...

For eight chapters in a row now we have been reading about the glorious passage of the Son of God over the earth. Have we recognized Him? Have we learned to trust Him?...

For eight chapters in a row now we have been reading about the glorious passage of the Son of God over the earth. Have we recognized Him? Have we learned to trust Him? To believe His word? Or do we still need signs? Have we "understood" everything, or have we remained blind? What is there more of in us: the leaven of the Pharisees, or the faith of the hungry and the sick? Does the one who was hungry and was fed, who was sick and was healed, who was blind and received sight, still need signs?

The disciples witnessed the feeding of the people. They were at that feast and even distributed the bread. But in everyday life they remain in doubt and are not sure that they will be fed, although Jesus is with them and they see Him with their eyes. But with the heart? Do we feel God's presence in everyday life, on Monday, in the boat in which we are crossing the week? Or do we "still not understand"? For the second time Mark gives a passage about feeding a large crowd with a few loaves. It is important to understand that if bread is given from God's hands, then it is not just bread. People are fed by God's blessing, by God's love. And this is truly real nourishment.

It is hard to understand what is happening to others when everything is all right with you, when you have nothing to plead for tearfully. When there is no real need, there is no need for hope, and no need for the Healer. When we do not thirst for an encounter with truth and love, when we have not been worn down in this world by our weakness and infirmity while seeking truth, it is hard to be satisfied with what God gives us. Such are the Pharisees: Jesus does not even speak with them. "He left them."

The disciples remain beside Jesus, see Him with earthly eyes, share a meal with Him, and see many healings, but still remain outside the mystery of God. They have received sight for the first time, like that blind man from Bethsaida. After the first laying on of hands, the blind man began to see like everyone else. He saw people outwardly. A person was able to "see everything clearly" only in the presence of Jesus, when he "looked intently."

God gives spiritual sight to those who thirst for it. For this, the "hardened heart" must be "softened." Then it will become clear what the spirit of Pharisaism is; then the spiritual life of people and of God will be visible. Then signs will no longer be needed. What, then, have we managed to "understand" over these seven and a half chapters? What have we really understood, what have we "seen clearly," how have we changed?

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