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Leavening - a Bible Study

02:21, 2006-Jan-29 .. Posted in Bible Studies .. 0 comments .. Link

Â“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lumpÂ”
Gal 5:9; I Cor5:6

Jesus speaks of leaven in his parables (earthly stories with heavenly meanings)
in Matthew 13

The kingdom of heaven is liken unto:
     vs 24 A man that sowed good seed in his field, but his enemies came and sowed tares (weeds). The man let both grow together until harvest, so he wouldnÂ’t pull up the good plants with the weeds.
     vs 31 A grain of mustard seed, which is the smallest of seeds, but when it grows, it becomes the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree.
     vs. 33 Leaven (yeast), which a woman took, and hid in 3 measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Leavening = influences

When youÂ’re baking, yeast influences your dough and it makes it grow and grow. So that out of a little dough you can get 2-3 loaves of bread.

But just like Jesus used leaven to explain the kingdom of heaven, he also warns us about different kinds of leaven we should not use.

*The Leaven of the Pharisees-
Matthew 16:6, 11-12; Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1)

Pharisees in their day sought for praise for their good works.

Matthew 6:2 tells us when they gave their alms(tithes) they would give them in public view, calling attention to themselves.

Matthew 6:16 tells us when they fasted that they Â“disfigured their facesÂ” so everyone would know that they were fasting.

Matthew 23:3-4 tells us they were hypocrites through and through. They told people what they should do, but they did not do the things they told others to do. They didnÂ’t practice what they preached. Â“Do as I say, donÂ’t do as I doÂ” life-style.

Matthew 23:25-26   The Pharisees cleaned up the outside but the inside was filthy. They looked good, they looked godly, but they were as lost as lost could be. They washed the outside of the cup but the inside was still dirty. They needed to get right in their hearts, then the outside would have taken care of itself.

*The Leaven of the Sadducees

Matthew 3:7 The Sadducees hung around with the Pharisees.

Matthew 16:1-4 The Sadducees could figure out the weather and other things in creation, but they could not see that the Messiah had come.

Matthew 22:23-32; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38; Acts 4:1-2; Acts 23:8 The Sadducees did not believe in life after death, physical or spiritual.

*The Leaven of Herod-
Mark 8:15

Matthew 14:1-11; Mark 6:14-29   Herod gave into the lust of the eyes (his brotherÂ’s daughter), the lust of the flesh (his brotherÂ’s wife), and the pride of life (didnÂ’t want to go back on an oath that was made, so he had John the Baptist killed).

II Samuel 11:2-5 David also gave into the lust of the eyes (sawBathsheba bathing) ,the lust of the flesh (committed adultery with her), and the pride of life (didnÂ’t want to get caught, so he had Uriah killed)

Luke 3:18-19 Herod hearing the gospel refused it and decided in his heart to put John the Baptist in prison. Â“Out of sight, out of mindÂ” attitude.

Luke 23:7-12 Herod became friends with Pilate, the man who put Christ on the cross.

Acts 12:2 Herod was a murderer. Killed James the brother of John with a sword.

Acts 12:21-23 Herod was killed by God.

Â“Purge out the old leaven...Â”
I Corinthians 5:6-7

But God is a loving and merciful God.

II Samuel 12:1-12 God sent Nathan, the prophet, to David with a story.

II Samuel 12:13-24 David started purging out that old leaven. And God forgave him for his sins.

Â“Purge out the old leaven...Â”
I Corinthians 5:6-7

Acts 23:6 Paul was a Pharisee.

Acts 7:58 Paul held the coats of the people who stoned Steven to death.

Acts 8:3 Paul dragged Christians out of their houses (men and women) and sent them to prison.

Acts 9:1-2 Paul went to the high priest and asked for letters to Damascus to the synagogue giving him permission to bind Christian men and women and bring them back to Jerusalem.

But God is a loving and merciful God.

Acts 9:3-6 Paul starts purging out that old leaven and says, Â“Lord, what wilt thou have me do?Â”.

He was used by God in a mighty way throughout the rest of his life.

Application:

What kind of leavening are we using in our life?

Are we using the leavening of the Pharisees (spotlight has to be on us), the Sadducees (we know more about earthly things than we do about his coming) or Herod (hearing about Christ, but denying him)?

Or

Are we using the leavening of the woman back where we started in Matthew 13:33? She took that leaven and hid it.

Psalm 119:11 Â“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.Â”

Are we taking GodÂ’s Word and hiding it in our hearts? Are we memorizing verses, meditating on his word, carrying a joyful song in our heart, wearing a smile on our face, telling others about Him, walking and talking like weÂ’ve been to the throne room of grace and bowed down at the foot of the King?

The King is Coming , The King is Coming
I just heard the trumpet sounding and
now his face I see.

The King is Coming , The King is Coming
Praise God
HeÂ’s coming for me.

Praise the Lord --Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!!!!!!!

Leavening - a Bible Study

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