There were several points of interest in Leviticus this morning, but I want to focus on one for a moment. In Leviticus 18:24-25 God tells HIS people, “Do not defile yourselves by any of these ⌊practices⌋, for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things. 25 The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants. We learn that the reason that all the nations that are being driven out before Israel is because of the horrific sin and the Israelites are given a stern warning not to defile themselves by any of these practices.
You have to wonder if the horrific sin of our nation is in the process of getting us vomited out! You might be surprised where I place the blame, I PLACE THE BLAME WITH THE CHURCH...THE WORLD LOOKS AT US AND THINKS THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN WE ARE, THEY PURSUE THE SAME THINGS WE DO, THEY JUST SLAP A PRAYER ON WHAT THEY DO AND SAY AMEN. OUCH MARK...THAT HURT! SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER? I believe that our LORD gives it to us in our text in Mark today.
Mark seems to have told this story to underline the total failure of the Twelve to understand, and perhaps to give the reason: they were still too much influenced by the thinking of this world. Perhaps they were busy blaming each other for forgetting to bring bread with them on the trip when Jesus gave them the warning (really a little parable). They had failed to see the spiritual meaning and, worse still, had forgotten that Jesus could and would meet any bodily needs of those seeking God’s kingdom; he had shown that in the feeding miracles already. This time, Jesus rebuked them bluntly (21). They should have seen that the yeast of the Pharisees was their whole attitude to life, which would affect the disciples unless they took care. We too need to be constantly on our guard against the ‘spirit of the age’ or the thinking and teaching of the other religions that surround us. Christ’s way is totally different from the way of the world, which we read about in papers, hear on radio, or see on television.
Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition. Rev. ed. of: The new Bible commentary. 3rd ed. / edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970. (4th ed.) (Mk 8:14). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.
Did anyone notice an amazing statement that Jesus made at the end of Mark 6 about the spiritual condition of HIS disciples? Check out Mark 6:51-52, Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. Does that blow you away? It seems like these guys are constantly and relentlessly beat by Jesus. How often has HE rebuked them for their little faith and now we lean that their hearts were hardened.
We are useless to God until we are broken...WE ARE USELESS TO GOD UNTIL WE ARE BROKEN, WE ARE USELESS TO GOD UNTIL WE ARE BROKEN!
Ps 51:17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.
Here in Mark 8 Jesus warns the disciples to "watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees." When they don't understand HE blasts them!
Mk 8:11-21 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him. 12 But sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you: No sign will be given to this generation!” 13 Then He left them, got on board ⌊the boat⌋ again, and went to the other side. 14 They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then he commanded them: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” 16 They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. 17 Aware of this, He said to them, “Why are you discussing that you do not have any bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Is your heart hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told Him. 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. 21 And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
Consider the following verses that sound like Mark 8:18.
Is 6:9-10 And He replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. 10 Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.
Ps 95:8 “Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
Is 63:17 Why, Lord, do You make us stray from Your ways? You harden our hearts so we do not fear You. Return, because of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
Je 5:21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people. They have eyes, but they don’t see. They have ears, but they don’t hear.
Eze 12:2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
If you have eyes to see and ears to hear the below text should strike fear, reverence and awe in your heart! Why? Because we learn in verse 8 that any dullness of heart, our slowness to understand is because we are hard hearted idolaters! We become like what we worship!
Ps 115:1-9 Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth. 2 Why should the nations say, Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them. 9 Israel, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield.
At the end of Mark 8 Peter makes a good confession that Jesus is the Messiah and it appears that in the same breath he pulls Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Jesus for saying that HE must suffer. We all know what happens next. "Get behind me, Satan, because you're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's."
Interesting that Peter is the one who makes the good confession, Peter is the one who denies our LORD 3 times, and Peter in John 21 confesses 3 times his love for Jesus...John 21 is where Peter was broken and became useful. He was filled with grief and remorse when he denied Jesus, but that is not brokenness...in John 21 is where Peter became a powerful vessel, instrument in the had of God.
Father in heaven, please in YOUR loving-kindness do not harden our hearts toward YOU and by YOUR saving life giving grace do not let us harden our hearts! For YOUR glory and our JOY in YOU lead us in paths of righteousness, enable us to walk in a manner that is pleasing to YOU. In Jesus name...amen.
love,
m