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Day 181

2 Peter 2:3a "By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words..."

Day 181 – Mark 8

“By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words…” 2 Peter 2:3a

HOW IS IT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND?

The lack of understanding, on the part of the Disciples, must have been painful to note. How could the Disciples not comprehend what Jesus meant when he spoke about the leaven of the Pharisees and the Herodians (Mark 8:15).

What was the leaven of the Pharisees? Thank God that we have more than one Gospel to read. Luke the physician gives us an important word of explanation in the following text.

“He began to say to the Disciples first of all,
‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy.'”
LUKE 12:1

The following texts may be cited to demonstrate the fact that the Pharisees were indeed guilty of rank hypocrisy!

1. Hypocritical in their prayers (Cf. Matthew 6:5)

The Pharisees would pray only to be seen of men. They maintained no personal prayer life. Their practice of praying in public places was well-known to all.

2. Hypocritical in their “righteousness” (Cf. Mark 2:16)

The Pharisees saw themselves as too righteous to mix with “tax collectors and sinners”. They criticized Jesus for His attempts to befriend sinful people.

3. Hypocritical in their keeping of religious traditions (Cf. Mark 7:5-13)

They kept their man-made religious traditions, but at the expense of keeping God’s word!

4. Hypocritical in their relationship with Jesus (Mark 8:11-12)

They posed as people who seemed to be interested in learning from Jesus. They asked for confirming signs to be given, that they might believe in Him. But deep in their hearts, they were really testing Jesus.

A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OPPONENTS

It would not do for the Disciples to remain ignorant of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Herodians. It was important that the Disciples were made fully aware of the true spiritual state of the Pharisees! What were some important lessons the Disciples must learn? Three may be highlighted:-

1. They must never fear people who are hypocrites.

2. They must be more discerning.

3. They must beware of the insidious nature of hypocrisy.