“In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples, first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 121). The Pharisees were a religious group in Israel given to legalism. Theirs was an outward show of religion which constituted of mechanical observance of Mosaic laws, traditions, of elders as well as ethical and ceremonial commandments of the law. They lacked true piety and they covered up with religious devotions such as praying on street corners, giving of alms, tithing, and fasting. In short, they majored in minors, neglecting weightier matters of the law – judgement, mercy, and faith. For this reason, Jesus warned people about the influence of false teachers and described their conduct as hypocritical.
The Sadducees on the other hand were less strict in their religious observances. They contrasted sharply with the Pharisees in their beliefs. The Sadducees did not believe in the existence of angels, spirits, or the resurrection of the human body after death. Many of them were priests of Jesus’ day. With very exceptions, the Pharisees and Sadducees were antagonistic to Christ and His message. These two groups wielded a great influence on the religious life of the Jews. This was the reason Jesus taught the people, especially His disciples to avoid their pernicious ways. While pointing to Himself as the true Shepherd, He warned His listeners not to follow religious hypocrites who were wolves in sheep’s clothing.
When Jesus was teaching His disciples what constitutes acceptable devotion to God, He cautioned them time and again not to comport themselves as the hypocrites do. “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward” (Matthew 6:2). Perhaps our Lord Jesus Christ had the Pharisees and Sadducees in mind while speaking. Jesus denounced the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. The evils of hypocrisy are legion. A hypocrite is blind to his spiritual destitution. He treads the path of eternal destruction even though he may appear pious outwardly. His life of deception may lead other sincere seekers astray. If he is a member of a local church the individual constantly brings reproach to Christ. He is a great stumbling block in the way of others. Any wonder Jesus addressed the Pharisees thus: “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:13).
Expressions of hypocrisy can be identified as corruption spreads easily among a group. Therefore, Jesus instructed His disciples by figuratively referring to the action of leaven (or the modern usage, of yeast) on the dough. A little leaven when added to the dough will soon spread throughout the food material and cause it to rise. In the scriptures, leaven always stands for something bad or sinful. The only exception is when Jesus used it in the parable of the kingdom (Matthew 13:33) to depict the spread of God’s kingdom. Like leaven, hypocrisy in the little band of disciples could destroy the teachings of Christ they have received and eventually pollute the church in infancy. The disciples were slow at understanding the figure used by Christ, so He told them plainly what he meant: “ How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matthew 16:11-12).
The Pharisees were scrupulous about ritual cleansing of hands, cups, pots, and other vessels while the “…. Inward part is full of ravening and wickedness” (Luke 11:39). This is the picture of the pretender, a phoney who has the form of religion but denies the power thereof. The fellow may bear the name of Christ and may have learnt to comport himself (outwardly) the way genuine Christians do. Meanwhile, the heart is full of sin and wickedness. When all an individual knows about Christianity is singing, dancing, fasting, and regular church attendance while sound Christian doctrines are relegated to the background, he is already following the doctrine of Pharisees and Sadducees.
The Pharisees were described as “whited sepulchres” which appear beautiful outwardly but inside, they are full of all uncleanness. This reveals the religious hypocrite who may be a professing Christian. Are there not people in the church, who have effectually mastered the language of true believers even though they are yet to be transformed by God’s grace? Such people are tares amid wheat. Paul the Apostle referred to them as false brethren. A lot of sinning church members dress and put up the appearance of a genuine Christian, even though they are unconverted. The woes Jesus pronounced on the religious hypocrites of His time will also fall on the impenitent churchgoer without salvation in Christ. The only way out to escape from God’s judgement is genuine repentance from hypocrisy and resolution to follow Christ all the way
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