Mark 8:10-21 The Pharisees Copy The Sin Of Satan (Pride)

And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side. And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember ^when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they *said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

This episode begins with a confrontation between the religious leaders who are the Pharisees (Symbols for Satan) and Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He compares them to yeast which by its nature becomes puffed up like the pride of their father Satan. When Jesus warns the followers not to act like yeast, they figure in their minds that yeast if for bread. He sets them straight by having them understand that he was speaking of the Pharisees nature as being one that is swelled up in them.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, whenever we seek to do things in our own flesh apart from you, we too are puffed up and ungodly. Teach and instill in us the hard lesson that our life will never reach its potential apart from You. A life apart from You is death, but a life in You brings life. In Your holy name I pray Amen.