Dangerous

‘How is it that you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!’

Then the disciples understood that he was not warning them to guard themselves from the yeast used in bread but from the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
(verses 11, 12)

Read Matthew 16:1-12

‘Watch out for the Pharisees and Sadducees!’ That was Jesus’ advice to his closest friends. He was well aware of how dangerous they were. And well he might be.

It was these religious leaders, outwardly respectable and beyond rebuke, who sought to publicly discredit him. It was these religious leaders who were constantly plotting behind his back, in the end seducing Judas, one of Jesus’ inner circle, to their cause. It was these religious leaders who badgered Pilate and incited the crowd to gain the death penalty at Jesus’ trial.

Seemingly, they defeated Jesus. Really, though, they were unwittingly contributing to God’s plan of salvation. As do all his dangerous enemies.

They were even among those Jesus prayed for on the cross, when he asked God’s forgiveness for them.

Dear God, make aware of your enemies. Help me not to be seduced by them or scared and intimidated by them, but help me to pray for them and forgive them, just as Jesus did. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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