On Guard

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

ON GUARD

Matt 16:5-12

5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread." 8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

NIV

There is a tremendous amount of teaching available to believers from several sources. First, the plethora of books from a wide range of authors who could be coming from a variety of theology positions can be obtained from many different places. We could stop at the local bookstore or simply click away on the internet. These can cause many believers to be deceived by false teaching; therefore, we need to be careful and understand where these various authors are coming from. This is not to say that they would not be wrong in what they believe, but if we are aligning ourselves with a particular denominations statement of faith, or statement of beliefs, then we could find alternate beliefs, such as the difference between those of a Pentecostal and evangelical statement of faith. As with the Pharisees and the Sadducees having a difference of beliefs, in that the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection. That would change everything for the disciples if they were not on guard against the yeast of the Sadducees. So, it is with us. We must be on guard against teaching that could influence us away from the truth. This is not simply a denominational issue, for although we might disagree over some points of scripture, they are still our brothers and sisters in Christ. However, there are many books that appear to be about God but are very humanistic in nature. The other source we need to be on guard against is those television preachers. Again, some may have good things to say, some simply have silver tongues designed to garner followers with open wallets. They speak words to tickle the ears so as to draw people to themselves. Listening to them is a yeast that can infect our minds and hearts. There is a reason for God to establish the local pastors, as Paul instructed Timothy to choose men with certain qualities. Jesus was the single pastor, the single teacher of his disciples, and did not want them to get infected with the yeast of other teachings. This is the reason God has established the overseers, the shepherds, to lead those in their spiritual care to the truth of God. Sure, there could be some differences in each church, but if the main teaching is Jesus Christ Crucified, and resurrected and ascended into heaven, that Jesus died for our sins, and if we repent and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we will be saved, then we all are on the same path. There are other main truths, and some secondary truths that we should agree upon that are important. But the fact is we need to be on guard against those false teachers, false preachers, who mask their true intentions of self-gratification. God has given us many tools for us to guard with. He has given us the gift of discernment, which is from the Spirit, who in all He does to lead us into all truth, as well as His full armor so that we may be fully equipped to guard against the yeast of falseness.