Matthew 16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
16:6 Then Iesus said vnto them, Take heed and beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces.
16:7 And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is because we haue taken no bread.
16:8 Which when Iesus perceiued, he said vnto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among your selues, because ye haue brought no bread?
16:9 Doe ye not yet vnderstand, neither remember the fiue loaues of the fiue thousand, and how many baskets ye tooke vp?
16:10 Neither the seuen loaues of the foure thousand, and how many baskets ye tooke vp?
16:11 How is it that ye doe not vnderstand, that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces?
16:12 Then vnderstood they how that he bade them not beware of the leauen of bread: but of the doctrine of the Pharisees, and of the Sadduces.
Mark 8:14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more then one loafe.
8:16 And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is, because we haue no bread.
8:17 And when Iesus knew it, he saith vnto them, Why reason ye, because yee haue no bread? Perceiue ye not yet, neither vnderstand? Haue yee your heart yet hardened?
8:18 Hauing eyes, see ye not? and hauing eares heare ye not? And doe ye not remember?
8:19 When I brake the fiue loaues among fiue thousand, how many baskets full of fragments tooke yee vp? They say vnto him, Twelue.
8:20 And when the seuen among foure thousand: how many baskets full of fragments tooke ye vp? And they said, Seuen.
8:21 And he said vnto them, How is it that ye doe not vnderstand?
First let us understand why the disciples were concerned about having no bread and the leaven of the Pharisees.
Joseph Benson:
“And they reasoned among themselves — What must we do then for bread, since we have taken no bread with us? Thus the slowness of their understanding showed itself on this occasion, as it had done on many others. “As they had forgotten to take bread, and had often heard the doctors prohibit the use of the leaven of heathen and Samaritans, they thought he forbade them to buy bread from bakers of either sect, lest it might be made with impure leaven, and so they looked on the advice as an indirect reproof of their carelessness.”
With that understood, and before we dive deep in concerning LEAVEN, I think it is important to understand who is who, and what were their beliefs so we can understand as the Holy Spirit opens it up.
Who were the “Herodians”, which Herod was a part of? Herodian Dynasty was a royal dynasty of the Edomites, they tried to portray themselves as observant Jews, whether out of faith or politics is pure speculation. They ruled the Herodian kingdom of Judea and later the Herodian Tetrarchy as a state of Rome. The Herodians also favored taxes. The Herodians wish was to restore a member of the Herodian dynasty to the throne. Which is why they were a supporter of Herod being king who also collaborated with Rome, and in turn Rome installed the Herodians to rule over Galilee.
The Sadducees denied the existence or influence of angels, good or bad. Regarding salvation, they believed only the Temple rituals were a benefit. They denied the resurrection of the dead. They did not believe in the immortality of the soul; they did not believe in an afterlife. The Sadducees did not see a need for a Messiah or believe in one. They only believed in the Torah, the first 5 books of Moses they refused the Oral Torah and traditions. They were pretty much anti-Messiah and focused more on their earthly priesthood. They were aristocratic monarchists, which means
1828 Noah Webster
MON’ARCHY, noun [Gr. See Monarch.]
1. A state or government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a single person. Such a state is usually called an empire or a kingdom; and we usually give this denomination to a large state only. But the same name is sometimes given to a kingdom or state in which the power of the king or supreme magistrate is limited by a constitution, or by fundamental laws. Such is the British monarchy Hence we speak of absolute or despotic monarchies, and of limited monarchies.
A free government has a great advantage over a simple monarchy
2. A kingdom; an empire.
ARISTO’CRACY, noun [Gr. best, and to hold or govern.]
A form of government, in which the whole supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state; or in a few men distinguished by their rank and opulence. When the supreme power is exercised by a small number, the government is called an oligarchy. The latter word however is usually applied to a corrupted form of aristocracy.
ARISTOCRAT’IC,
ARISTOCRAT’ICAL, adjective
1. Pertaining to aristocracy; consisting in a government of nobles, or principal men; as an aristocratic constitution.
2. Partaking of aristocracy; as, an aristocratic measure; aristocratic pride or manners.
The Sadducee’s during Jesus’ time controlled the two most important institutions of Jewish society: The Jerusalem Temple better known as Herod’s Temple and the Sanhedrin, which was the governing body for both religious and legal issues of the Jews, though some Pharisees were in the Sanhedrin it was the Sadducees that governed it. The high Priest was a Sadducee, not a Pharisee. Also, the High Priest was the head of the Sanhedrin. Sadducees were wealthy people, the political elite of Israel, they were socially and religiously influential. The Sadducees had pretty good relations with the rulers of Rome in Israel/Palestine as well.
Acts 5:17 Then the high Priest rose vp, and al they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadduces) and were filled with indignation,
Matthew 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadduces, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
Acts 23:1 And Paul earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I haue liued in all good conscience before God vntill this day.
23:2 And the high Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him, to smite him on the mouth.
23:3 Then saith Paul vnto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to iudge mee after the Law, and commandest mee to be smitten contrary to the Law?
23:4 And they that stood by, said, Reuilest thou Gods high Priest?
23:5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that hee was the high Prist: For it is written, Thou shalt not speake euill of the ruler of thy people.
23:6 But when Paul perceiued that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, hee cryed out in the Councill, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the sonne of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am called in question.
23:7 And when hee had so said, there arose a dissension betweene the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was diuided.
23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confesse both.
23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the Scribes that were of the Pharisees part arose, and stroue, saying, Wee finde no euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.
When Paul heard the high priest was there he knew then he was in mixed company because the high priest is a Sadducee, so he used that to his advantage by using their own disagreements against each other.
Acts 5:17 Then the high Priest rose vp, and al they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadduces) and were filled with indignation,
5:18 And laid their hands on the Apostles, & put them in the common prison.
Now that brings us to understand why Jesus lumped the Herodians and Sadducees together. What does the Herodians and Sadducees have in common that would cause Jesus to use them interchangeably in Matthew and Mark? They both had political goals, neither one was concerned about salvation or the afterlife, their focus was for the NOW. They were both opposed to the Pharisees, religiously as well as politically. Even though these two groups of people were supposed to be enemies one being Edomites, the other Jews. But their lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life were the same.
Jesus looks upon the heart so when He stated in Matthew, “Then Iesus said vnto them, Take heed and beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces, and in Mark, “And hee charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leauen of the Pharisees, and of the leauen of Herode,” there is no mistake, no contradiction He was speaking of the leaven not the ethnic group.
Now the Pharisees what was their beliefs? They believed angels, good and bad. They believed in the resurrection, the afterlife, and salvation. They held oral tradition equal with the Written Torah. They controlled the synagogues, they were more representatives of the common working people and had the respect of the masses. They were mostly what we would call “middleclass” businessmen and leaders of the synagogues. Though they were the minority in the Sanhedrin and had the smaller number of priests in the Sanhedrin, they seemed to dominate with decision making due to the fact they had the support of the people. The Pharisees were, anti-Roman, anti-Herodian Party, and for the most part would not accept any compromise. They enforced the 600+ laws on the people, yet, they did have among them two schools of thought, based on the teachings of two Rabbis. One was Shammai who called for a strict no wavering to the interpretation of the law, the other was Hillel who was more lenient, more liberal mindset on the interpretation of the law. So pretty much they were a house divided. The followers of Shammai hated anything Roman including taxes, those who were Jews and tax collectors were despised and unclean in their eyes. They wanted to outlaw all communication between Jew and Gentile. The Hillel group were more gracious and opposed such extreme exclusiveness. The two groups Shammai and Hillel’s differences were so drastic they refused to worship together.
Now that we see who these groups of people were and their differences, the One PERSON, who they considered a threat and an enemy united them together with the same goal, to kill Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Mark3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway tooke counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharises, and tooke counsell, how they might intangle him in his talke.
22:16 And they sent out vnto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, wee know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in trueth, neither carest thou for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men.
22:17 Tell vs therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawfull to giue tribute vnto Cesar, or not?
22:18 But Iesus perceiued their wickednesse, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought vnto him a peny.
22:20 And he sayth vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
22:21 They say vnto him, Cesars. Then sayth he vnto them, Render therefore vnto Cesar, the things which are Cesars: and vnto God, the things that are Gods.
22:22 When they had heard these wordes, they marueiled, and left him, and went their way.
22:23 The same day came to him the Sadduces, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, hauing no children, his brother shall marrie his wife, and raise vp seed vnto his brother.
22:25 Now there were with vs seuen brethren, and the first when he had maried a wife, deceased, and hauing no issue, left his wife vnto his brother.
22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, vnto the seuenth.
22:27 And last of al the woman died also.
22:28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seuen? for they all had her.
22:29 Iesus answered, and said vnto them, Yee doe erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are giuen in marriage, but are as the Angels of God in heauen.
22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, haue ye not read that which was spoken vnto you by God, saying,
22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the liuing.
22:33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
22:34 But when the Pharises had heard that he had put the Sadduces to silence, they were gathered together.
Herodians/Herod wanted Him dead because He was considered the King of the Jews and they would lose the throne to Him, He being rightful King of the Jews. Jesus was the cousin and ally of John the Baptist who Herod Antipas had beheaded. Some looked at Herod as God.
Luke 13:31The same day there came certaine of the Pharises, saying vnto him, Get thee out, and depart hence; for Herode will kill thee.
13:32And he said vnto them, Go ye and tell that Foxe, behold, I cast out deuils, and I doe cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Sadducees saw Jesus as a threat to their political and religious power. Everything about Jesus threatened their religious beliefs, and His teachings were complete opposite to what they believed and stood for. Some of the Sadducees did not believe in a coming Messiah at all, they did not believe in the Old Testament scriptures about a coming kingdom, remember they only believed in the first 5 books of Moses called the Torah. But because they were the leaders primarily and ran the Temple the people’s beliefs which they considered superstitions provided them with great power and wealth. Jesus had to go in their eyes He would destroy everything. Those that did believe a Messiah would come was content in believing the Messiah would come later, not in their day.
The Pharisees were jealous of Him because everywhere He went, He drew huge crowds wanting to listen to His teachings, they respected Him whereas the Pharisees brought condemnation and judgement upon the people. They were fearful because He was replacing them with the people, and they were losing their grasp on them. But they were also fearful that His teachings and His presence could cause an uproar and a possible upheaval of the peace they were living in now. They hated Him because He exposed their hypocrisy as setting laws from tradition for the people but did not obey them themselves. He was exposing them as not being as virtuous as the pretended to be on the inside. Their piety was all external.
Though the Sadducees and Herodians were tight, the Pharisees did not consider them their friends at all. So, to read that the Pharisees held a counsel with the Herodians screams of supernatural evil influences.
Normally Herodians and Pharisees would not be speaking with one another. And the Sadducees and Pharisees, though both on the Sanhedrin, were on two different levels across the board. They were different in class, religious beliefs, stance on Rome, yet, when it came to the demise of Jesus Christ of Nazareth they agreed. Yet, they worked together to try and ensnare Jesus in some kind of error or crime.
In Mark we read of all 3 working together, bombarding Him in one day!
Mark 11:27 And they come againe to Hierusalem, and as he was walking in the Temple, there come to him the chiefe Priests, and the Scribes, & the Elders, (CHIEFE PRIESTS, SCRIBES, AND ELDERS WERE BOTH SADDUCEES AND PHARISEES, but CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS WERE PREDOMINATLY SADDUCEES)
11:28 And say vnto him, By what authoritie doest thou these things? and who gaue thee this authority to doe these things?
11:29 And Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, I will also aske of you one question, and answere me, and I will tell you by what authoritie I doe these things.
11:30 The baptisme of Iohn, was it from heauen, or of men? Answere me.
11:31 And they reasoned with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
11:32 But if we shall say, Of men, they feared the people: for all men counted Iohn, that he was a Prophet indeed.
11:33 And they answered and said vnto Iesus, We cannot tell. And Iesus answering, saith vnto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I doe these things.
Mark 12:11 This was the Lords doing, and it is maruellous in our eies.
12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
12:13 And they send vnto him certaine of the Pharises, and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
12:14 And when they were come, they say vnto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawfull to giue tribute to Cesar, or not?
12:15 Shall we giue, or shall we not giue? But he knowing their hypocrisie, said vnto them, Why tempt yee mee? Bring me a penny that I may see it.
12:16 And they brought it: and he saith vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said vnto him, Cesars.
12:17 And Iesus answering, said vnto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesars: and to God the things that are Gods. And they maruailed at him.
12:18 Then come vnto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection, and they asked him, saying,
12:19 Master, Moses wrote vnto vs, If a mans brother die, and leaue his wife behind him, and leaue no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise vp seed vnto his brother.
12:20 Now there were seuen brethren: and the first tooke a wife, and dying left no seede.
12:21 And the second tooke her, and died, neither left he any seed, and the third likewise.
12:22 And the seuen had her, and left no seede: last of all the woman died also.
12:23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seuen had her to wife.
12:24 And Iesus answering, said vnto them, Doe ye not therefore erre, because yee know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are giuen in marriage: but are as the Angels which are in heauen.
12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: haue ye not read in the booke of Moses, how in the bush God spake vnto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isahac, and the God of Iacob?
12:27 Hee is not the God of the dead, but the God of the liuing: yee therefore doe greatly erre.
Matthew 22:41 While the Pharises were gathered together, Iesus asked them,
22:42 Saying, What thinke yee of Christ? whose sonne is hee? They say vnto him, The sonne of Dauid.
22:43 He saith vnto them, How then doth Dauid in spirit call him Lord, saying,
22:44 The Lord said vnto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstoole?
22:45 If Dauid then call him Lord, how is he his sonne?
22:46 And no man was able to answere him a word, neither durst any man (from that day foorth) aske him any moe questions.
Matthew 16:1 The Pharises also, with the Sadduces, came, and tempting, desired him that hee would shew them a signe from heauen.
16:2 He answered, and said vnto them, When it is euening, yee say, It will bee faire weather: for the skie is red.
16:3 And in the morning, It will be foule weather to day: for the skie is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, yee can discerne the face of the skie, but can ye not discerne the signes of the times?
16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a signe, and there shall no signe be giuen vnto it, but the signe of the Prophet Ionas. And hee left them, and departed.
16:5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
16:6 Then Iesus said vnto them, Take heed and beware of the leauen of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces.
16:7 And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is because we haue taken no bread.
Okay now let’s wrap it all up into a leavened loaf.
Herodians were hedonistic humanist, and had no time for the Heavenly God, yet some considered Herod a God.
Sadducees were anti-Messiah, did not believe in immortality, did not believe in the supernatural, yet they held to part of the Holy Scriptures, but primarily for wealth and power. They were Elite and held the two highest positions for the Jews, the Temple, and the Sanhedrin. The may not have obeyed or even believed Torah but they knew it.
Pharisees held man made tradition as high if not higher than the Written Word. Through the man-made traditions and the 600+ laws they lorded over the people, looked down on the people while looking pious, holy, all the while they were full of wickedness and abominations. They desired the attention and applause the people, to be dressed in long robes, and seated in high places.
I went through all of this so we can understand one peculiar parable.
Luke 13:20And againe hee said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdome of God?
13:21 It is like leauen, which a woman tooke and hidde in three measures of meale, till the whole was leauened.
Matthew 13:18 Heare ye therefore the parable of the sower.
13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdome, and vnderstandeth it not, then commeth the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: this is hee which receiued seede by the way side.
13:20 But he that receiued the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, & anon with ioy receiueth it:
13:21 Yet hath hee not root in himselfe, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
13:22 He also that receiued seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world, and the deceitfulnesse of riches choke the word, and he becommeth vnfruitfull.
13:23 But he that receiued seed into the good ground, is hee that heareth the word, and vnderstandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth foorth, some an hundred fold, some sixtie, some thirty.
Jesus explains this parable and let’s the disciples know and understand the seed is the Word of God, and the soils are men’s hearts, the birds are the wicked ones. 3 out of 4 do not make it.
Then He tells them another parable
Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth vnto them, saying; The kingdome of heauen is likened vnto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came & sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
13:26 But when the blade was sprung vp, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
13:27 So the seruants of the housholder came, and said vnto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seede in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?
13:28 He said vnto them, An enemy hath done this. The seruants said vnto him, Wilt thou then that we goe and gather them vp?
13:29 But he said, Nay: lest while yee gather vp the tares, ye root vp also the wheat with them.
13:30 Let both grow together vntil the haruest: and in the time of haruest, I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and binde them in bundels to burne them: but gather the wheat into my barne.
This time He explaining He is the sower, the good seed is the Word of God which will produce wheat and field is the earth, while men slept which is like a slumber carelessness not looking for the return of the LORD the enemy came and sowed tares which is false doctrine that sounds authentic but has hidden meanings and produces false converts. Outwardly they look like followers but inwardly they believe false doctrine, another Gospel and another Jesus. A tare looks like wheat, Satan speaks what appears to be Truth but is a lie and if it were possible the very elect would be deceived. If we are not diligent on reading, praying, and studying we can be deceived. After the tares grow into false converts and is compare to the wheat true converts the workers ask if they should remove the tares but He says no let them grow together until the end and then the Angels will remove them. We are not to go around and pointing at this person or thst person as a heretic but false doctrine we are to prove it to be false through the Word of God.
The next two parables many for some reason think 🤔 are different than the first two as in they believe they are talking about how huge the Church will get and how glorious. I beg to differ let’s read them.
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he foorth vnto them, saying, The kingdome of heauen is like to a graine of mustard seed, which a man tooke, and sowed in his field.
13:32 Which indeed is the least of al seeds: but when it is growen, it is the greatest among herbes, and becommeth a tree: so that the birds of the aire come and lodge in the branches thereof.
13:33 Another parable spake he vnto them, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto leauen, which a woman tooke, and hid in three measures of meale, till the whole was leauened.
In both of these there is unusual growth and not in a good way either. In the mustard seed parable, this time the mustard seed is talking about the Church as a whole not as individuals first off. The mustard seed was not to grow beyond its strength but it did, and that was not the intention of the LORD. But the mustard growing as a large tree instead of a shrub or large bush as it was intended became the habitation of evil i. e. the birds lodging in it’s branches. So it became a mixture like the two parables before this one. This tree 🌳 as with others symbolic trees in the Old Testament will take on a huge growth throughout the earth, with great influence.
The next parable is a completely different oddity all in itself. This time unlike every parable there is no reference to God the Father or the LORD Jesus Christ, instead it mentions a woman. This woman is not the Church, this woman represents the false Church and the 3 measures of meal/leaven she puts into the the doctrine of Christ’s doctrine, leavens the whole lump. This is not as others taught that it is the Gospel being preached by the Church and the world is saved, that is not true, nor is it in correspondence with the other parables! Leaven is always the symbol for sin, never for the Gospel. But in the eyes of man it looks amazing! Go around your town and ask people if they are a Christian about 8 out 10 will say yes…but only about 1 out of 10 if that, can tell you their born again testimony. The kingdom of heaven, which is in us, will become a huge power as seen from the mustard seed and the leaven, the false doctrine will infect the true doctrine and instead of speaking faith or giving life it will bring error, lies, heresy, deadly doctrine.
The New Testament talks of leaven as something to avoid. The leaven of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1, Matt 26:6), Herod/Herodians (Mark 8:15), Sadducees (Matt 16:6), harlotry (1 Corinthians5:1, 1 Corinthians5:6-7), legalism (Galatians 5:9), and idolatry (the woman putting the three measures).
The next two parables after He explains the weed parable are beautiful and shows us the Love of Jesus as well as the few that will be saved. In these it tells us how Jesus saw a treasure in the earth hidden and He gives all He has (His life, His blood) to purchase that treasure. The next we read how Jesus finds A PEARL of great price and sells all in order to buy it. Then after them two is the parable that speaks of the net, in it the sea is the whole of humanity where the people are and the net catches both good and bad, the good is gathered into the vessel the bad is cast away.
So now let us narrow our study down even further and focus in on leaven, how it entered the kingdom of God, which is in us, as we are the temple of God where the Holy Spirit dwells, the Body of Christ on earth. By digging into the man-made traditions that are not scriptural, and perversions of scriptures we will be able to trace it back to who the “woman” is, which will be evident of being a false Christian church. It will not be another religion that denies Jesus is Christ, but it will be one that masquerades as a sheep but inwardly is a ravenous wolf. And through her idolatrous doctrines (leaven) they become manmade traditions and has spread (leavened) throughout the earth in all congregations (entire lump).
The following scriptures tell us that we are to be unleavened, never leavened after being born again of the Holy Spirit.
++1 Corinthians 5:6Your glorying is not good: know ye not that a little leauen leaueneth the whole lumpe?
5:7 Purge out therefore the olde leauen, that ye may be a new lumpe, as ye are vnleauened. For euen Christ our Passeouer is sacrificed for vs.
5:8 Therefore let vs keepe the Feast, not with old leauen, neither with the leauen of malice and wickednesse: but with the vnleauened bread of sinceritie and trueth.
Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you, that ye should not obey the trueth?
5:8 This perswasion commeth not of him that calleth you.
5:9 A little leauen leaueneth the whole lumpe.
Leaven symbolizes FALSE DOCTRINE and it brings with it, corruption, defilement, malice, wickedness, lies and sin in scripture. It NEVER represents anything good. Leaven puffs up, and all you need is just a little leaven, then put in 3 measures of meal which is bread flour (wheat) and it will leaven it all. In every parable Jesus told, He always spoke of a man which represented God the Father or Himself, but this one that has leaven, 3 measures of meal which leavens the whole lump. Now if you bake you know the leaven takes a little while in order to germinate throughout it and then it will be visibly noticeable after time passes.
These scriptures tell us the kingdom of God is within us, so we are ingesting leaven somewhere that is causing us to sin unaware.
Luke 17:20 And when hee was demanded of the Pharises, when the kingdome of God should come, hee answered them, and said, The kingdome of God commeth not with obseruation.
17:21 Neither shall they say, Loe here, or loe there: for behold, the kingdome of God is within you.
So how can a woman/church put in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened? This is not talking about the supernatural growth of a Holy Church! We are told throughout scripture the leaven is not good! We are to be UNLEAVENED as the Body of Christ as HE WAS AND STILL IS UNLEAVENED!
I believe the 3 measure of meal/wheat the woman put in with the leaven are followers that took their eyes off of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of saved by grace with through faith, and started eating false doctrine. Examples in scripture are the Corinthians, Thessalonians, the Galatians, Diotrephes, Demas, Simon the sorcerer (he did believe and was baptized the scripture is clear on that) Phygellus and Hermogenes AND ALL ASIA.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am iealous ouer you with godly iealousie, for I haue espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
11:3 But I feare lest by any meanes, as the Serpent beguiled Eue through his subtilty, so your mindes should bee corrupted from the simplicitie that is in Christ.
11:4 For if he that commeth preacheth another Iesus whome wee haue not preached, or if yee receiue another spirit, which ye haue not receiued, or another Gospel, which ye haue not accepted, yee might well beare with him.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false Apostles, deceitfull workers, transforming themselues into the Apostles of Christ.
11:14 And no marueile, for Sathan himselfe is transformed into an Angel of light.
11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also bee transformed as the ministers of righteousnesse, whose end shall be according to their workes.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now wee beseech you, brethren, by the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ, and by our gathering together vnto him,
2:2 That yee bee not soone shaken in minde, or bee troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from vs, as that the day of Christ is at hand,
2:3 Let no man deceiue you by any meanes, for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sinne bee reuealed, the sonne of perdition,
2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God, or that is worshipped: so that he as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himselfe that he is God.
2:5 Remember yee not, that when I was yet with you, I tolde you these things?
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the trueth, before whose eyes Iesus Christ hath been euidently set forth, crucified among you?
3:2 This onely would I learne of you, receiued ye the spirit, by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?
3:3 Are ye so foolish? Hauing begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
3:4 Haue ye suffered so many things in vaine? If it be yet in vaine.
Philippians 1:15 Some in deed preach Christ, euen of enuie and strife, and some also of good will.
1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not syncerely, supposing to adde affliction to my bonds:
1:17 But the other of loue, knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel.
1:18 What then? Notwithstanding euery way, whether in pretence, or in trueth: Christ is preached, and I therein doe reioyce, yea, and will reioyce.
Diotrephes
3 John 1:9 I wrote vnto the Church, but Diotrephes, who loueth to haue the preeminence among them, receiueth vs not.
Demas
2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, hauing loued this present world, and is departed vnto Thessalonica: Crescens to Galatia, Titus vnto Dalmatia.
Simon the sorcerer (he did believe and was baptized the scripture is clear on that)
Acts 8:9 But there was a certaine man called Simon, which before time in the same citie vsed sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giuing out that himselfe was some great one.
8:10 To whom they all gaue heed from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
8:12 But when they beleeued Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdome of God, and the Name of Iesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
8:13 Then Simon himselfe beleeued also: and when hee was baptized, hee continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signes which were done.
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles hands, the holy Ghost was giuen, hee offered them money,
8:19 Saying, Giue me also this power, that on whomsoeuer I lay handes, hee may receiue the holy Ghost.
8:20 But Peter said vnto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickednesse, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiuen thee.
8:23 For I perceiue that thou art in the gall of bitternesse, and in the bond of iniquitie.
8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for mee, that none of these things which ye haue spoken, come vpon me. (KEEP THIS PERSON IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND HE WILL BECOME RELAVANT LATER)
Phygellus and Hermogenes AND ALL ASIA!
2 Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
Kings commentary
2Ti_1:15 . You shouldn’t count much on the support of others in your fight “for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jud_1:3 ). Paul points Timothy to the believers in Asia. Timothy knew that all in Asia have turned away from the apostle, while he has intensively preached the gospel in that area. It was he who taught God’s thoughts to the many who had come to faith there.
You can for example read in the letters to the Thessalonians and in the letter to the Ephesians how he served the believers there. The elders of Ephesus were all in tears when he left them. What made them most sad was that they wouldn’t see him ever again (Act_20:37-38 ). Now some years have passed. And how is the situation there? The good memories of Paul have faded. They have even turned away from him!
The man to whom they owe a lot is rejected by all of them and not only by an individual or a few. Why? They are possibly ashamed of him, the poor prisoner who fell into disgrace with the government. Of course they haven’t given up Christendom, but as far as they are concerned, Paul’s emphasis on being a Christian is too strong. You shouldn’t make efforts to create enemies, should you? That is true, but a faithful witness cannot help but make enemies. He doesn’t do that purposely, but being faithful to the Lord and His truth exposes hostility.
Paul is imprisoned for testifying to the truth. Therefore, turning away from Paul is in fact turning away from the truth that Paul preaches. That has made his imprisonment much heavier. He mentions two of those who have turned away from him by their names. It must have been necessary to mention these names. It is not unlikely that these are leading brothers with great influence who are misusing their influence and the exclusion of Paul to deceive the church. By mentioning their names Paul exposes them.
And finally
Ehpesus
Revelation 2:1 Vnto the Angel of the church of Ephesus, write, These things saith he that holdeth the seuen starres in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seuen golden Candlesticks:
2:2 I know thy workes, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not beare them which are euil, and thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles, and are not, and hast found them lyers:
2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my Names sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
2:4 Neuerthelesse, I haue somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first loue.
2:5 Remember therfore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and doe the first workes, or else I will come vnto thee quickly, and will remoue thy Candlesticke out of his place, except thou repent.
Pergamos
2:12 And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamos, write, These things saith hee, which hath the sharpe sword with two edges:
2:13 I know thy workes, and where thou dwellest, euen where Satans seat is, and thou holdest fast my Name, and hast not denied my faith, euen in those daies, wherein Antipas was my faithful Martyr, who was slaine among you, where Satan dwelleth.
2:14 But I haue a fewe things against thee, because thou hast there them that holde the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling blocke before the children of Israel, to eate things sacrificed vnto idoles, and to commit fornication.
Thyatira
2:18 And vnto the Angel of the church in Thyatira, write, These things saith the Sonne of God, who hath his eyes like vnto a flame of fire, and his feete are like fine brasse:
2:19 I know thy works, and charitie, and seruice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy workes, and the last to bee more then the first.
2:20 Notwithstanding, I haue a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Iezebel, which calleth herselfe a Prophetesse, to teach and to seduce my seruants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed vnto idoles.
2:21 And I gaue her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not.
2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her, into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
2:23 And I will kill her children with death, and all the Churches shall know that I am hee which searcheth the reines and hearts: and I will giue vnto euery one of you according to your workes.
Sardis
3:1 And vnto the Angel of the Church in Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seuen Spirits of God, & the seuen starres; I know thy workes, that thou hast a name that thou liuest, and art dead.
Laodicea
3:14 And vnto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans, write, These things saith the Amen, the faithfull and true witnesse, the beginning of the creation of God:
3:15 I know thy workes, that thou art neither cold nor hot, I would thou wert cold or hot.
3:16 So then because thou art lukewarme, and neither cold nor hot, I wil spew thee out of my mouth:
3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and haue need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poore, and blinde, and naked.
Now, think about this for a while…. these false doctrines and problems that entered the church was less than 60 YEARS AFTER JESUS CHRIST ASCENDED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER! Now think about this, it has been 1993 YEARS SINCE THEN….HOW MUCH LEAVEN DO YOU THINK IS IN THE CHURCH NOW?
The woman I believe that hides three measures of meal/wheat and leavens the whole lump is the Whore of Babylon the Mother of Harlots. The leaven that she has put in is false doctrine, Mystery Babylon’s pagan practices calling them Christian and Church “traditions” and it has leavened the unleavened Church of today.
Revelation 17:1 And there came one of the seuen Angels, which had the seuen vials, and talked with me, saying vnto mee, Come hither, I will shew vnto thee the iudgement of the great Whore, that sitteth vpon many waters:
17:2 With whom the kings of the earth haue committed fornication, and the inhabiters of the earth haue beene made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
17:3 So he caried me away in the Spirit into the wildernesse: and I saw a woman sit vpon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, hauing seuen heads, and ten hornes.
17:4 And the woman was arayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stone & pearles, hauing a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication.
17:5 And vpon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots, And Abominations Of The Earth.
17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus: and when I saw her, I wondred with great admiration.
17:7 And the Angel saide vnto mee, Wherefore didst thou marueile? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carieth her, which hath the seuen heads, and ten hornes.
17:8 The beast that thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, and goe into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, (whose names were not written in the booke of life from the foundation of the world) when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisedome. The seuen heads are seuen mountaines, on which the woman sitteth.
17:10 And there are seuen Kings, fiue are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come: and when he commeth, he must continue a short space.
17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, euen he is the eighth, & is of the seuen, and goeth into perdition.
17:12 And the tenne hornes which thou sawest, are ten kings, which haue receiued no kingdom as yet: but receiue power as kings one houre with the beast.
17:13 These haue one minde, and shall giue their power and strength vnto the beast.
17:14 These shal make warre with the Lambe, and the Lambe shal ouercome them: For he is Lord of Lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him, are called, & chosen, and faithfull.
17:15 And he saith vnto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
17:16 And the ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eate her flesh, and burne her with fire.
17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and giue their kingdome vnto the beast, vntil the words of God shall be fulfilled.
17:18 And the woman which thou sawest, is that great Citie which reigneth ouer the kings of the earth.
Next, we begin to look into this woman and, 17:5 And vpon her forehead was a name written, “Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots, And Abominations Of The Earth.”
17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus: and when I saw her, I wondred with great admiration.
There are several mysteries in those two verses, and when we understand that, then we will begin to see a clearer picture as well and see what we have been taught for the most part is in error with the Holy Scriptures.
One of the most important words in verse 5 is ABOMINATIONS, which spread throughout the earth. What does God say is abominations in scripture? Going back to Exodus, after they left Egypt, God gives Moses the 10 Commandments and an in depth look into them as well as things God expected from them, being His chosen people. In chapter 23 He talks about lying, helping your enemy, not to take gifts which is a bribe, then He explains the Sabbath rest for the land and for the people, but in verse 13, 14, and 24, but many will read over them, thinking it doesn’t have anything to do with us these days, but those verses are extremely important, for them then as well as for us now.
Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I haue said vnto you, be circumspect: and make no mention of the names of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
23:14 Three times thou shalt keepe a feast vnto me in the yeere.
23:24 Thou shalt not bow downe to their gods, nor serue them, nor doe after their workes: but thou shalt vtterly ouerthrowe them, and quite breake downe their images.
Circumspect means to take heed, pay attention. Make no mention of the names of other gods in way of reverence, adoration, kind words but in exposing them as error one must do. It is not by chance or accident in verse 14 begins speaking about God’s Feasts the He alone instituted. Then IN VERSE All 24 WHERE HE MENTIONS THEIR WORKS THAT THEIR YEARLY FEASTS ARE INCLUDED, this is not accidental or a coincidence, He forbids them to have anything to do with the gods that were served, and worshipped in any form of rituals, feasts, were never to be done but was to be over thrown and any image or idol of their was to be destroyed.
Deuteronomy 12:29 When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possesse them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land:
12:30 Take heede to thy selfe that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee, and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serue their gods? euen so will I doe likewise.
12:31 Thou shalt not doe so vnto the Lord thy God: for euery abomination to the Lord which hee hateth, haue they done vnto their gods: for euen their sonnes and their daughters they haue burnt in the fire to their gods.
12:32 What thing soeuer I command you, obserue to doe it: thou shalt not adde thereto, nor diminish from it.
1828 Noah Webster
ABOMINA’TION, noun
1. Extreme hatred; detestation.
2. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 15:8.
3. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews. The Roman army is called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:15. In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination.
God tells us in Deuteronomy that EVERY ABOMINATION TO THE LORD WHICH HE HATES, THE PAGANS/HEATHENS DO UNTO THEIR GODS!!! Many will blow this off as not important for the Church, but what does Apostle Paul say under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
Galatians 4:8 Howbeit, then when ye knew not God, yee did seruice vnto them which by nature are no Gods.
4:9 But now after that yee haue knowen God, or rather are knowen of God, how turne ye againe to the weak and beggerly Elements, whereunto ye desire againe to be in bondage?
4:10 Yee obserue dayes, and moneths, and times, and yeeres.
4:11 I am afraide of you, lest I haue bestowed vpon you labour in vaine.
The Galatians began to go back and observe the pagan days, months, times, and years as they had done BEFORE they knew the LORD! Paul tells them by doing this it brings them back under bondage! This is extremely serious then and now. In order for us not to be in bondage unknowingly, because of things brought into the Church, which is the body of believers and the temple of the Holy Spirit, because the KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHUN US, I personally believe it is very important to know what these things are. If God called them abominations in the Old Testament and HE DOES NOT CHANGE then I can say without hesitation, they are STILL AN ABOMINATION TO HIM TODAY! And that the, “Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots, And Abominations Of The Earth” has been mixed with Christianity, by doing so, she is drunk with, “BLOOD of the saints AND the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus:”.
Have you ever wondered why it says the “blood of saints”? Saints and called saints while they are living, so how can she be drunk with the blood of saints if they are still alive? Roman Catholicism calls their dead “saints” and only some are considered saints, but in the Holy scriptures the believers are called saints.
Acts 9:41 And he gaue her his hand, and lift her vp: and when hee had called the Saints & widowes, presented her aliue.
Romans 16:1 I commend vnto you Phebe our sister, which is a seruant of the Church which is at Cenchrea:
16:2 That ye receiue her in the Lord as becommeth Saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoeuer businesse she hath need of you: for she hath beene a succourer of many, and of my selfe also.
1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, hauing a matter against another, goe to law before the vniust, and not before the Saints?
6:2 Do ye not know that the Saints shall iudge the world? And if the world shalbe iudged by you, are ye vnworthy to iudge the smallest matters?
Ephesians 4:11 And he gaue some, Apostles: and some, Prophets: and some, Euangelists: and some, Pastors, and teachers:
4:12 For the perfecting of the Saints, for the worke of the ministerie, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
4:13 Till we all come in the vnitie of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God, vnto a perfect man, vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ:
These are just a few scriptures showing the Saints that are living, yes, those who have went on before us are called saints as well, yet that is not the intention of tell us she is drunken with the BLOOD OF THE SAINTS, if this was speaking of dead saints she killed they would be called martyrs and this verse makes a point to separate the blood of the saints AND the blood of martyrs. Why? I personally believe the blood of saints she is drunken with are those she has deceived into serving false gods, obeying another gospel, and worshipping another Jesus, and they do not even know it. She has deceived the whole world and has perverted all churches into worshipping false gods by disguising it in Christianity, and sadly most in the churches today would rather be spoon fed, regurgitated scriptural food from those who they have never even met than to study scripture themselves alone with God, most in the body of Christ are perishing for lack of knowledge and do not even know it!
When time permits and by the grace of God we will look into the leaven the abominations, and how that woman hid in three measures of meal to leaven the whole lump by rituals, feasts, traditions that have a Christian label and has pagan roots that was brought into the church as a whole. Once these were brought in the church was open to false doctrines that the early church did not teach, and the reformers did not teach but is being taught in almost every pulpit worldwide.
Watchmen On The Pod 