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Mark 8:15 - Pride Puffs You Up.

Mark 8:15 (NLT) As they were crossing the 
lake, Jesus warned them, Watch out! Beware of 
the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.  

WORD STUDY

Leaven. Yeast. With the exception of Matt. 
13:33 (see note) where Jesus uses leaven 
positively for the growth of His kingdom, throughout 
Scripture leaven is used as a symbol of sin, 
corruption, and uncleanness (see Ex. 12:15"20; 23:18; 
34:25; Lev. 2:11; 6:17; Matt. 16:5"12; 1 Cor. 
5:6"8; Gal. 5:9). In this context, the leaven of 
the Pharisees and Herod Antipas refers to their 
evil attempts to test Him. [Andrews SB] 

Yeast in this passage symbolizes evil. Just 
as only a small amount of yeast is needed to 
make a batch of bread rise, so the 
hard-heartedness of the religious and political leaders could 
permeate and contaminate the entire society and make 
it rise up against Jesus. [Life Application 
SB] 

Among the Jews leaven was sometimes used as 
an emblem of sin. At the time of the Passover 
the people were directed to remove all the 
leaven from their houses as they were to put away 
sin from their hearts. Christ warned His 
disciples, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, 
which is hypocrisy. Luke 12:1. And the apostle 
Paul speaks of the leaven of malice and 
wickedness. 1 Corinthians 5:8. COL95 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   In the Bible, yeast is often a metaphor 
for pride and arrogance. Why? Because both pride 
and yeast make things puff up. 
   When you put yeast in dough, the yeast 
puffs up the dough. It only takes a small amount 
for this to happen. 
   Pride in people is similar. Just a little 
pride can puff you up and quickly take over your 
life, getting you in all kinds of trouble. 
   A while back, my wife Kay and I had what 
you might call an argument. We call it a love 
match. After that argument, I wrote in my journal, 
When Im filled with pride, I blow things out 
of proportion.  
   We all do this. When youre filled with 
pride, you blow things out of proportion. All of a 
sudden, little things get you really upset. When 
that happens, you know youre dealing with 
pride. Wherever you find conflict anywhere in the 
world, pride is always involved.  
   When youre filled with pride - when 
you have the yeast of the Pharisees - 
guess what? You cant see life clearly. Pride 
even blocks you from seeing  
what God is doing in your life.
   Beware the yeast of the Pharisees 
so that you can more closely follow God. As you 
clear the pride from your life, youll start to 
see how God is working. You may even realize 
hes working a miracle in your life. [Daily 
Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

CROSS REFERENCE

Matthew 16:12 (NKJV) Then they understood 
that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven 
of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees 
and Sadducees.  

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC

1 Peter 5:5, 6 - Seeking Humility and 
Ignoring Pride. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200402-1128.html 

James 4:6 - Proud or Humble Living?

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160915-1637.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.revelationnow.com/ 

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: 
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657