Letting It Sink In

5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16)
We so easily get fixated on the physical that spiritual truth goes over our head, rolls off our back, and never soaks into our souls.  The disciples were like that. When Jesus talked to His disciples about the leaven of the Pharisess - the attitudes they had toward holiness and their relationship with God - the twelve automatically began to think about literal bread, and their failure to bring it along.  Jesus' response was two-fold: first, stop worrying about the physical; God will provide the bread you need.  Secondly, start thinking about the spiritual.  The fact is that we all have the tendency of the Pharisees to begin to think of ourselves as more spiritual than others. Even our criticism of others who are acting in a self-righteous way opens us up to our own self-righteousness.  We need to beware our bent towards defending ourselves and criticizing others. Only He can and will occupy the seat of Judge.