Jesus Warns Against the Leaven of the Pharisees and Responds to Their Demand for a Sign from Heaven (Mk. 8:11-21)

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. 14 They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered [him], “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

The Pharisees were consistently skeptical and opposed to Jesus.  They refused to accept that Jesus’ miracles were proof of the arrival of the Kingdom of God and demanded a sign from Heaven to test whether his authority was truly from God.  Their intentions were clearly malicious, as evidenced in other episodes like in John 11:47-53 where they plotted to kill Jesus. This malicious intent is also reflected in their efforts to entrap Jesus, as seen in Matthew 22:15-18.  In frustration about their lack of faith, Jesus refused to provide a sign to the hostile Pharisees and departed to the other shore of the Sea of Galilee.  

After their encounter with the Pharisees who demanded a sign from heaven, Jesus and His disciples departed and once again boarded the boat to cross to the other side.  During this journey, the disciples realized they had only one loaf of bread.  Jesus, aware of their concerns about sustenance, realized that even though they had been granted the grace to understand the mystery of the kingdom of God (Mk. 4:11), they were still thinking on a material plane.  Jesus used this opportunity to warn them about the corrupting influence of the Pharisees and Herod, comparing it to how leaven (yeast) causes bread to rise.  The teachings of the Pharisees and Herod could corrupt the true understanding and practice of the faith.  Jesus frequently rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, legalism, political ambition, and disbelief, pointing out their failure to live according to the deeper spiritual truths of the Law.

The disciples did not grasp the spiritual truths Jesus was trying to teach them.  They were still focused on the literal meaning of the 'leaven of the Pharisees and Herod,' thinking he was concerned about their lack of bread.  Jesus then questioned their comprehension and understanding.  They grasped the words but failed to understand the deeper meaning of what he said.  Jesus’ subsequent questions emphasize the disciples' superficial understanding of his teachings and their inability to connect his words with the miraculous events they had witnessed.  He referenced the feeding miracles of the thousands, which were not just displays of divine provision but also profound indicators of his Messianic identity.  These miracles were meant to reveal Jesus as the Messiah, yet the disciples failed to see the deeper spiritual significance of these acts and how they underscored His teachings.  Although they heard His words and saw His actions, they did not perceive their deeper spiritual significance.  They failed to understand the true breadth of His message and mission.

Heavenly Father, teach us as Jesus taught his disciples and help us to discern the deeper meanings behind your Word.  Protect us from doubt and the corrupting influence of false teachings, and guide us in faith, so that we may truly understand and live out your divine teachings.  This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen

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Sources:

• Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
• Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
• Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
• Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.