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•11法利赛人出来盘问耶稣，求他从天上显个神迹给他们看，想要试探他。12耶稣心里深深地叹息说：“这世代为什么求神迹呢？我实在告诉你们：没有神迹给这世代看。”13他就离开他们，又上船往海那边去了。
•14门徒忘了带饼，在船上除了一个饼，没有别的食物。15耶稣嘱咐他们说：“你们要谨慎，防备法利赛人的酵和希律的酵。”16他们彼此议论说：“这是因为我们没有饼吧！”17耶稣看出来，就说：“你们为什么因为没有饼就议论呢？你们还不省悟，还不明白吗？你们的心还是愚顽吗？18你们有眼睛，看不见吗？有耳朵，听不见吗？也不记得吗？19我擘开那五个饼分给五千人，你们收拾的零碎装满了多少篮子呢？”他们说：“十二个。”20“又擘开那七个饼分给四千人，你们收拾的零碎，装满了多少筐子呢？”他们说：“七个。”21耶稣说：“你们还是不明白吗？”
为什么耶稣把门徒思考的焦点从饼，转移到讨论“法利赛人和希律的酵”这件事上来呢?耶稣是在提醒他们，属世的食物没有属灵的食物重要。从这个意义上说，他们还没有明白耶稣使五千人吃饱和使四千人吃饱的这两个神迹。神赐给我们日用的饮食，而且如此丰盛，以致于我们是有余的。我们所要思考的最重要的事情，不是我们如何赚更多钱，而是我们如何增加我们的信心。
耶稣谈到法利赛人和希律的酵。实际上，他说的是法利赛人以及受到希律支持的撒都该人。法利赛人是极端保守、遵守犹太律法的人，他们以自己在神面前的义夸口。撒都该人是世俗主义者，受希腊文化影响，他们不相信死后的生命，不相信复活，天使，以及其他许多东西。他们认为政治是一切权力的源泉，是一切问题的答案。所以耶稣警告他的门徒不要掉在这两种人的错误教导里。
今天也是一样。今天撒旦仍然用同样的方式试探我们。他想让我们的心被这个世界的东西所完全占据，我们身体上的欲望和需要，而不去关注我们信心的需要。或者他会引诱我们把自己看得太高，以至于我们认为我们并不需要耶稣。或者他引诱我们采取与这个世俗世界同样的看法，科学就是上帝，一切都是相对的，没有绝对的真理。所以我今天必须问自己，“我最有可能走哪条路?”我祷告耶稣会引导我去走那条少有人走的路，那条跟随他的路。
祷告:主耶稣，除了你，我们还能归向谁呢?唯有你有永生之道!求你教导我们跟随你，躲避那些将我们带入不信之中的黑暗道路!阿们。
Mark 8:14-21: The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” 16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (NIV)
Why did Jesus divert their thoughts about the bread they had to a discussion of the “yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod?” Jesus was reminding them that their earthly food was not as important as their spiritual food. In that sense, they missed the point of the two miracles of loaves. God gives us our daily bread and with such abundance that we have more than enough left over. Our thoughts should be consumed, not how we will make our next dollar, but how we will grow our faith.
Jesus talked about the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod. Really, he was talking about the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had the backing of Herod. The Pharisees were the ultraconservatives who took pride in their own righteousness before God. The Sadducees were the secularists who didn’t believe in life after death, or the resurrection, or angels, or a lot of other things. They thought that politics was the source of power and the answer to everything. So Jesus was warning his disciples against falling in the ditch on either side of the road.
Do you see that Satan still tempts us in the same ways today? He wants us to be consumed with the things of this world, our physical wants and needs, and not pay attention to our faith. Or he leads us to think so highly of ourselves that we do not think we really need Jesus. Or he tempts us to join the secular world, where science is God and where there is no truth. So I have to ask myself today, “Which of those paths am I most likely to follow?” I pray that Jesus will guide me on the path less followed and follow him.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! Teach us to follow you and to avoid the paths that would lead us into the dark forest of unbelief! Amen.