What’s he saying to THEM?

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” Luke 12: 1-3 [Jesus Christ - circa AD 30]

The biggest crowds in Jersey gather at the Battle of Flowers each August. Or at Jersey Live, the Island’s Festival of Music at the end of that month. Fortunately these days – see bold above – the crowds of thousands don’t trample one another..... Another thing the crowds of thousands in Jersey don’t do – see bold above – is listen in to the instructions being given to others. Or do they? Luke’s Biography of Jesus Christ runs to only 32 pages. Two pages out of 32 are all about Jesus’ instructions to his disciples – his key followers. Why don’t we listen in and see if Jesus’ followers here in Jersey have listened to Jesus? Have Jersey disciples of Jesus taken on board – are they taking on board – what Jesus taught in AD 30? In particular – first of all – Jesus began by telling his disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which, said Jesus, is hypocrisy, a play-act, a facade. Leaven is placed inside a loaf of bread and makes it rise. It becomes part and parcel of the person. It’s what motivates a person.
.	‘A man can be outwardly conformed to the Christian way of life while he is inwardly conformed to the spirit of this world.’ (Sinclair Ferguson, University Professor and Writer)
How will these Christians react to this teaching? Will they discover what is motivating them? And will their leaven be the same leaven as in the Pharisees? The Pharisees are members of a politico-religious party. They are important people in our world. Leaders in church and state. As we listen in to Jesus instructing his key followers, we begin to wonder whether Jesus has a good point to make – to his own followers. They’ve got things to hide, you know, these Christians. It must be leaven that they’re hiding. But what is Pharisaic leaven? And listen to Jesus whilst he tells them the truth: *Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.* That’ll be the day. We, the crowd, can imagine what it’ll be like when whatever these Christians are hiding is revealed. On the JEP front page. And there’s more: *Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.* Jesus is telling these Christians – in our hearing – that all their secret whispers will be shouted out. Bravo for Jesus! We knew it was like that. But somehow there’s something wrong. Jesus is not condemning his disciples – he’s speaking in a caring way. He wants their good. He really, really, wants them to watch out for this leaven within themselves. What on earth, then, is this leaven, this hypocrisy, this pretence which will so greatly embarrass all of them if they have it within them? Why is Jesus trying so hard to get his followers to watch out for what might be within them. What is so attractive that they might be welcoming it – like leaven – within themselves?
.	‘The hypocrite desires holiness only as a bridge to heaven.’ (Joseph Alleine, Hannah More, Pastor and author, English writer and philanthropist, 1634-1668)
As he types the question, Richard Syvret thinks he might have seen it – in himself.......... Will he tell all? Yes, he must. He thinks that the leaven is what makes him look good to others – look like good, fresh-baked bread. So he wants to play-act. Of course he does. Leaven – please go away. Richard can’t get rid of you – but he can beware you.

Richard Syvret

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