“Be careful” Jesus warned them “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod” They discussed this with one another and said “It is because we have no bread” 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? Do you have eyes and fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls did you pick up?” And they said to Him “Twelve”. “And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls did you pick up?” And they said to Him “Seven” And He was saying to them “Do you still not understand?”
Mark 8:15-21
When Jesus spoke of yeast He was referring to that which spreads until everything is affected; the teaching of men; rituals without life; perverted truth. The whole thing multiplies over time becoming more impressive as it grows until it is accepted as normal.
There are two types of multiplication in this passage
Multiplication by leaven – natural way
When bread is made, yeast is added to create lighter airy bread. The dough becomes puffed up, inflated, full of air. This gives a false impression of size and substance, depending on how much yeast is added. Light bread is easy to eat, doesn’t require much effort to chew, but has less nutritional value per slice than denser loaves.
Sometimes men speak a small amount of truth with a lot of padding. Otherwise the pitifully small amount of real content is seen. Charismatic politicians can stir people to support them with few facts but a lot of charm. Preachers too can fall into the trap of relying on personality rather than clear helpful teaching. We are called to make disciples and we will only reproduce what we are ourselves. If we are all hot air and no substance we merely entertain.
Jesus was unimpressed by the lack of fruit on a fig tree. It looked good from a distance, but on closer inspection it had no nourishment to give. He cursed it because of its pretense. We want to bear fruit and not just a showy crop of leaves.
Multiplication by breaking – supernatural way
Jesus took a small amount of bread and when He broke it there was more than enough, in fact much more left over than was given. What we give to Jesus, however small, is more than enough in His hands. There is always an abundance. He uses all that we offer, the amount is not directly related to the need. He used five loaves for five thousand and yet all seven to feed four thousand.
He didn’t multiply the whole loaves but it was as they were broken and given that they were multiplied. We resist being broken as it is painful and giving of ourselves leaves us vulnerable. Jesus, the bread from heaven (John 6), was broken and given for us. He held nothing back and neither should we.
The fragments of bread were gathered up by the disciples. Bread was considered a gift from God just like the manna in the desert. Small pieces were not ignored, but valued. We should value what God has given us however small or insignificant it may appear to be. God has given us all we need to fulfill His plan, all we must do is be honest about the size of our contribution and give it gladly. We should always offer what we have to God rather than trying to increase it ourselves. Self help programmes are never as good as God’s help. Whether it is one word or many, it will be the right amount if we offer what we have. In Jesus hands it will be transformed and multiplied.
Multiplication
“Be careful” Jesus warned them “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod” They discussed this with one another and said “It is because we have no bread” 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? Do you have eyes and fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls did you pick up?” And they said to Him “Twelve”. “And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls did you pick up?” And they said to Him “Seven” And He was saying to them “Do you still not understand?”
Mark 8:15-21
When Jesus spoke of yeast He was referring to that which spreads until everything is affected; the teaching of men; rituals without life; perverted truth. The whole thing multiplies over time becoming more impressive as it grows until it is accepted as normal.
There are two types of multiplication in this passage
Multiplication by leaven – natural way
When bread is made, yeast is added to create lighter airy bread. The dough becomes puffed up, inflated, full of air. This gives a false impression of size and substance, depending on how much yeast is added. Light bread is easy to eat, doesn’t require much effort to chew, but has less nutritional value per slice than denser loaves.
Sometimes men speak a small amount of truth with a lot of padding. Otherwise the pitifully small amount of real content is seen. Charismatic politicians can stir people to support them with few facts but a lot of charm. Preachers too can fall into the trap of relying on personality rather than clear helpful teaching. We are called to make disciples and we will only reproduce what we are ourselves. If we are all hot air and no substance we merely entertain.
Jesus was unimpressed by the lack of fruit on a fig tree. It looked good from a distance, but on closer inspection it had no nourishment to give. He cursed it because of its pretense. We want to bear fruit and not just a showy crop of leaves.
Multiplication by breaking – supernatural way
Jesus took a small amount of bread and when He broke it there was more than enough, in fact much more left over than was given. What we give to Jesus, however small, is more than enough in His hands. There is always an abundance. He uses all that we offer, the amount is not directly related to the need. He used five loaves for five thousand and yet all seven to feed four thousand.
He didn’t multiply the whole loaves but it was as they were broken and given that they were multiplied. We resist being broken as it is painful and giving of ourselves leaves us vulnerable. Jesus, the bread from heaven (John 6), was broken and given for us. He held nothing back and neither should we.
The fragments of bread were gathered up by the disciples. Bread was considered a gift from God just like the manna in the desert. Small pieces were not ignored, but valued. We should value what God has given us however small or insignificant it may appear to be. God has given us all we need to fulfill His plan, all we must do is be honest about the size of our contribution and give it gladly. We should always offer what we have to God rather than trying to increase it ourselves. Self help programmes are never as good as God’s help. Whether it is one word or many, it will be the right amount if we offer what we have. In Jesus hands it will be transformed and multiplied.
