防備法利賽人和希律的酵
（太16‧5－12）
14門徒忘了帶餅；在船上除了一個餅，沒有別的食物。 15耶穌囑咐他們說：「你們要謹慎，防備法利賽人的酵和希律的酵。」 16他們彼此議論說：「這是因為我們沒有餅吧。」 17耶穌看出來，就說：「你們為甚麼因為沒有餅就議論呢？你們還不省悟，還不明白嗎？你們的心還是愚頑嗎？ 18你們有眼睛，看不見嗎？有耳朵，聽不見嗎？也不記得嗎？ 19我擘開那五個餅分給五千人，你們收拾的零碎裝滿了多少籃子呢？」他們說：「十二個。」 20「又擘開那七個餅分給四千人，你們收拾的零碎裝滿了多少筐子呢？」他們說：「七個。」 21耶穌說：「你們還是不明白嗎？」
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14The 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.”
16They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
17Aware 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?18Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?19When 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.”
21He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
各位弟兄姊妹，平安。今天我們要講的故事是關於耶穌論法利賽人和希律的酵。這段故事記載在馬可福音的18章，從第14節到第21節。接續著昨天我們講過的耶穌餵飽4000人的故事。
在昨天的故事中，4000人吃飽後，有一些法利賽人出來問耶穌求一個神跡給他們看，目的是要試探他。耶穌在這個時候說的是：「這世代為什麼求神蹟呢？」他在警告門徒們不要學習法利賽人和希律的思想。耶穌多次用酵來比喻罪，就像一小撮酵能讓整個麵團都發酵一樣。罪也是如此，一點點的罪可能會不斷地影響自己，進而影響更多的人，阻止我們親近上帝。因此，耶穌在這裡所說的是：「你們要戒備，不要讓法利賽人（宗教）和希律（政治）的影響力敗壞你們！」
法利賽人代表的是宗教思想，他們高舉律法，把自己的行為看成是彌賽亞，認為只要遵守律法就足以得救，卻錯過了上帝的救恩。而希律則代表政治與權力，認為只要擁有權力，就可以呼風喚雨，完成任何事情，卻忘記了最終的主權只在上帝手中。耶穌在這裡警告門徒世界上的影響力很大，若我們不時刻警醒，就會被這些影響力所左右。
當我們看到第16節時，我們就明白門徒完全沒有聽懂耶穌在說什麼，因為他們的回應是：“這是因為我們沒有餅吧。”他們看過耶穌餵飽5000人，又看過耶穌餵飽4000人的神蹟，但耶穌說：“你們怎麼還是把心思放在食物上呢？你們怎麼還是不明白呢？” 耶穌所說的五個餅分給5000人，收拾了多少籃子呢？是12個。七個餅分給四千人，又裝了多少筐子呢？是七個。他們都看見了，也都算出來了，但耶穌說：“你們還是不明白嗎？你們看完了我所做的一切事，聽完我說的一切話，為何只是把眼光定睛在食物（肉體的需要）呢？”
在這個世界上，我們受到環境和肉體的限制。若不警醒，很容易將困難定睛在這些限制上，可能是物質上的缺乏，如缺錢、缺建築、缺人手，或是學習上的資源匱乏。當我們缺少這些時，我們往往只看見自己，卻忘記了上帝。然而，上帝告訴我們：「難道你沒有看見我是從無到有的上帝嗎？我是能使少變多的上帝嗎？你難道沒有看見我是供應的上帝嗎？」這些故事提醒著我們，我們應當信靠上帝，仰望祂。
我們的經驗非常寶貴，因為它們能保護我們，讓我們從過去的經驗中吸取教訓，避免再次犯類似的錯誤，避免危險。然而，有時這些經驗也可能成為我們的限制，因為我們會認為過去不行，所以未來也不行。我們會用過去的經驗來判斷未來的可能性，將自己困在過去的經驗中，這種思維會讓我們自我設限，認為未來也將辦不到。
耶穌的影響力不受國家範圍的限制，也不在地上的國度、權利或金錢之中，而是在改變人心的話語之上。他所說的一切話語都能餵飽人心，改變人心。他在地上並沒有建立一個國度，但他的國度卻遍及所有地方。他沒有著意賺取金錢，卻有無數人自願為他奉獻金錢。他沒有試圖建立軍隊，但願意跟隨他的人在歷史中持續增加。
我們應該建立生命在他的話語之上，因為他是唯一的根基。當我們仰望他、依賴他，他所賜的話語擁有改變世界的力量。只有這樣，我們才能站在真正穩固的磐石之上。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天要看彼得跟隨耶穌的故事。在這段故事中，我們將找到我們人生穩固核心的重點。願我們一同領受。
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Today, the story we are going to talk about is regarding Jesus' discussion about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. This story is recorded in Mark 8:14-21, following the narrative of Jesus feeding the 4000, which we discussed yesterday.
In yesterday's story, after feeding the 4000, some Pharisees came to Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him. Jesus, at that time, warned his disciples not to adopt the thinking of the Pharisees and Herod. Jesus often used leaven as a metaphor for sin, just as a small amount of leaven can leaven the whole dough. Similarly, sin can spread and affect not only ourselves but also others, hindering our closeness to God. Therefore, what Jesus is saying here is: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (religious influence) and Herod (political influence) that can corrupt you!"
The Pharisees represented religious ideology, elevating the law and considering their own actions as Messianic, thinking that salvation comes solely from obeying the law, thus missing out on God's salvation. Whereas Herod represented politics and power, believing that having power enables one to control everything, yet forgetting that ultimate sovereignty rests in God's hands. Jesus warns his disciples here about the significant influence in the world and how we might be swayed by these influences if we are not vigilant.
When we look at verse 16, it's evident that the disciples completely misunderstood what Jesus was saying, as their response was, "Is it because we have no bread?" They had witnessed Jesus feeding the 5000 and the 4000, yet Jesus said, "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand?" Jesus reminds them of the 12 baskets left over after feeding the 5000 and the 7 baskets left over after feeding the 4000. They saw it and counted it, yet Jesus asks, "Do you still not understand? Even after witnessing all that I have done and hearing all that I have said, why do you focus only on food (physical needs)?"
In this world, we are limited by our environment and our physical needs. If we are not vigilant, it's easy to fixate on these limitations, whether it's material lack such as money, resources, or manpower, or a scarcity of educational resources. When we lack these, we often only see ourselves and forget about God. However, God reminds us, "Do you not see that I am the God who creates from nothing? Am I not the God who can multiply what is little? Do you not see that I am the God who provides?" These stories remind us that we should trust in God and look to Him.
Our experiences are invaluable because they protect us, allowing us to learn from past experiences, avoid similar mistakes, and prevent danger. However, sometimes these experiences can also become limitations because we might think that if it didn't work in the past, it won't work in the future. We might judge the possibilities of the future based on past experiences, trapping ourselves in them, leading to self-imposed limitations, believing that the future is unattainable.
Jesus' influence is not limited by national boundaries, earthly kingdoms, power, or money, but rather it lies in the words that change hearts. Everything he said can feed and transform hearts. He didn't establish a kingdom on earth, yet his kingdom is everywhere. He didn't seek to gain money, yet countless people willingly offered him their wealth. He didn't try to build an army, yet the number of people willing to follow him continues to increase throughout history.
We should build our lives on his words because he is the only foundation. When we look to him and rely on him, the words he gives us have the power to change the world. Only then can we stand on a truly solid rock.
Thank you all for listening. Tomorrow, we will look at the story of Peter following Jesus. In this story, we will find the focal point of our lives' stability core. May we all receive it together.
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