Beware Of Leaven

At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot.  Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, "Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees…”  (Luke 12:1)

We need not worry about Pharisees.   We need to worry about ourselves because being hypocrites is a trap into which we all can and do fall.   No one likes a hypocrite, so let’s beware of this leaven.

Here’s a humorous story about hypocrisy: eulogizing a crook.

The story is told of two brothers who were well known around town for their crooked business dealings and underworld connections. They were as mean and cold-blooded as you could imagine.

Eventually, one of the brothers died, and the surviving brother wanted to give his dead brother a funeral fit for a king. He called the funeral home and made all the arrangements.  Then he called the town’s minister and made him an offer.  He said, “I’ll give you $10,000 to put that new roof on the church if, in eulogizing my brother, you call him a saint.”

The minister agreed. The whole town turned out for the funeral, and the minister began: “The man you see in the coffin was a vile and debauched individual.  He was a liar, a thief, a deceiver, a manipulator, a reprobate, a hedonist, and a hypocrite.   He destroyed the fortunes, careers, and lives of countless people in this city, some of whom are here today.  This man did every dirty, rotten thing you can think of.  But compared to his brother, he was a saint.”

To whom can we compare ourselves?

Deacon David Pierce