pained with the false doctrines which He saw among the Jews, and the pernicious influence which they exercised. He seizes the opportunity to utter a cautioa. " Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Let us mark well what those words contain.
To whom was this warning addressed ? To the twelve apostles, — to the first ministers of the Church of Christ, — to men \Vho had forsaken all for the Gospel's sake ! Even they are warned ! The Ibest of men are only men, and at any time may fall into temptation. " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." If we love life, and would see good days, let us never think that we do not need that hint, " take heed, and beware."
Against what does our Lord warn His apostles .^ Against the " doctrine" of the Pharisees and of the Sad- ducees. The Pharisees, we are frequently told in the Gospels, were self-righteous formalists. The Sadducees were sceptics, freethinkers, and half infidels. Yet even Peter, James, and John must beware of their doctrines ! Truly the best and holiest of believers may well be on his guard !
By what figure does our Lord describe the false doctrines against which He cautions His disciples ? He calls them leaven. Like leaven, they might seem a small thing compared to the whole body of truth. Like leaven, once admitted they would work secretly and noiselessly. Like leaven, they would gradually change the whole character of the religion with which they were mixed. How much is often contained in a single word ! It was not merely the open danger of heresy, but ^' leaven," of which the apostles were to beware.