The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
© B. Keith Chadwell, February, 2009
This is the first of a series of studies on 2nd Thessalonians 2:
As the studies are posted on www.thekingdomisathand.net they will be indexed, archived and may be accessed from the teachings page.
The truth is the truth, no matter what we believe. However, as the Spirit of God opens the eyes of our understanding in these days, we may discover we have been stumbling over obstacles to the truth in the scriptures that were not targeted for true Christians. The “strong delusion” described in 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, is clearly such a mystery obstacle
It is clear that this mysterious obstacle, in 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, is an obstacle sent by God to those who would not receive the love of the truth. Its purpose was to create a great delusion in those who reject the truth. This delusion or obstacle was sent by God so as to cause rebellious unbelievers to believe a lie and therefore they would be unable to see the truth. However, sadly, many true Christians have stumbled over this type of obstacle down through Church history as well and… without excuse. Because we can’t say we did not have ample warning, as we will soon see.
As true Christians, His truth is ours by promise and rightful inheritance:
Joh 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And (then) ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
However, like many of the promises of God to his children, there are
conditions to appropriation which the Church, in some cases,
has obviously missed.
The children of Israel had the same basic problem with appropriating
Gods promises because they did not heed Gods warnings either
and… with similar consequences. They fell away from the truth,
and accepted false doctrine, in spite of Gods warnings. As a result,
they were denied full and complete access to the promises of God.
Their history is one of returning, renewal, revival and then falling
away, again and again, even unto the day of Christ’s revealing to
them. This also sounds like the history of the Church. This is history
repeating itself.
Ecc 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is
done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
Or from Matthew’s gospel;
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Because there are some strange interpretations out there regarding Luke 21:8 , Matthew 24:5 and the parallel scripture in Mark, clarification is in order before we go on:
I believe the above scriptures should be interpreted something like this;
”Take heed, for many (teachers) shall come saying, “I am Christ” (that Jesus truly is; “the Christ”) and just because some that will come (may be believers) and say;” I am the Christ”, they still will deceive many (with false teaching), And this will begin to happen soon, therefore don’t follow after them (or their teachings).”
Soon after Jesus spoke these words, came the greatest dividing of time the world has ever acknowledged; B.C. + A.D.. This event triggered the advent of Christian teachers (of all kinds) who started taking their versions of the gospel to the nations. As an aside; Secular folks have recently twisted the B.C. (Before Christ) into B.C.E. (Before the Current Era) but that doesn’t change the truth of its origins.
Judging from the general acceptance of rampant error, the
multitudes of doctrinal divisions and the resulting immaturity of the
Church, I can only conclude; the Church has not been that careful
about “taking heed”. The fruit of “taking heed” and being
carful is generally not that visible in today’s Church.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
We truly need to “take heed”. Biblical teachings that have been
developed by anyone using the carnal mind, will generate
divided opinions, controversy and disunity, regarding all
of the biblical mysteries deliberately hidden by God in the scriptures.
The truth will be challenged, also, by the carnal mind and will also
create division. Flesh vs Spirit. It is all out warfare in the spirit.
However, ultimately, the truth will reign, because our carnal mind/
flesh and blood, will not be allowed to usurp Gods government or
kingdom or share in the glory that is to be revealed in us. Nor can it
sit forever on the throne that is reserved for God within His temple,
which we are.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, (the truth) and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Any questions should, first, be submitted to the Lord, (bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;) for it is He who
purposed to hide the truth of all biblical mysteries in order to serve
His good purposes. And, it is Him also, who reveals them to whom
He chooses, all in His good time.
Should our hearts not burn within us when we hear the truth?
The witness of the Spirit is beyond compare, and more valuable than
gold and silver.
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
I do not propose to have all the answers to the questions that will be raised in any of my teachings. Rather, I am suggesting that we, as Christians, with God’s help and direction, should purpose to expose, tear down and re-build anything that we may have been taught that has been leavened by the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees and proffered by the flesh. And, we must not be as arrogant and presumptuous so as to believe there could be nothing in us of that nature.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Jer 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Jesus also gave this “specific” warning to his followers;
Mat 16:6 “Take heed and beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees”.
Leaven or as Jesus’ followers learned by revelation as Jesus spoke
this parable to them, is understood spiritually to mean doctrine.
The doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees was warned against by
Jesus, and therefore, on good authority, we can safely say it is “false
doctrine”. It is false doctrine that will permeate the truth.
Think about trying to separate the tiny bit of leaven that is in a big
batch of bread dough after it is ready to bake. Now we get some idea
of the danger to the truth that leavened doctrine would create if
allowed to come in. How then do we separate the leavened doctrine
from the truth once it is in us. It can only be revealed and
destoyed by and through the work of the Holy Spirit.
We certainly understand that belief of false doctrine is in fact an
obstacle which must be removed from within us in order to be able
to see, believe and apply the truth.
Therefore we start with the mystery or parable of leaven or false
doctrine and conclude that the leaven Jesus warned his followers
about would be an obstacle. An obstacle for Jesus’ followers to
learning and applying the truth, if… they were not carful and “take
heed” of His warnings.
Mat 16:v6 “Take heed and beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees”.
Luk 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Luk 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived:………
The Pharisees of 30 A.D. were legalists, believing that the disposition
of the heart was less vital than the outward act. Lawyers and
exposition of the law grew to be extremely important, resulting in
inherited precepts and interpretations with binding force, beyond the
law of Moses.
The Sadducees, on the other hand, had yielded more to Greek
influence and had adopted the principles of the Aristotelian
philosophy and refused to accept any doctrine which they could not
prove by pure reason.
It seems most Pharisees and Sadducees back then thought; physical
or “literal”. The carnal mind/flesh & blood, is not capable of
understanding the spiritual mysteries deliberately hidden by God
in natural types, metaphors and parables in the bible.
Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Obstacles or mysteries of God are targeted for those “who are without” or those who refuse to believe (unbelievers). However, Christians, by not heeding the warnings by Jesus, Paul and old testament lessons about this type of error, stumble over the same obstacles. Even from the beginning, some folks back in church history, obviously, stumbled over this type of obstacle, fell for the lies and we have all been reaping the consequences to one degree or another.
By now, this “leaven” has permeated much of our traditional church eschatology and has become a part of a large, complex, multi headed, doctrinal beast.
We should be well aware by now; Anyone, who tries to understand the great mysteries of God with the carnal mind/the flesh, rather than by the revelation of the Spirit will fail.
The light of Christ in these days is arising on his people like;
“the morning sun that spreads upon the mountains”.
The morning light of the day of Christ is breaking on us, revealing that it is “Christ in us” that was purposed by God to be “the hope of glory” or the method to glorify the Father again, as Jesus did. While this light is arising on us, at the same time the world is still covered with gross darkness.
Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Joe 2:1-2 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
Joe 1:13-15 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,
Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
I pray, today, as I prepare to post this teaching:
Lord, create in me a clean heart, for I can not, by the efforts of my own flesh and from an evil heart, obey your laws. I commit this to you and trust, by faith that you will, in fact, bring to pass the full manifestation of your righteousness through me in your good time and for your glory.
Lord, reveal all of the mysterious obstacles and self centered darkness which prevents or hinders your work in me. And, which I (my flesh) through the deceitfulness and stubborn self rule of my desperately wicked heart, have not acknowledged and have not submitted to be crucified with you.
Lord, reveal and consume with the spirit of your mouth, those things of dark motivations which sit in the place where you should sit and rule within me.
Lord, destroy, with the brightness of your coming, the darkness in my heart and then may your light arise to full noonday within me, with no shadow of turning.
I ask this Father, in Jesus name, in order then; that my new light and life may shine before men, that they will see my good works and then glorify you, even as Jesus did. For it is your Kingdom and your power, and therefore your glory, forever and ever.
Oh Lord, amen and amen and amen.
Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (which is within you)
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Habakkuk 3:3-4 God came from the South, and the Holy One from mount Paran. The heavens were covered with the brightness of His glory; and the earth was full of His praise. And His brightness was as the light in the city which His hands had established shall He store His power. (Peshitta text)
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 17:17 sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Let Him who hath an ear hear
Journey on……narrow is the way.
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This is the 1st of a series of studies on 2nd Thessalonians 2:
As the studies are posted on www.thekingdomisathand.net they will be indexed, archived and can be accessed from the teachings page.
Part I: The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
Part II: The brightness of His Coming
Part III: The mystery of Iniquity
Part IV: The mystery of Godliness
Reference only:
2nd Thessalonians 2:
2Th 2:1 now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
V6 (Peshitta text; …”And (so) now you know what has prevented him from being revealed in his time”.)
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
V7 (Peshitta text:) “For the mystery of iniquity is already at work: until he who now is the obstacle is taken out of the way.”)
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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