Mark 8:14-21, The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” [Jesus is not concerned about the lack of bread; he is concerned about the influence of unbelief—an unseen pervasive influence: sin. “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) He does not blame his disciples for their lack of foresight but for their lack of faith. He does not want their thinking to be conformed to the thinking of this world. Or as Paul writes in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”] 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? [Jesus grieves that they are as spiritually obtuse as ever!] 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” [As usual, Mark bluntly tells the truth about the disciples. He shows all their faults and lack of understanding. This is one of the reasons why Jesus spent three years teaching them.]