Austin Bible Church
Leaven always refers to evil and sin. The leaven of Herod represents expediency where he exploited others for his own benefit. Luke 8:11-12; Rom. 12:2.
““Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. “Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:11-12, NASB)
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NASB)
The leaven of the Sadducees represents human viewpoint and rationalism. Mark 16:6; Luke 12:1.
“And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:6, NASB)
“Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1, NASB)
The leaven of the Pharisees represents sins of religion and ritualism. Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; Matt. 16:6.
“And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”“ (Mark 8:15, NASB)
“And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”“ (Matthew 16:6, NASB)
The leaven of the Galatians represents the sin of legalism in salvation and spirituality. Gal. 5:9.
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” (Galatians 5:9, NASB)
The leaven of the Corinthians represents the sin of licentiousness. 1 Cor. 5:6-7.
“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7, NASB)