DCLM Daily Manna Friday 6 October 2023
TOPIC: Avoid Hypocrisy
TEXT: Mark 8:10-21 (KJV)
10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
KEY VERSE
“And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.”
(Mark 8:15)
DCLM Daily Manna Friday 6 October 2023 MESSAGE
Have you ever heard the expression “face the music”? Here is how that phrase came about. Many years ago, a man wanted to play in the Imperial Orchestra, but he could not play a note. Since he was a person of great wealth and influence, he requested to join the orchestra so that he could perform in front of the king. The conductor consented to his request.
Even though he could not read music, he was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he would raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers. He went through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound. This deception went on for two years. Then one day, a new conductor took over the Imperial Orchestra who, wanting to personally audition all the players to see how well they could play, discovered his hypocrisy.
READ DCLM Daily Manna Thursday 5 October 2023 – Power of A Little Thought
Jesus was critical of the Pharisees because He knew of the damnable consequences of hypocrisy. He warns His disciples to guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Here, the leaven of the Pharisees points to their evil disposition: they ask for a sign from Jesus when they have already judged Him as an agent of Beelzebub. Their leaven is in their hostility and unbelief. Herod, on the other hand, seeks Jesus to see a miracle from Him (Luke 23:8). He wants to be entertained and awed. The leaven in his case is the disposition to believe only if signs, which compel faith are produced. In contrast, Jesus calls for faith and understanding apart from signs.
Many people attend church services and recite Bible verses, but lack genuine conversion. A time is coming when sinners and backsliders will be called to stand before the Judge of heaven and earth and “face the music”. No one will be able to hide in the crowd. The phonies will be separated from the true players (Matthew 12:36,37).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You can’t fake and hide for too long.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 1-4
