(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, 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?
If the whole body of the Apostles were with CHRIST, the one loaf was a scanty allowance. But yet, He who had wrought so great a miracle but just before, could soon supply. The disciples then were much of the same complexion as now, soon forgetful, to overlook and forget CHRIST's power. But the precept of CHRIST, to be careful of the leaven, both of the Pharisees, and of Herod, is very striking and important. The Pharisee-leaven hath been a deadly weed in the Church of CHRIST; that is, I mean the real Church of CHRIST, which hath produced much obstruction and entanglement to the pure seed. What leanness of soul it hath produced, and is now producing, in numbers of the hearts of GOD's people, who shall calculate? The leaven of Herod, and of the Sadducees, one should conceive, was like our Free-thinkers, despising all revelation. LORD! I would say, preserve thy Church from every false leaven.