It is the time of year when we focus on the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt. The Scripture readings are: Shemot/Exodus 33:12 - 34:26; Bamidbar/Numbers. 28:19 - 25; Yechezchial/Ezekiel 36:37 - 37:14; Shir Hashirim/Songs of Songs; Hisgalut / Rev. 15:1 - 4.

This week we have a special Parasha Torah. It is called Pesach (Passover). On the Shabbat that occurs during the Feast of Pesach, there is a special reading, so I have taken my D'var Torah this week, from that reading.

Shemot {34:18} "You shall keep the feast of maztah (unleavened bread). Seven days you shall eat maztah, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib you came out from Mizrayim (Egypt).

According to ancient rabbinical interpretation, leaven symbolizes our impurities and our evil impulses. The Hebrew word for leaven is "hametz," which literally means "sour or bitter." It is appropriate; therefore that leaven is a type or symbol of sin throughout the Holy Scriptures. For it is sin that makes a person sour, it is sin that makes a person bitter instead of sweet, forgiving and thankful.

Mattityahu (Matthew) {16:6} Then Yeshua said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And also Yeshua said in: Mark {8:15} And he charged them, (His disciples) saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

We all remember these verses spoken by Yeshua. His disciples thought He was angry because they had forgotten to bring bread for their journey. However, Yeshua had a much more spiritual significance in mind.

The leaven of the Pharisees was that they claimed Yeshua was not the Messiah on the grounds that He was demon possessed (Pride of life). The leaven of the Sadducees was that Yeshua was against the Temple, which they were in charge of (Lust of the eyes). The leaven of Herod was that Yeshua was against the Roman Empire, by whose authority he was king (Lust of the flesh).

I Yochanan (John) {2:16} For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Yeshua was therefore warning His disciples not to allow their hearts to be infected by these people or their teachings, because they were not from the Father, but of the world.

Leaven is an agent, which works invisibly. Therefore once false doctrine or false teaching enters the heart it spreads until it spiritually destroys the person it has entered. Every single one of us are susceptible to this type of leaven.

I know of many believes in Messiah Yeshua that think nothing of reading books produced by cults. Some have become interested in the Kabalah and Zohar; Jewish mystical books. Many believers belong to brotherhoods or lodges whose teachings, although masked in Christianity are in fact deceptive and satanic.

In telling us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod, Yeshua was sayings that He is all-sufficient. We have no need to seek out or listen to any other teachings. We have no need to read the books of other religions. We should not belong to, nor participate in, any secret lodges or brotherhoods. In fact He is telling you that if you do their leaven will enter your heart and ultimately destroy you.

Rabbi Jack Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada.

Copyright 2002