5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” 8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.REFLECTIONSWritten by Sam DarmoHow many times have I been so entrenched in self-pity, in my situation or circumstances that the I’ve completely ignored the immediate true danger – even though the Word of God is so near!Jesus Christ, our living and eternal God, was teaching the disciples to watch for the small amount of yeast, referring here to false teachings, that can come from those who are in places of religious authority, like the fake Pharisees and the sad Sadducees.  A little bit of false teaching, if believed, can be all it takes to corrupt and wreck our faith in Christ – especially when the faith of the disciples is so “little”. I think “little faith” here means both lacking the ability to discern the spirit behind the teaching (1 Cor 12:10) and lacking the ability to recognise that the things we tend to worry about are far less important than Jesus and his kingdom. The disciples were thinking of bread to eat and have completely forgotten the miracles their Lord and God had done earlier. Pray with me that we grow in maturity in Christ-likeness and in faith and wisdom, so that we give God glory when we are concerned about earthly things, and so that we do not give the devil an opportunity to poison our faith and our relationship with Christ. Pray with me also that we would depend on God every moment of our lives, trusting in His Spirit who never leaves us nor forsakes us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.  ABOUT THE AUTHORSam is an assistant minister with our Middle Eastern and our Fairfield Morning Congregations.