Mark 8:14-21

4. Jesus’ teaching about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod 8:14-21 (cf. Matthew 16:5-12)

This pericope parallels and recalls Jesus’ teaching about bread when He cast the demon out of the Phoenician girl (Mark 7:24-30). In both cases leavened bread metaphorically represented teaching. The Gentile woman wanted Jesus’ teaching and so presented a positive example for the disciples. The Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus’ teaching and advanced false teaching, which Jesus warned His disciples to avoid.