In the midst of a chapter discussing the contrasts between Jesus’ true identity and the expectations many had of the Messiah, we read, “Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” (Mt. 16:6).

Leaven is yeast, a single-celled fungus that is a key ingredient in many baking recipes. The process of leavening bread with yeast begins with the activation of the yeast. This is done by combining the yeast with warm water and a small amount of sugar. The sugar provides the yeast with the energy it needs to begin the process of fermentation. As the yeast consumes the sugar, it produces carbon dioxide gas, which is trapped in the dough and causes it to expand. Once the dough has risen, it is ready to be baked. The heat of the oven causes the carbon dioxide gas to expand further, creating a light and airy texture in the finished product. Leaven is used in the Bible as a metaphor for an unseen pervasive influence, usually evil.

The disciples had their minds on physical bread, worrying that they had not brought any with them on their journey (Mt. 16:5). Perhaps they had forgotten to because of their anxiety regarding the confrontation with the religious leaders prior to their departure. Jesus admonished them for their lack of faith, reminding them of the occasions where He had miraculously multiplied bread (Mt. 16:8-10). Jesus restated His warning (Mt. 16:11), then the disciples understood that the point was not bread, but rather the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:12).

The Pharisees were an important Jewish sect in the time of Jesus. They were insistent on an exact observance of the oral traditions which spelled out how to keep the law, but were not very involved in the politics of the day. The Sadducees, on the other hand,  were a major force in the politics of Judea during the time of Jesus; Mark’s parallel account which has “leaven of Herod” instead of “Sadducees” may speak to this (Mk. 8:15). The Sadducees were the ruling class in control of the Temple and the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees were known for their literal interpretation of the Torah and their rejection of the oral law and the teachings of the Pharisees. While the Pharisees and Sadducees were often at odds, they were united in opposition to Jesus. Together they tested Jesus at the beginning of this chapter (Mt. 16:1).

Jesus went on to speak of establishing His kingdom where what was bound and loosed in heaven would be bound and loosed upon earth (Mt. 16:19). While the Pharisees and Sadducees had many differences—they bound and loosed different rules—their uniting together to resist God’s Messiah showed their biases prevented them from seeing what God was clearly communicating right in front of them. Religious traditions and political loyalties are some of the most pervasive and difficult forces to overcome in people being honest with the Word of God and truly following Him. We would not for a minute tolerate poison being laced into our daily food that sustains us physically; however, with our spiritual nourishment—that should sustain our eternal souls to live eternally—far too many consume false religious teaching and political lies to their own ruin. If we are going to enter the narrow gate that leads to life, we must beware of false teachers (Mt. 7:13-15).

Among the problems the congregation at Corinth had which the apostle Paul addressed was their tendency in the worship assembly to garner attention for themselves rather than giving the proper priority to the Lord and edifying one another. The Lord’s supper was turned into each one’s own supper to satisfy hunger and shame those who lacked the means to have a lavish meal (1 Cor. 11:21, 22). Their corruption of worship meant they were no longer really taking the Lord’s supper, as Paul wrote, “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20).

The worship assembly was also plagued by individuals interrupting one another with their showy gifts; as a response, Paul commanded, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). While assembled, each of them had a psalm, a teaching,  a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation, but Paul said, “Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor. 14:26). Nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10. The gift of tongues was the miraculous ability to speak actual human languages that the speaker had never previously learned or studied (Acts 2:4-12). This certainly would help arrest attention and spread the gospel to the world; however, the Corinthian assembly was troubled by individuals using this gift to speak to an audience who did not know the language and did not receive an interpretation in their own language where they could understand. With this situation, Paul asked about uninformed or unbelievers coming to the assembly, saying, “will they not say you are out of your mind?” (1 Cor. 14:23). Thus, the commandments of the Lord given through Paul (1 Cor. 14:37) are 1) don’t all of you speak at once, but two or three in turn (v. 27), 2) if there is no interpreter, then the tongue speaker should keep silent (v. 28), 3) Let two or three prophets speak and let others judge (v. 29), 4) If something is revealed to another, then the first speaker is to keep silent taking turns (which they can do since the spirit of the prophet does not override his will) (vv. 30-32), and 5) Instead of interrupting with questions or addressing the assembly, let the women keep silent in the assembly in accordance with God’s law (vv. 34, 35).

We do not have the miraculous gifts described in 1 Corinthians today because revelation is complete in the finalized New Testament; the miraculous means of delivering it in parts (such as prophecies, tongues, and miraculous knowledge before its completion) have ceased now that the complete revelation is here (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Nevertheless, we can learn from these principles today in regard to the worship assembly.

What we learn from 1 Corinthians 14 is the major portion of the first-century assembly was speaking God’s word. God desires His word to be understood; God’s word is able to build us up spiritually (Acts 20:32). If individuals in the assembly do not respect their roles, but rather seek out attention to build themselves up, then others will not understand nor be edified. For this reason, the worship assembly should not be confusion (1 Cor. 14:33), but rather should reflect decency and order with understandable words by which listeners can be convicted by the word of God. Modern worship gatherings that accentuate emotional highs while minimizing plain instruction from the word of God are against the commands of the Lord. The multitudes—especially young people—may flock to these events for the experience; however, we must remember to follow the narrow way revealed in the Bible traveled by the minority (Matt. 7:13, 14).

The church of Christ was established on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2). Jesus came to earth to build His church (Matt. 16:18). Acts 2:47 shows that those who responded to the preaching of the gospel by repentance and baptism were saved and added by the Lord to His church. Christ gave Himself for the church (Eph. 5:23). He purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28); thus, those who are in the Lord’s church are bought with the price of His blood and should serve and glorify Him who bought them (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23).

While the church was established nearly 2,000 years ago, the plan for it is infinitely older. The church was in the mind of God before the world began. God has showed His manifold wisdom by the church according to His eternal purpose in Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:10-11). Those in Christ enjoy all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). They have redemption and forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7). Additionally, they have received an inheritance from God, who works all things according to His own will and purpose (Eph. 1:11). The church is the people who love God, who are the called according to God’s purpose (Rom. 8:28).

The church was not an afterthought; it is not God’s “plan B.” Through the prophets God spoke of His plan to establish His kingdom (the church) (Dan. 2:44-45). This kingdom would last forever and consume all earthly kingdoms. God promised a child would be born upon whose shoulders the everlasting government would rest (Isa. 9:6-7). Jesus proclaimed the imminent establishment of this kingdom during His earthly ministry (Matt. 4:17). Isaiah 2:1-3 speaks of it as a mountain of the Lord’s house that would be established in the top of the mountains; called Zion (a mountain among mountains), it started in Jerusalem and all nations flowed to it to receive the Lord’s word. The Lord’s house is the church, which upholds the truth for the world to receive (1 Tim. 3:15). Jesus is the foundation of the church (1 Cor. 3:11). He is the promised, precious cornerstone (Isa. 28:16; 1 Pet. 2:6). When Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, the Lord promised to build His church/kingdom on this foundation—His identity as the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:13-19).

Thus, the church of Christ is not something originated and ordered by men, but by God. The way it is organized and how it worships is directed by God’s plan revealed in His word, the Bible. Humans may create all sorts of clubs and organizations for their own purposes, but the church exists because of divine purpose. It is not up to us to restructure the church according to our own designs, but rather recognize and follow God’s design revealed in the pages of the New Testament.

The Lord wants us to appreciate the value of the New Testament church. The saved are added by the Lord to it (Acts 2:47). When the Lord returns, He will come to save His body: the church, presented to Him as a holy bride prepared for her husband (Eph. 5:23-27).