Do you believe in conspiracy theories? Are you continually looking for a hidden meaning in what someone says? Or do you fail to look beyond the surface? Do you only hear what you want to hear? Are you seeking truth? Or are you merely looking for what you want?
We don’t have to look hard to find people who espouse conspiracy theories. They believe everything is a conspiracy. Others will dismiss every potential conspiracy theory as a hoax. They take everything at face value and will not look beyond the surface.
There is often a happy medium between these two extremes. There will be times when face value is all there is to it. There will be times when there is a hidden meaning. There are times when people are careful to use words that do not reveal everything. They speak in code or innuendo or allusion. They may be trying to say something by hinting at it rather than saying it bluntly.
Jesus used metaphors and parables at times in His teaching. When He told the disciples to be wary of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, He was not talking about bread but their teaching. We, too, must be careful when listening to some people. There are some who will purposely lead us astray. There are others who will speak just enough truth to make themselves believable.
When Jesus spoke plainly to the disciples about the Pharisees and Sadducees, I’m sure they were caught off guard. The disciples were brought up to trust them. Jesus is now telling them their teaching was not fully true. Their teaching was misleading and included misunderstanding.
When we desire to hear truth, we need to listen closely and discern if what we are hearing is truth, allusion to truth, or falseness. In seeking truth, we may find ourselves overwhelmed, dumbstruck, hurt, joyous, or confused. When we seek the truth, we must prepare ourselves to receive it openly, setting aside our perspective and our feelings.
I pray we all seek truth. I pray we listen closely and understand the meaning. I pray each one of us will seek truthful counselors and conduct our own research to find truth. Seek the truth. Be aware of hidden meanings. Know who you can trust. Do your research. Know you can trust Jesus.
Matthew 16:11 “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.”
Marty Pressey 