The third leaven we need to watch out for is that of the Herodians. The leaven of the Herodians is the spirit of the world – the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. Because of his shameless lifestyle, Herod died of a repugnant disease. The spirit of lust ruled him so great that he married his own sister-in-law, Herodias, who was his brother Philip’s wife. When the marriage was about to take place, John the Baptist boldly admonished the king and that he was violating the Word of God in marrying his brother’s wife. Following the lust of the flesh, he married Herodias anyways, ignoring God’s law as well as the warning of the prophet John. On Herod’s birthday, he stepdaughter danced before him, and her allure so enticed him that he tried to seduce her with his riches.” (Mark 6:22-23) Herodias prepared her for this opportunity, and she did not ask for riches, but rather the head of John the Baptist on a platter. (Matt 14:8) Herod made the foolish oath in front of several different dinner guests, and he would not allow his pride to be humbled. (Matt 14:10-11) So, he sent for John the Baptist in prison and Herodias’ daughter took his head to her on a charger. Herodians were hypocritical. (1 John 2:15-17) In a mixture of clean and muddy water, which one shows up more visibly and which kind would you most likely be able to taste? That’s how sin and Christianity looks and tastes like when people attempt to mix both of them in their lives!* They were a political party associated with the fortunes of the Herodian family who believed the doctrines of Herod the Great. They advocated submission to the Romans and freedom to conform to pagan religion as well as to Judaism if it was more convenient and if it helped further their political fortunes and secular gain. They could have been courtiers or servants of Herod who was at this time in Jerusalem.** They tried to trap Christ by questioning Him, “What do you think? It is lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” Christ responded, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” They were left speechless, as they marveled at Him (Matthew 22:15-22).

Herod the Great sought to kill Jesus. Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded. Herod Agrippa killed James, John’s brother, with a sword. He also sought to kill Peter, who in prison in the days of unleavened bread. Also, it was the Herodians, also known as the Zealots, whose were disobedient in paying taxes and led to Jerusalem to its fall in 70 A.D. They were the type of people that chose politics over Christianity. Politics and organizations have killed many great moves of God throughout history. Yes, God is a God of decency and order, but when our chaos excludes God’s plan, we have missed it significantly. Many church organizations are bound by this kind of leaven, where they eat of the order of man instead of the doctrine of God’s Word. People make up their own laws and doctrines that exclude the power of God, causing them to judge and condemn others. It influences people to “vote in” and “vote out” pastors, not based on prayer and what God wants, but rather by appealing to their own emotional feelings and judgments. If they do not like the way they teach or preach, they will not vote them in. If they are family, then they will place their vote for them. It is not about what we want, but rather what God wants.

The early church followed this pattern. They prayed and allow God to choose whom He wanted as the ultimate leaders and to be ordained as the first elders. Acts 6:2-7 says, “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” As a result of their obedience to God and laying down of all pride and selfishness, the Word of God increased, and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem. We will see the same results when we purge out the leaven of the Herodians out of our church board meetings and allow His glory to manifest in a mighty way! When revival gets in the leaders, it will flow throughout the rest of the congregation. If there is constant division and debate, God cannot work. It is only when we purge out politics and seek the face of God that He will be unlimited in displaying His power in our modern-day churches!

The leaven of the Herodians has even plagued our generation today in the body of Christ. The lusts of the flesh and eyes have caused us to be separated from God and live in hypocritical lifestyles. 1 John 2:16-17 says, “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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Those that walk according to the lusts of their flesh will never succeed in the kingdom of God, but we must crucify our flesh with the lusts thereof. Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” If you want to live spiritually, you must crucify the flesh with its lusts. We must exchange this leaven of the Herodians for the glory of God!

*Preparing for the Glory:  Living Leaven Free, by Rod Parsley, pp. 69-82, ISBN# 1-880244-84-5

**Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible, p. 24 of the New Testament