A LITTLE LEAVEN IN THE LOAF

John 9:17-23
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”

The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?”

20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”


Leaven or sour dough was used during Old Testament days to make bread. This was a lengthy process. The Israelites were forbidden from using leaven during the Passover, a reminder to them that the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt in haste. The high state of fermentation in the leavening process came to represent corruption in their religious practice and therefore unleavened bread was used in their offerings. In the New Testament, reference to leaven became metaphorical to corrupt doctrine (Mark 8:15a).

The parents of the man born blind told the Pharisees enough truth (he is our son, he was born blind), mixed with enough leaven (we don’t know how he can see or who healed him), to keep themselves of the hot seat. Mixing lies with truth corrupts the entire statement.

Their son could see because Jesus healed him. In Matthew 10:33 Jesus warns those who deny Him will themselves be denied before God. I’d rather be on the hot seat before men than denied before the Father.