Knots Untied - Ryle - XV - Chapter 15

Required reading
Knots Untied by JC Ryle (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 15 (Pharisees and Sadducees).

My summary
Today Ryle expounds Jesus' warning to beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Firstly Ryle notes that this warning is given to Jesus' disciples demonstrating that all true Christians need to heed the warning, no-one is exempt.

Secondly Ryle shows us that the yeast is false doctrine:
(i) the Pharisees were formalists, tradition-worshippers, and self-righteous;
(ii) the Sadducees were free-thinkers, sceptics and rationalists.

Thirdly we are to heed the yeast of false doctrine by being wary of:
(i) its insidiousness;
(ii) its very small beginnings;
(iii) thinking that we at any rate are not in danger;

Fourthly Ryle suggests some safe-guards and antidotes against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  We must hold to the sound doctrines of:
(i) the total corruption of man;
(ii) the inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures;
(iii) the atonement and priestly office of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
(iv) the work of God and the Holy Ghost.

What grabbed me
Great chapter.  Particularly liked Ryle's warning about the way false doctrine usually works: 'False doctrine does not meet men face to face, and proclaim that it is false. It does not blow a trumpet before it, and endeavour openly to turn us away from the truth as it is in Jesus. It does not come before men in broad day, and summon them to surrender. It approaches us secretly, quietly, insidiously, plausibly, and in such a way as to disarm man's suspicion, and throw him off his guard. It is the wolf in sheep s clothing, and Satan in the garb of an angel of light, who have always proved the most dangerous foes of the Church of Christ.'

False doctrine is sneaky and must be carefully watched.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 16 (Divers and strange doctrines).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.