Leaven of Herod (Mark 8:15) -- ungodly ambition, desire for worldly approval, and yielding to wickedness

Mike draws on his Mark series part 28. Herod was a politically illegitimate king who desired status and approval. The leaven of Herod = the danger of wanting to be respected by the world while claiming to represent God; ungodly ambition, malice, and evil (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:8 -- 'leaven of malice and evil'). Leaven of Pharisees = false religion, man-made traditions, self-righteousness. Two distinct dangers: external conformity to religious systems (Pharisees) vs. internal corruption and worldliness (Herod).