Matthew 16:12

Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples immediately after the leaven warning, clarifying His metaphor before they travel to Caesarea Philippi. The words — συνῆκαν (sunēkan) means they understood, and προσέχειν (prosechein) means to beware or keep close to. The thread — This warning against Pharisaic and Sadducean influence echoes the demand for righteousness exceeding the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 5:20 and contrasts the Sadducean denial of resurrection with Pharisaic acknowledgment in Acts 23:8. Why it lands — The text states that the disciples grasped Jesus was rejecting literal bread instructions in favor of a spiritual warning, requiring readers to test religious teachings against Christ’s authority rather than adopting tradition uncritically.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΤότεToteThen συνῆκανsunēkanthey understood ὅτιhotithat οὐκouknot εἶπενeipenHe said προσέχεινprosecheinto beware ἀπὸapoof τῆςtēsthe ζύμηςzumēsleaven τῶνtōnof the ἄρτωνartōnloaves ἀλλ᾽all᾽but ἀπὸapoof τῆςtēsthe διδαχῆςdidachēsteaching τῶνtōnof the ΦαρισαίωνPharisaiōnPharisees καὶkaiand Σαδδουκαίων.¶SaddoukaiōnSadducees.

King James Version

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Cross-references

Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
Matthew 15:4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
Matthew 23:13 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.