Bible Strands
Matthew 16:6
“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the disciples immediately after they cross to the other side and realize they forgot to bring bread. He issues a direct warning to them concerning a specific spiritual danger.
The words — The Greek imperatives ὁρᾶτε (horate) and προσέχετε (prosechete) literally mean "do watch" and "do beware." Jesus employs these terms to command immediate, active attention to the warning that follows.
The thread — The text specifies that the warning targets the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees rather than literal bread (Matthew 16:12). Luke 12:1 applies the same leaven metaphor to hypocrisy, while Galatians 5:9 notes how a small amount of leaven permeates an entire batch.
Why it lands — The verse commands readers to identify and reject corrupting influences disguised as religious tradition. It requires active vigilance against teachings that gradually compromise spiritual integrity.
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
King James Version
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Cross-references
- Luke 12:1 In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
- 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.
- Galatians 5:9 A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.
- Leviticus 2:11 No grain offering that you present to the LORD may be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as a food offering to the LORD.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?
- Mark 8:15 “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
- 2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
- Exodus 12:15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.
- Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”