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Matthew 16:11 How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
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But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/16.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/16.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />How do you not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/16.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />How is it that ye do not understand that I spake <i>it</i> not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/16.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—<i>but</i> to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />How <i>is it that</i> you do not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/16.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/16.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Don't you know by now that I am not talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/16.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Why don't you understand that I wasn't talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/16.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />How is it that you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/16.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />How can you fail to understand that I wasn't talking to you about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/16.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Why is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />How is it that ye do not understand that I spoke not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />How is it you do not understand that it was not about bread that I spoke to you? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/16.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />How do you not understand that I did not speak to you of bread—to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />How do you not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> how do ye not understand that I did not speak to you of bread -- to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />How do ye not understand that I spake not to you concerning bread, to keep from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Why do you not understand that it was not concerning the bread I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Why do you not understand that it was not because of bread that I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/16.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />How do you not comprehend that I was not speaking to you about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />How is it that you did not understand that I was not talking to you about the bread, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/16.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />“But how do you not understand that it was not about bread that I spoke to you, but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/16.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />How is it that you do not understand, that I did not speak of bread when I commanded you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/16.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>How do you not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/16.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />How is it that ye do not understand, that I spake not to you of bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/16.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />why, can't you perceive, that in cautioning you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees, I did not speak of bread?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />How is it you do not understand that it was not about bread that I spoke to you? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/16.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>How <i>is it that</i> ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? but beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/16.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>How is it <Fr><i>then</i><FR> that ye do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, <Fr><i>when I bid you</i><FR> to beware of the leaven of the pharisees and of the sadducees?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/16-11.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=4620" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/16.htm">The Leaven to Beware</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">10</span>Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? <span class="reftext">11</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/4459.htm" title="4459: pōs (Adv) -- Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!">How</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/3539.htm" title="3539: noeite (V-PIA-2P) -- From nous; to exercise the mind, i.e. to comprehend, heed.">do you not understand</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">that</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not."></a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipon (V-AIA-1S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">I was not telling you</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymin (PPro-D2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou."></a> <a href="/greek/4012.htm" title="4012: peri (Prep) -- From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.">about</a> <a href="/greek/740.htm" title="740: artōn (N-GMP) -- Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.">bread?</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But</a> <a href="/greek/4337.htm" title="4337: prosechete (V-PMA-2P) -- From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.">beware</a> <a href="/greek/575.htm" title="575: apo (Prep) -- From, away from. A primary particle; off, i.e. Away, in various senses.">of</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2219.htm" title="2219: zymēs (N-GFS) -- Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.">leaven</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/5330.htm" title="5330: Pharisaiōn (N-GMP) -- Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.">Pharisees</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/4523.htm" title="4523: Saddoukaiōn (N-GMP) -- Probably from Sadok; a Sadducaean, or follower of a certain heretical Israelite.">Sadducees.” </a> </span> <span class="reftext">12</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/8-15.htm">Mark 8:15</a></span><br />“Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-1.htm">Luke 12:1</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-17.htm">Matthew 15:17-20</a></span><br />“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? / But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. / For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-9.htm">Galatians 5:9</a></span><br />A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/5-6.htm">1 Corinthians 5:6-8</a></span><br />Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? / Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. / Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/12-15.htm">Exodus 12:15</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/2-11.htm">Leviticus 2:11</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/16-3.htm">Deuteronomy 16:3</a></span><br />You must not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left the land of Egypt in haste—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/7-4.htm">Hosea 7:4</a></span><br />They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker who needs not stoke the fire from the kneading to the rising of the dough.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/4-4.htm">Amos 4:4-5</a></span><br />“Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days. / Offer leavened bread as a thank offering, and loudly proclaim your freewill offerings. For that is what you children of Israel love to do,” declares the Lord GOD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/23-5.htm">2 Kings 23:5</a></span><br />Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-9.htm">Jeremiah 7:9-10</a></span><br />Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Isaiah 29:13</a></span><br />Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/13-10.htm">Ezekiel 13:10</a></span><br />Because they have led My people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and whitewashing any flimsy wall that is built,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/8-17.htm">Zechariah 8:17</a></span><br />do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">How is it that you do not understand that I spoke it not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/4-40.htm">Mark 4:40</a></b></br> And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/8-21.htm">Mark 8:21</a></b></br> And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/12-56.htm">Luke 12:56</a></b></br> <i>Ye</i> hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Beware</a> <a href="/matthew/16-10.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/malachi/3-11.htm">Fail</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/matthew/3-8.htm">Keeping</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Leaven</a> <a href="/matthew/16-9.htm">Perceive</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Sadducees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Sad'ducees</a> <a href="/matthew/15-31.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/matthew/16-8.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/matthew/16-9.htm">Understand</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">Yeast</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Beware</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/matthew/26-31.htm">Fail</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/matthew/25-24.htm">Keeping</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Leaven</a> <a href="/mark/4-12.htm">Perceive</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Sadducees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Sad'ducees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Speak</a> <a href="/matthew/17-3.htm">Talking</a> <a href="/matthew/24-15.htm">Understand</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Yeast</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 16</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">The Pharisees require a sign.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/16-5.htm">Jesus warns his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/16-13.htm">The people's opinion of Jesus,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/16-16.htm">and Peter's confession of him.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/16-21.htm">Jesus foretells his death;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/16-23.htm">reproves Peter for dissuading him from it;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/16-24.htm">and admonishes those who will follow him, to bear the cross.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the Greek, "πῶς" (pōs) suggests a sense of bewilderment or surprise. Jesus often used questions to provoke thought and self-reflection among His followers. This approach is consistent with rabbinic teaching methods of the time, which encouraged students to engage deeply with the material.<p><b>you do not understand</b><br />The Greek word for "understand" here is "νοεῖτε" (noeite), which implies a deeper level of perception or insight beyond mere intellectual acknowledgment. Jesus is challenging His disciples to move beyond surface-level thinking to grasp the spiritual truths He is imparting. This call to deeper understanding is a recurring theme in Jesus' teachings, urging believers to seek wisdom and discernment through the Holy Spirit.<p><b>that I was not talking</b><br />The phrase underscores the distinction between literal and metaphorical language. Jesus often spoke in parables and metaphors, requiring His listeners to discern the underlying spiritual message. The Greek "λέγω" (legō) indicates a deliberate act of communication, suggesting that Jesus' words are purposeful and laden with meaning beyond the immediate context.<p><b>about bread?</b><br />Bread, in the cultural and historical context of first-century Judea, was a staple of daily life and a symbol of sustenance. However, Jesus frequently used bread metaphorically to represent spiritual nourishment and the Word of God. In this instance, He is redirecting the disciples' focus from physical needs to spiritual truths. The misunderstanding about bread reflects a common human tendency to prioritize material concerns over spiritual growth, a theme that resonates throughout the Gospels.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(11) <span class= "bld">How is it that ye do not understand</span>?--True to His method of education our Lord does not Himself interpret the parable, but is, as it were, content to suggest the train of thought which led to the interpretation. And the disciples, slow of heart as they were, followed the clue thus given. "Then understood they." Memory did at last quicken faith, and faith imparted the imaginative insight which sees its way through parables and dark sayings.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">That I spake it not to you,</span> etc. The Revised Version, following many modern editors, divides the clause into two, thus: <span class="accented">that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven</span>, etc. This is the second ground for the Lord's reproof administered to the apostles. They had taken in a carnal, literal sense a word which he had used in a symbolical or mystical meaning. It is the want of spiritual discernment which he censures. They had had frequent opportunities of hearing and appreciating his mode of teaching: miracles, parables, discourses, had an inner signification, which it was their duty to apprehend. The want of understanding was a moral fault for which they were answerable. We may say it would have been easier for our Lord to have spoken of doctrine without using the misunderstood figure of leaven. But it is in the way of his providence to speak words which need thought and grace to make them fully comprehended. They are thus more impressed upon the heart and memory, and bring forth better fruit. A well instructed Hebrew ought to have no difficulty in understanding metaphorical allusions. His Scriptures were full of them, and could not be intelligently read without the light thus cast upon them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/16-11.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">How</span><br /><span class="grk">πῶς</span> <span class="translit">(pōs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4459.htm">Strong's 4459: </a> </span><span class="str2">Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can you not understand</span><br /><span class="grk">νοεῖτε</span> <span class="translit">(noeite)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3539.htm">Strong's 3539: </a> </span><span class="str2">From nous; to exercise the mind, i.e. to comprehend, heed.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="grk">ὅτι</span> <span class="translit">(hoti)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> </span><span class="str2">Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I was not telling you</span><br /><span class="grk">εἶπον</span> <span class="translit">(eipon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> </span><span class="str2">Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">about</span><br /><span class="grk">περὶ</span> <span class="translit">(peri)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4012.htm">Strong's 4012: </a> </span><span class="str2">From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bread?</span><br /><span class="grk">ἄρτων</span> <span class="translit">(artōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_740.htm">Strong's 740: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="grk">δὲ</span> <span class="translit">(de)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle; but, and, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">beware</span><br /><span class="grk">προσέχετε</span> <span class="translit">(prosechete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4337.htm">Strong's 4337: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀπὸ</span> <span class="translit">(apo)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_575.htm">Strong's 575: </a> </span><span class="str2">From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τῆς</span> <span class="translit">(tēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">yeast</span><br /><span class="grk">ζύμης</span> <span class="translit">(zymēs)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2219.htm">Strong's 2219: </a> </span><span class="str2">Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the</span><br /><span class="grk">τῶν</span> <span class="translit">(tōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Pharisees</span><br /><span class="grk">Φαρισαίων</span> <span class="translit">(Pharisaiōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5330.htm">Strong's 5330: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">Sadducees.”</span><br /><span class="grk">Σαδδουκαίων</span> <span class="translit">(Saddoukaiōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4523.htm">Strong's 4523: </a> </span><span class="str2">Probably from Sadok; a Sadducaean, or follower of a certain heretical Israelite.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/16-11.htm">Matthew 16:11 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 16:11 How is it that you don't perceive (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/16-10.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 16:10"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 16:10" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/16-12.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 16:12"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 16:12" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>