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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 16:6 "Watch out!" Jesus told them. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/16-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/40_Mat_16_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 16:6 - The Leaven to Beware" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Watch out! Jesus told them. 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class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/matthew/16.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/matthew/16.htm">New International Version</a> &#8220Be careful,&#8221 Jesus said to them. &#8220Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/matthew/16.htm">New Living Translation</a> “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/esv/matthew/16.htm">English Standard Version</a> Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/bsb/matthew/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/blb/matthew/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And Jesus said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." <a href="/kjv/matthew/16.htm">King James Bible</a> Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/16.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” <a href="/nasb_/matthew/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/nasb/matthew/16.htm">NASB 1995</a> And Jesus said to them, &#8220Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/matthew/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/lsb/matthew/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/amp/matthew/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “Watch out and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/csb/matthew/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/hcsb/matthew/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then Jesus told them, &#8220Watch out and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.&#8221 <a href="/asv/matthew/16.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. <a href="/cev/matthew/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Jesus then warned them, "Watch out! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." <a href="/erv/matthew/16.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. <a href="/gwt/matthew/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Jesus said to them, "Be careful! Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" <a href="/gnt/matthew/16.htm">Good News Translation</a> Jesus said to them, "Take care; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." <a href="/isv/matthew/16.htm">International Standard Version</a> Jesus told them, "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" <a href="/msb/matthew/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?Watch out!? Jesus told them. ?Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.? <a href="/net/matthew/16.htm">NET Bible</a> "Watch out," Jesus said to them, "beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." <a href="/nheb/matthew/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Jesus said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." <a href="/wbt/matthew/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. <a href="/wey/matthew/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> and when Jesus said to them, "See to it: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees," <a href="/web/matthew/16.htm">World English Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and Jesus said to them, “Beware, and take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees”; <a href="/blb/matthew/16.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And Jesus said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." <a href="/ylt/matthew/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and Jesus said to them, 'Beware, and take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees;' <a href="/slt/matthew/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Jesus said to them, Attend and keep from the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Who said to them: Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he said to them, “Consider and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” <a href="/nabre/matthew/16.htm">New American Bible</a> Jesus said to them, “Look out, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Jesus said to them, “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> He said to them, Look out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/16.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And he said to them, “Take heed; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/16.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And Jesus said to them: Take heed and be ware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. <a href="/godbey/matthew/16.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And Jesus said to them; <FR>See and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/16.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Then Jesus said to them, Beware and abstain from the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. <a href="/mace/matthew/16.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and Jesus said to them, have a care of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees. <a href="/wey/matthew/16.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> and when Jesus said to them, "See to it: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees," <a href="/worrell/matthew/16.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And Jesus said to them, <FR>"Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/16.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> and therefore when Jesus said to them, <FR>Take heed and beware of the leaven of the pharisees and of the sadducees,<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/16-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=4583" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/16.htm">The Leaven to Beware</a> 5When they crossed to the other side, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6<a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: Horate (V-PMA-2P) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">“Watch out!” </a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.">told</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">them.</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">“</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> 7They discussed this among themselves and concluded, “It is because we did not bring any bread.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/mark/8-15.htm">Mark 8:15</a> “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.” <a href="/luke/12-1.htm">Luke 12:1</a> 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. <a href="/galatians/5-9.htm">Galatians 5:9</a> A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. <a href="/1_corinthians/5-6.htm">1 Corinthians 5:6-8</a> 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. <a href="/matthew/23-13.htm">Matthew 23:13</a> 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. <a href="/matthew/23-27.htm">Matthew 23:27-28</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. <a href="/matthew/15-14.htm">Matthew 15:14</a> Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” <a href="/matthew/7-15.htm">Matthew 7:15</a> Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. <a href="/acts/23-8.htm">Acts 23:8</a> For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. <a href="/2_timothy/3-5.htm">2 Timothy 3:5</a> having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! <a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">Colossians 2:8</a> See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. <a href="/2_peter/2-1.htm">2 Peter 2:1</a> Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. <a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Isaiah 29:13</a> 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. <a href="/hosea/7-4.htm">Hosea 7:4</a> 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. <a href="/amos/5-21.htm">Amos 5:21-24</a> “I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.Take.<a href="/luke/12-15.htm">Luke 12:15</a> And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.the leaven.<a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Matthew 16:12</a> 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.<a href="/exodus/12-15.htm">Exodus 12:15-19</a> Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel… <a href="/leviticus/2-11.htm">Leviticus 2:11</a> No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.the Pharisees.<a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">Matthew 16:1</a> The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/10-17.htm">Beware</a> <a href="/matthew/13-22.htm">Care</a> <a href="/matthew/10-19.htm">Careful</a> <a href="/matthew/10-17.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/matthew/10-17.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/matthew/16-4.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/leviticus/6-17.htm">Leaven</a> <a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">Sadducees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">Sad'ducees</a> <a href="/matthew/14-25.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/matthew/13-33.htm">Yeast</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Beware</a> <a href="/matthew/22-16.htm">Care</a> <a href="/matthew/24-4.htm">Careful</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Guard</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Heed</a> <a href="/matthew/16-8.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Leaven</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Pharisees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Sadducees</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Sad'ducees</a> <a href="/matthew/24-4.htm">Watch</a> <a href="/matthew/16-11.htm">Yeast</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 16</div>1. <a href="/matthew/16-1.htm">The Pharisees require a sign.</a> 5. <a href="/matthew/16-5.htm">Jesus warns his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.</a> 13. <a href="/matthew/16-13.htm">The people's opinion of Jesus,</a> 16. <a href="/matthew/16-16.htm">and Peter's confession of him.</a> 21. <a href="/matthew/16-21.htm">Jesus foretells his death;</a> 23. <a href="/matthew/16-23.htm">reproves Peter for dissuading him from it;</a> 24. <a href="/matthew/16-24.htm">and admonishes those who will follow him, to bear the cross.</a> </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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/16.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/16.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>"Watch out!" Jesus told them. This phrase is a direct command from Jesus, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the message He is about to deliver. In the context of <a href="/matthew/16.htm">Matthew 16</a>, Jesus is speaking to His disciples after a confrontation with the Pharisees and Sadducees. The imperative "Watch out!" suggests vigilance and alertness, indicating that the disciples need to be on guard against something potentially harmful. This echoes the biblical theme of spiritual vigilance found in other scriptures, such as <a href="/1_peter/5-8.htm">1 Peter 5:8</a>, where believers are urged to be sober-minded and watchful."Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Leaven, or yeast, is used in the Bible as a metaphor for influence, often with a negative connotation. In ancient times, leaven was a small portion of fermented dough used to make bread rise, symbolizing how a small amount can permeate and affect the whole. Here, Jesus warns against the teachings and influence of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the law and traditions, often adding burdensome interpretations, while the Sadducees were more liberal, denying the resurrection and other spiritual truths. Both groups, despite their differences, posed a spiritual danger through their false teachings and hypocrisy. This warning is paralleled in <a href="/galatians/5-9.htm">Galatians 5:9</a>, where Paul speaks of how a little leaven leavens the whole lump, illustrating how false doctrine can spread and corrupt. Jesus' warning serves as a call to discernment, urging His followers to remain true to His teachings and to be wary of any doctrine that deviates from the truth of the Gospel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who is teaching His disciples in this passage. 2. <a href="/topical/p/pharisees.htm">Pharisees</a> A Jewish religious group known for strict adherence to the Law and traditions, often criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy. 3. <a href="/topical/s/sadducees.htm">Sadducees</a> Another Jewish sect, known for their denial of the resurrection and emphasis on the written Law, often in conflict with the Pharisees. 4. <a href="/topical/d/disciples.htm">Disciples</a> The followers of Jesus who are being instructed to be cautious of the teachings and influence of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 5. <a href="/topical/l/leaven.htm">Leaven</a> A metaphor used by Jesus to describe the corrupting influence of false teachings and hypocrisy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_leaven_as_influence.htm">Understanding Leaven as Influence</a> Leaven, or yeast, is a small ingredient that affects the whole batch of dough. Similarly, false teachings and hypocrisy can permeate and corrupt our faith and community. <a href="/topical/d/discernment_in_teaching.htm">Discernment in Teaching</a> Believers must be vigilant and discerning about the teachings they accept. Not all teachings that appear religious or pious align with the truth of the Gospel. <a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_hypocrisy.htm">Guarding Against Hypocrisy</a> The Pharisees and Sadducees were often criticized for their outward religiosity that lacked true righteousness. Christians are called to live authentically, aligning their actions with their beliefs. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_sound_doctrine.htm">The Importance of Sound Doctrine</a> Just as leaven can spread quickly, so can false doctrine. It is crucial to root our beliefs in Scripture and be wary of teachings that deviate from biblical truth. <a href="/topical/c/community_vigilance.htm">Community Vigilance</a> The church community must collectively guard against influences that can lead to spiritual decay, encouraging one another in truth and love.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 16</a> <a href="/q/key_events_in_jesus'_third_year.htm">What events marked Jesus' third year of ministry?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'coram_deo'_mean.htm">What does 'Leaven of the Pharisees' mean?</a> <a href="/q/meaning_of_'leaven_of_the_pharisees'.htm">What does "Leaven of the Pharisees" mean?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_leaven_mean_in_the_bible.htm">What does leaven symbolize in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.--The form of the warning was obviously determined by the fact just narrated. The Master saw the perplexed looks and heard the self reproaching or mutually accusing whispers of the disciples, and made them the text of a proverb which was a concentrated parable. As St. Mark gives the words, they stand, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod," and this, if we have to make our choice, we may believe to have been the form in which they were actually spoken; St. Matthew, or the report which he followed, substituting for the less known Herodians the better known Sadducees. The language of the tetrarch, as has been shown (see Note on <a href="/matthew/14-2.htm" title="And said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.">Matthew 14:2</a>), implies that Sadduceeism had been the prevailing belief of his life, and the current of Jewish political, not to say religious, sympathies, naturally led the Sadducean priests, courting (as Caiaphas did) the favour of the Roman rulers, to fraternise with the scribes who attached themselves to the party of the tetrarch. (Comp. <a href="/acts/5-17.htm" title="Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,">Acts 5:17</a>.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 6. - The leaven. Christ's thoughts were still fixed on the late disputants, whose powerful influence on popular opinion called for forcible warning. By "leaven" he does not here refer specially to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees, as in <a href="/luke/12-1.htm">Luke 12:1</a>, but to the evil influence which they exercised, which was diffused far and wide, and penetrated to all ranks and classes. Their unsound opinions, their inability or disinclination to enter into the spiritual sense of Scripture, vitiated their whole system, and made them dangerous teachers directly they attempted to explain or amplify the letter of Holy Writ. It was this same perverse blindness that led them to refuse to accept Jesus as Messiah in spite of all the proofs which had been brought before them. That leaven, in one aspect, was regarded as a sign of impurity and corruption, we learn from the strict rules which banished it from Divine service, and especially during the Passover season. Says St. Paul, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (<a href="/galatians/5-9.htm">Galatians 5:9</a>); and, "Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened" (<a href="/1_corinthians/5-7.htm">1 Corinthians 5:7</a>). Elsewhere Christ makes a distinction between what these teachers taught ex cathedra, and what they put forth on their own authority or what they practised themselves (<a href="/matthew/23-2.htm">Matthew 23:2, 3</a>, where see note). <a href="/commentaries/matthew/16-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>“Watch out!” Ὁρᾶτε (Horate) Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. Jesus Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. told εἶπεν (eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2036.htm">Strong's 2036: </a> Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. them. αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. “Beware προσέχετε (prosechete) Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4337.htm">Strong's 4337: </a> From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to. of ἀπὸ (apo) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_575.htm">Strong's 575: </a> From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. yeast ζύμης (zymēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2219.htm">Strong's 2219: </a> Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment. of the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Pharisees Φαρισαίων (Pharisaiōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5330.htm">Strong's 5330: </a> Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. Sadducees.” Σαδδουκαίων (Saddoukaiōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4523.htm">Strong's 4523: </a> Probably from Sadok; a Sadducaean, or follower of a certain heretical Israelite. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/16-6.htm">Matthew 16:6 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/16-6.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 16:6 Jesus said to them Take heed (Matt. 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