Matthew 16:12

12 Then they saw that it was not the leaven of bread which he had in mind, but the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 16:12 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 16:12

Then understood they
Without any further explication of his sense and meaning,

how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread:
which sense they first took him in; imagining, because the Pharisees were very particular and precise what sort of leaven they made use of ^F26, that Christ forbad them buying bread that was made with leaven according to their directions: and since their rules in everything prevailed much in all places, they were concerned what bread they must, or could buy; but now they perceived that he did not speak of this, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. It was very common with the Jews ^F1 to call the corruption and vitiosity of nature by the name of (hoyebv rwav) , "leaven in the lump": hence our Lord calls their doctrine so, because it proceeded from thence, and was agreeable thereunto; and uses the phrase on purpose to expose it, and bring it into neglect and contempt.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Misn. Pesach, c. 2. sect. 2, 3. T. Hieros. Sabbat, fol. 3. 3.
F1 T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 7. 4. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 17. 1. Bereshit Rabba, fol. 29. 4. Caphtor, fol. 38. 2. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 73. 2.

Matthew 16:12 In-Context

10 Or the seven cakes of bread of the four thousand, and the number of baskets you took up?

11 How is it that you do not see that I was not talking to you about bread, but about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

12 Then they saw that it was not the leaven of bread which he had in mind, but the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13 Now when Jesus had come into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he said, questioning his disciples, Who do men say that the Son of man is?

14 And they said, Some say, John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.