Matthew 16:5-12

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

16:5 When the disciples went to the other side, they forgot to take bread. 16:6 “Watch out,” Jesus said to them, “beware of the yeast of the Pharisees ¹  and Sadducees.” ²  16:7 So ³  they began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “It is because we brought no bread.” 16:8 When Jesus learned of this, ⁴  he said, “You who have such little faith! ⁵  Why are you arguing ⁶  among yourselves about having no bread? 16:9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 16:10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? 16:11 How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 16:12 Then they understood that he had not told them to be on guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

[16:6]  ¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[16:6]  ² sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.

[16:7]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ saying about the Pharisees and Sadducees.

[16:8]  ⁴ tn Or “becoming aware of it.”

[16:8]  ⁵ tn Grk “Those of little faith.”

[16:8]  ⁶ tn Or “discussing.”