Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- KJV 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.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- NASB Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples finally understand that the 'yeast' means the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. It matters because true understanding of Christ's words is the goal of his instruction.
Overview
At last the disciples grasp Jesus' meaning: he warned against the doctrine of the religious leaders. The moment of comprehension shows that spiritual understanding can grow with patient teaching. It confirms that the danger is false teaching, which corrupts like yeast. The episode encourages believers to seek to understand Christ's words rightly rather than superficially.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Matt 5:20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Acts 23:8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
- Matt 23:13–28“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
- Matt 15:4–9For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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