Matthew 16:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus warns them to guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
What Does Matthew 16:6 Mean?
As they travel, Jesus issues a warning: beware the 'leaven' of the religious leaders he has just left. Leaven, the small bit of fermented dough worked into a whole batch, was a vivid picture of how a hidden influence spreads quietly until it changes everything.
The danger is not bread but teaching, the subtle attitudes of pride, unbelief, and hollow show that the leaders embodied. Jesus tells his followers to 'take heed,' to stay alert, because corruption rarely announces itself; it seeps in unnoticed. The call is to guard the heart against the slow leaven of hypocrisy and to keep faith pure and watchful.
Matthew 16:6 in the Original Language
zume (ζύμη), 'leaven' -- yeast that permeates the whole lump, an image of pervasive, often hidden, influence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 16:6
What does Matthew 16:6 mean?
Jesus warns them to guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.