Matthew 16:6 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 16:6 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

Jesus said to them: watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The warning against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees immediately follows the disciples' realization about the bread — creating the misunderstanding that Jesus was talking about literal bread. The leaven as a symbol of pervasive influence (the leaven-parable of Matthew 13:33 used the same image positively) here communicates the spreading danger of the Pharisees' and Sadducees' teaching.

Church Fathers on Matthew 16:6

As the Lord had left the Pharisees on account of their unbelief, so now He teaches His disciples to be on their guard against their doctrine; whence it follows, 'And when His disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.'
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · non occ.

They were bound to their Master with so great affection, that they were unwilling to part from Him for even a moment of time. And herein it should be observed how far they were from any longing for delicacies, when they took so small care for necessaries, that they had even forgotten to take bread, without which human weakness cannot support itself.
Remigius · 9th century

Herein the Apostles are admonished not to be partakers in the doctrine of the Jews; for the works of the Law were established to produce faith, and to prefigure the things that were to follow; and they on whose times truth itself had chanced should look for no further types of truth; lest the teaching of the Pharisees, which knew not of Christ, should stay the effect of Gospel truth.
Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

Read all 13 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!