Devine Scripture

Matthew 16:6

What does Matthew 16:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 16:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 16:6 means

Jesus warns His disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." This warning intends to caution them against the insidious and pervasive influence of the religious leaders' false teachings and hypocrisy. Just as a small amount of leaven affects a whole batch of dough, their doctrines and attitudes could corrupt the disciples' faith and understanding. Jesus' choice of metaphor underscores the subtle yet powerful nature of spiritual error.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Jesus said to them, Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and Jesus said to them, `Beware, and take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Who said to them: Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Jesus said to them, See and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Context

This warning immediately follows the disciples' forgetfulness of bread, which will lead to their initial misunderstanding. Jesus' statement is a direct follow-up to His previous interactions with the religious leaders, linking their spiritual blindness to a dangerous 'leaven.' This teaching is crucial for the disciples' spiritual development, preparing them to discern true doctrine from false.

v.5And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread.

v.6This passage

v.7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Leviticus 2:11

    No meal-offering, which ye shall offer unto Jehovah, shall be made with leaven; for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

  • 2 Timothy 2:16

    But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,

  • 1 Corinthians 5:6

    Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  • Exodus 12:15

    Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

  • Galatians 5:9

    A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

  • Luke 12:1

    In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

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