Luke 12:1

¶ In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

In {G1722} the mean time {G3739}, when there were gathered together {G1996} an innumerable multitude {G3461} of people {G3793}, insomuch that {G5620} they trode {G2662} one upon another {G240}, he began {G756} to say {G3004} unto {G4314} his {G846} disciples {G3101} first of all {G4412}, Beware {G4337} ye {G1438} of {G575} the leaven {G2219} of the Pharisees {G5330}, which {G3748} is {G2076} hypocrisy {G5272}.

Meanwhile, as a crowd in the tens of thousands gathered so closely as to trample each other down, Yeshua began to say to his talmidim first, “Guard yourselves from the hametz of the P’rushim, by which I mean their hypocrisy.

In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

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.

In Luke 12:1, Jesus addresses an "innumerable multitude," yet His initial, crucial warning is directed "first of all" to His disciples. This verse sets a serious tone for the teachings that follow, emphasizing the spiritual dangers inherent in religious leadership.

Context

This passage immediately follows Jesus' sharp condemnations of the Pharisees and lawyers in Luke 11. Having just exposed their hypocrisy and legalism publicly, Jesus now turns privately to His disciples to caution them against adopting similar attitudes. The immense crowd pressing upon one another highlights the intense public scrutiny and pressure Jesus and His followers faced, making the warning about internal corruption all the more vital for their integrity and future ministry.

Key Themes

  • The Danger of Hypocrisy: The central message is an explicit warning against hypocrisy, which Jesus identifies as the "leaven of the Pharisees." This is a spiritual state where one's outward actions or religious declarations do not match their inner motives or true character.
  • Corrupting Influence: "Leaven" (yeast) serves as a powerful metaphor. A small amount of leaven can permeate and affect an entire batch of dough. Similarly, even a little hypocrisy can spread and corrupt an individual's spiritual life or an entire community's faith, undermining genuine devotion.
  • Authenticity and Integrity: By warning against hypocrisy, Jesus implicitly calls for authenticity and integrity in the lives of His disciples. True faith is not merely an outward show but stems from an honest heart before God.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word for "leaven" is zymē (ζύμη), which often carries a negative connotation in the New Testament, symbolizing corruption or evil influence that spreads, as seen in Paul's warning about the corrupting power of "a little leaven". The term "hypocrisy" comes from the Greek word hypokrisis (ὑπόκρισις), which originally referred to an actor playing a role on stage, wearing a mask. This vividly illustrates the act of pretending to be something one is not, creating a disconnect between outward appearance and inner reality.

Practical Application

Jesus' warning in Luke 12:1 remains highly relevant today. It challenges believers to:

  • Examine Our Motives: Are our actions, especially our religious or charitable ones, driven by a genuine desire to honor God and serve others, or by a need for human approval and recognition?
  • Guard Against Spiritual Deception: Hypocrisy can subtly creep into our lives. We must cultivate a sincere heart and strive for consistency between our private lives and public declarations.
  • Live Authentically: True Christian witness is rooted in authenticity. Living with integrity builds trust and accurately reflects the character of God, rather than obscuring it with pretense. This verse calls us to an honest relationship with God and others, prioritizing inner transformation over outward conformity.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Peter 2:1

    ¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

  • 1 Corinthians 5:7

    ¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

  • 1 Corinthians 5:8

    Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

  • Luke 12:56

    [Ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

  • Matthew 16:6

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

  • Matthew 16:12

    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.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back