Matthew 16:5-12

New International Reader's Version

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

⁵ The disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake. They had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

⁷ The disciples talked about this among themselves. They said, “He must be saying this because we didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸ Jesus knew what they were saying. So he said, “Your faith is so small! Why are you talking to each other about having no bread? ⁹ Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000? Don’t you remember how many baskets of pieces you gathered? ¹⁰ Don’t you remember the seven loaves for the 4,000? Don’t you remember how many baskets of pieces you gathered? ¹¹ How can you possibly not understand? I wasn’t talking to you about bread. But watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then the disciples understood that Jesus was not telling them to watch out for the yeast used in bread. He was warning them against what the Pharisees and Sadducees taught.