Guard Against Wrong Teachings^(A)

¹⁴ His ·followers [disciples] had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat; they had forgotten to bring more. ¹⁵ Jesus warned them, “·Be careful [Watch out]! Beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees and the ·yeast [leaven] of Herod [^Cyeast or leaven refers here to the dangerous permeating power of their influence].”

¹⁶ They discussed the meaning of this, saying, “He said this because we have no bread.”

¹⁷ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, “Why are you ·talking [discussing; arguing] about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your ·minds closed [hearts hardened]? ¹⁸ ·You have eyes, but you don’t really see. You have ears, but you don’t really listen [Jer. 5:21; Ezek. 12:2]. ·Remember [^LDon’t you remember] when ¹⁹ I ·divided [broke] five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?”

They answered, “Twelve.”

²⁰ “And when I ·divided [broke] seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many [large] baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?”

They answered, “Seven.”

²¹ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

Guard Against Wrong Teachings^(A)

⁵ Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] went ·across the lake [^Lto the other side], but they had forgotten to bring bread. ⁶ Jesus said to them, “·Be careful [Watch out]! Beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees [^Cyeast or leaven refers here to the dangerous permeating power of their influence].”

⁷ ·His followers [^LThey] discussed the meaning of this, saying, “He said this because we forgot to bring bread.”

⁸ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, “Why are you ·talking [discussing; arguing] about not having bread? ·Your faith is small [What little faith you have!; ^TYou of little faith]. ⁹ Do you still not understand? Remember the five loaves of bread that fed the five thousand? And remember that you filled many baskets with the leftovers? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves of bread that fed the four thousand and the many [large] baskets you filled then also? ¹¹ Why don’t you understand that I was not talking to you about bread? I am telling you to beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” ¹² Then ·the followers [^Lthey] understood that Jesus was not telling them to beware of the ·yeast [leaven] used in bread but to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Don’t Be Like the Pharisees^(A)

12 [^LMeanwhile] So many thousands of people had gathered that they were ·stepping [trampling] on each other. Jesus began to speak first to his ·followers [disciples], saying, “Beware of the ·yeast [leaven] of the Pharisees, ·because they are hypocrites [^Lwhich is hypocrisy; ^Cthe evil influence of the Pharisees was like yeast that would grow and affect everything around it; Mark 8:14–21].