Luke 12 1

Luke 12:1 kjv

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.

Luke 12:1 nkjv

In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Luke 12:1 niv

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Luke 12:1 esv

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Luke 12:1 nlt

Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees ? their hypocrisy.

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 1 Meaning

Luke 12:1 presents Jesus' urgent and foundational warning to His disciples, amidst an immense and pressing crowd. He instructs them to vigilantly guard themselves against the "leaven of the Pharisees," which He directly identifies as "hypocrisy." This means disciples must recognize and strenuously resist the pervasive, corrupting influence of spiritual pretense—the act of feigning righteousness or sincere belief while lacking genuine inner devotion. The verse underscores that such spiritual deceit, though seemingly small at its inception, has the power to corrupt one's entire faith and life.

Luke 12 1 Context

Luke 12:1 opens immediately following Jesus' intense confrontation with the Pharisees and lawyers in Luke 11:37-54, where He pronounced strong "woes" upon them for their external righteousness, legalism, and covetousness, condemning their very core of hypocrisy. This public challenge undoubtedly created an charged atmosphere, polarizing opinion and drawing massive attention. In this context, an "innumerable multitude" gathers around Jesus, demonstrating widespread public fascination. Before speaking to this vast crowd, Jesus turns specifically to His disciples. This distinct shift in audience signals the private, critical nature of the forthcoming teaching, emphasizing that His closest followers needed a foundational spiritual warning to guard against the very spiritual sickness He had just condemned in their adversaries. Historically, the Pharisees were the most influential Jewish religious sect, admired by many for their strict observance of the Law, making their underlying hypocrisy a particularly dangerous and deceptive example for new followers of Jesus. Leaven, in the biblical and Jewish context, typically symbolized a pervasive, corrupting agent.

Luke 12 1 Word analysis

• In the meantime (ἐν οἷς, en hois): Literally "in which things," this phrase serves as a transitional marker. It connects the following events to the prior discourse, implying that the warning to the disciples occurs while the intense spiritual conflicts and widespread public interest, detailed in Luke 11, are ongoing or immediately preceding.

• innumerable multitude (μυριάδων, myriadōn): Denotes "myriads" or "tens of thousands," signifying an extraordinarily large, virtually uncountable number of people. This emphasizes the immense popularity and widespread attention Jesus commanded, creating a challenging environment for His followers.

• trode one upon another (ὥστε καταπατεῖν, hōste katapatein): Literally, "so as to trample." This vivid imagery describes the extreme density and pressure of the crowd, highlighting the chaotic, almost suffocating conditions, underscoring the potential for the disciples to feel immense external pressure.

• first of all (πρῶτον, prōton): This adverb emphasizes the priority and primary importance of this specific warning, indicating that Jesus is giving this instruction specifically and critically to His disciples before addressing a broader audience or other topics. It highlights a foundational teaching essential for their spiritual safety.

• Beware ye of (Προσέχετε ἀπό, Prosechete apo): A strong imperative, meaning "be on guard against," "take heed of," or "watch out for." It signals a serious warning about an imminent and dangerous spiritual threat that demands careful vigilance and avoidance.

• leaven (ζύμης, zymēs): Refers to yeast or fermentation. Biblically, leaven is consistently used metaphorically to represent a small, pervasive, and corrupting influence, whether of sin, malice, or false doctrine, which subtly spreads throughout and fundamentally alters the whole.

• Pharisees (Φαρισαίων, Pharisaiōn): A prominent Jewish religious-political group of the Second Temple period. They were known for their strict adherence to both written Law and oral traditions. Jesus frequently denounced them for their external piety contrasting with their internal corruption, often driven by self-righteousness and love of human praise.

• which is hypocrisy (ἥτις ἐστὶν ὑπόκρισις, hētis estin hypokrisis): Jesus' explicit definition of the "leaven" in this context. The Greek term hypokrisis originally referred to an actor playing a role on stage, implying someone wearing a mask or assuming a false outward persona. Here, it denotes pretense, a discrepancy between inner character and outward appearance, especially in spiritual matters, portraying a false image of piety or sincerity.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude...trode one upon another": This phrase immediately establishes a scene of overwhelming popular attention and physical pressure surrounding Jesus. It implicitly conveys the demanding environment in which the disciples operated, which could potentially sway them toward seeking human approval rather than divine.
  • "he began to say unto his disciples first of all": This highlights Jesus' deliberate and focused communication with His inner circle. It underscores that this particular teaching is not for the general populace, but a vital, prioritized instruction for those being trained in discipleship, indicating its essential role in their spiritual formation.
  • "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy": This central warning powerfully combines a potent metaphor ("leaven") with a direct identification ("Pharisees") and a precise definition ("hypocrisy"). It reveals Jesus' deep concern for the internal authenticity of His followers, cautioning them against adopting the characteristic spiritual falsehood of their most prominent religious opponents—an outward show of piety without inward transformation. This highlights the danger of subtle spiritual corruption originating from self-deception and seeking human applause.

Luke 12 1 Bonus section

• While Luke specifies "hypocrisy," other Gospels (e.g., Mt 16:12) link the "leaven of the Pharisees" to their false doctrine. This highlights the deep interconnectedness: a hypocritical life often stems from or leads to distorted teaching, where outward form supersedes truth.
• The scene underscores Jesus' dedication to discipling His core group, prioritizing their spiritual health and inner integrity even amidst the clamor of countless seekers. This teaching protects them from the very pitfalls that consumed the religious leaders of the day.
• The danger of hypocrisy, like leaven, is its insidious nature. It's often not an overt sin but a gradual, subtle corruption of motive, making it particularly difficult to detect and resist without diligent self-examination and divine grace.
• This passage introduces the overarching theme of the following verses in Luke 12: the importance of transparency and the inevitability that hidden deeds and motives will eventually be revealed, which directly opposes the nature of hypocrisy (Lk 12:2-3).

Luke 12 1 Commentary

Luke 12:1 acts as a strategic pause in Jesus' ministry, shifting focus from public confrontation to an intimate, yet vital, warning for His disciples. Having just unmasked the core corruption of the Pharisees – their deep-seated hypocrisy – Jesus immediately instructs His inner circle to be extremely vigilant against this same spiritual poison. The imagery of "leaven" is powerful: it is small, pervasive, and quietly corrupts an entire batch. Similarly, hypocrisy, a spiritual performance aimed at external approval rather than internal transformation, starts subtly but can utterly spoil a life of genuine faith. Jesus' priority in giving this warning "first of all" to His disciples underscores its foundational importance. It suggests that even His closest followers are susceptible to the pressures of public opinion and the temptation to present a false front, rather than seeking only God's approval. This verse is a timeless call for authentic faith, warning believers that true spiritual health lies not in outward displays, but in the integrity of heart and purpose before God, contrasting sharply with the performative religion of the Pharisees.

• Example 1: A believer regularly attends church and participates in activities, appearing devout, but harbors bitterness or resentment internally, displaying hypocrisy.
• Example 2: Someone volunteers for a ministry not out of love for God or others, but to be seen as spiritual or to gain recognition from peers, demonstrating the "leaven" at work.
• Example 3: Preachers who deliver sermons on holiness but secretly live contrary lives, thereby polluting their own teaching and witness through hypocrisy.