12:1-3 What is Jesus warning the disciples against here?
12:1-3 What is Jesus warning the disciples against here?
Jesus is warning the disciples against allowing fear of man to influence their proclamation of His gospel. Leaven in the New Testament symbolizes any evil influence in the church. Here Jesus brands it hypocrisy (cp Lk 11:37-44).
The Pharisees were hypocrites. They were only interested in the outward show of religion and Jesus warns the disciples against being influenced by them in any way.
He warns the disciples that any unwanted truths they hide will all be revealed in due course, and it is better for them to suffer persecution for declaring the full counsel of God now, than to lose their souls in hell later.
This is an admonition for contemporary Christians also (cp Mt 10:24-28; 16:26-27; Mk 8:36-38; Lk 9:24-26). See also comments on Mt 10:39; Lk 11:37-38 and 11:46.
12:4-7 See comments on/Mt 10:28/12:8-9 See comments on/Mt 10:32-33/12:10 See comments on/Mt 12:31-32