SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:1
¶ En esto, juntndose muchos acompaantes, tanto que unos a otros se pisaban, comenz a decir a sus discípulos: Primeramente guardaos de la levadura de los fariseos, que es la hipocresía.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 12:1
Verse 1. An innumerable multitude of people] twn muriadwn tou oclou, myriads of people. A myriad is ten thousand, and myriads must, at the very lowest, mean twenty thousand. But the word is often used to signify a crowd or multitude which cannot be readily numbered. There was doubtless a vast crowd assembled on this occasion, and many of them were deeply instructed by the very important discourse which our Lord delivered. Leaven of the Pharisees] See Matt. xvi. 1-12.
Which is hypocrisy.] These words are supposed by some to be an addition to the text, because it does not appear that it is their hypocrisy which Christ alludes to, but their false doctrines. They had, however, a large proportion of both.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. In the mean time , etc.] While Christ was discoursing with the Pharisees, and they were using him in the vilest manner, throwing out their invectives against him in order to draw off the people from him: when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people .
There were myriads of them, as in the original text, and a myriad is ten thousand; the meaning is, that there were several thousands of them: insomuch that they trod one upon another ; striving to get near to Christ, either to see his person, or to hear his discourses; and particularly, what he would say to the Pharisees, who had fallen upon him in so violent a manner: he began to say unto his disciples first of all ; he directed his discourse not to the Pharisees, nor to the multitude, but to his disciples in the first place; at least, chiefly to them; for whom he had a regard, who were his dear friends, and were to be the preachers of his Gospel every where; and therefore it was proper that they should be aware of the dissembling arts of the Scribes and Pharisees, and have their minds fortified against approaching dangers, persecutions, and death itself: the last phrase, first of all, is omitted in the Vulgate Latin version; and by all the Oriental versions, it is joined to the next clause, and read thus, especially, or before all things, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy ; expressed both in their doctrines, and in their lives; which carried a great show of piety and holiness, but was in appearance only: very aptly is hypocrisy in doctrine and manners, compared to leaven; which at first is small and little, but gradually increases and spreads itself, and lies hid and covered, and is not easily discerned, nor its influence and effects observed; but in time, it infects and corrupts the whole of men's principles and practices, and puffs and swells them up with a vain opinion of themselves; and when our Lord bids his disciples beware of it, his meaning not only is, that they take heed that they were not infected with it themselves, but that they were not imposed upon by the specious pretences of these artful and designing men.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - A firm belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of it, would satisfy us when in peril, and encourage us to trus God in the way of duty. Providence takes notice of the meanes creatures, even of the sparrows, and therefore of the smalles interests of the disciples of Christ. Those who confess Christ now shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we ar here assured that those who deny Christ, though they may thus save lif itself, and though they may gain a kingdom by it, will be great loser at last; for Christ will not know them, will not own them, nor sho them favour. But let no trembling, penitent backslider doubt of obtaining forgiveness. This is far different from the determined enmit that is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall never be forgiven, because it will never be repented of.
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 PREP οις 3739 R-DPM επισυναχθεισων 1996 5685 V-APP-GPF των 3588 T-GPM μυριαδων 3461 A-GPM του 3588 T-GSM οχλου 3793 N-GSM ωστε 5620 CONJ καταπατειν 2662 5721 V-PAN αλληλους 240 C-APM ηρξατο 756 5662 V-ADI-3S λεγειν 3004 5721 V-PAN προς 4314 PREP τους 3588 T-APM μαθητας 3101 N-APM αυτου 846 P-GSM πρωτον 4412 ADV προσεχετε 4337 5720 V-PAM-2P εαυτοις 1438 F-3DPM απο 575 PREP της 3588 T-GSF ζυμης 2219 N-GSF των 3588 T-GPM φαρισαιων 5330 N-GPM ητις 3748 R-NSF εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S υποκρισις 5272 N-NSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. An innumerable multitude (twn muriadwn tou oclou). The word muriav strictly means a number of ten thousand. It is our word myriad. Hence, generally, of any countless number.First of all. Many connect this with what follows: "first of all beware," etc.
Leaven. See on Matt. xiii. 33.
Which (htiv). Classifying the leaven: which belongs to the category of hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy. See on hypocrites, Matt. xxiii. 13.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:1 {In the meantime} (en hois). It is a classic idiom to start a sentence or even a paragraph as here with a relative, "in which things or circumstances," without any expressed antecedent other than the incidents in #11:53f. In #12:3 Luke actually begins the sentence with two relatives anq' hwn hosa (wherefore whatever). {Many thousands} (muriadwn). Genitive absolute with episunacqeiswn (first aorist passive participle feminine plural because of muriad"n), a double compound late verb, episunagw, to gather together unto. The word "myriads" is probably hyperbolical as in #Ac 21:20, but in the sense of ten thousand, as in #Ac 19:19, it means a very large crowd apparently drawn together by the violent attacks of the rabbis against Jesus. {Insomuch that they trode one upon another} (hwste katapatein allelous). The imagination must complete the picture of this jam. {Unto his disciples first of all} (pros tous maqetas autou prwton). this long discourse in #Lu 12 is really a series of separate talks to various groups in the vast crowds around Jesus. this particular talk goes through verse #12. {Beware of} (prosecete heautois apo). Put your mind (noun understood) for yourselves (dative) and avoid (apo with the ablative). {The leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy} (tes zumes hetis estin hupocrisis twn farisaiwn). In #Mr 8:15 Jesus had coupled the lesson of the Pharisees with that of Herod, in #Mt 16:6 with that of the Sadducees also. He had long ago called the Pharisees hypocrites (#Mt 6:2,5,16). The occasion was ripe here for this crisp saying. In #Mt 13:33 leaven does not have an evil sense as here, which see. See #Mt 23:13 for hypocrites. Hypocrisy was the leading Pharisaic vice (Bruce) and was a mark of sanctity to hide an evil heart.
