Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 12:1

"In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod 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 (ASV)

Again Luke notes the crowds, emphasizing the extremely large size of this one. Jesus addresses the disciples “first”; the crowds received his words later (vv.13–21, 54–59). The key word “hypocrisy” (GK 5694) was triggered by the charges in ch. 11. Jesus compares the insidious way this attitude can influence others to the action of “yeast.” His next words about concealment and disclosure seem at first to be a warning that what hypocrites try to cover up will be revealed (v.2). But vv.3–4 have a positive thrust. Verse 3 is much like Mt 10:26–27, where the disciples are encouraged not to be afraid but to declare publicly what they have heard privately from Jesus (cf. 8:17; Mark 4:22).