What enabled the disciples to finally understand that Jesus telling them to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
Jesus’ repeated warning (Matthew 16:6, Matthew 16:11) enabled the disciples to finally see how Jesus was speaking figuratively about a spiritual matter: the bad leaven—the Pharisees and Sadducees’ teaching—in contrast to the pure bread—the Word of God—which proceeds from the mouth of Jesus. The warning also called them to separate from the Pharisees (see Matthew 15:6, Matthew 15:14).
Jesus’ repetition of the warning in Matthew 16:6 and Matthew 16:11 enabled the disciples to finally understand that Jesus was here speaking figuratively about a spiritual matter. It finally became clear to them that the bad leaven—the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees—was set in contrast to the pure bread—the true Word of God—which proceeds from the mouth of Jesus. The warning at the same time constituted a call to separate themselves from the Pharisees (see Matthew 15:6; Matthew 15:14).1
12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.