The leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is an acting as a stage player, feigning, pretending and the taking up of “another's statements in reference to what one has decided for one's self”. Jesus Christ calls the Pharisees pretenders when they sought a sign from Him, though He preached daily. (Matt 16:3-4; Mark 8:11-12,15; Luke 11;12:1) Jesus Christ plainly identifies their leaven as "hypocrisy" or "hupokrisis" <5272> in Luke 12:1. Traits associated with hypocrisy includes lying, guile, defamation, malice and envy.
Many today say the leaven of the Pharisees is false doctrine, obviously relying on Matthew 16:12 (which was not spoken by Jesus). But Jesus gave a plain definition to the contrary (in Luke 12:1). (But looking at the definition of "doctine" or "didache" <1322>, one sees that word may be used in a descriptive sense, not necessarily being what is taught, but how teaching is done; it would be in agreement with "hupokrisis" if this sense is followed. The Pharisees could have been speaking "in the [special, unique] way of teaching, in distinction from other modes of speaking in public", otherwise called "acting". Don't most modern preachers adopt a special tone and pattern of speech when preaching?)
To be on guard against hypocrisy, not only should we be on guard against false teaching, but by understanding the root of the word hupokrisis we can watch for those whose acts are of ones "acting of a stage player", who are "pretenders", who make pretenses, who
1) to take up another's statements in reference to what one has decided for one's self
1a) to reply, answer
2) to make answer (speak) on the stage
2a) to impersonate anyone, play a part
3) to simulate, feign, pretend
Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 about the falseness of the Pharisees:
Matt 15:
7* Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8* This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9* But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.Mark 7:
6* He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7* Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
It is interesting also to look at this passage in Isaiah to see that, in addition to putting on a mere act of honoring God while they do not in truth love Him, these people also hide their evil deeds - but God does see them - and have turned things (doctrines?) upside down, for which they will be accountable.
Isaiah 29:
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
Be careful of those whose actions are not consistent with their words (see Confessing Christ), nor sometimes even their words with each other. Inconsistencies can be overlooked because of the pretense of "extenuating circumstances", even burried in "Christian talk", even maybe some good teaching, but we are commanded to examine the 'spirits' (1 John 4:1).
By diverting the understanding of "hypocrisy" as only "false teaching" or "false doctrines", the mechanizations of the wolf dressed in "sheep's clothing" (Matt 7:15) may be obscured from perception, causing one to overlook the mechanisms of how false doctrines are introduced and brought to acceptance, and also overlook the earmarks of those bringing them. (See also this study on False Teachers.) By accepting acting and pretending by "Christian" leaders, I believe our minds become accustomed to holding contradicting ideas, which wedge in our minds, once in place, allows errors to creep in overlooked. (This is also a building block of mind control.) It gives occasion, too, for adopting "in church" and "out of church" behaviors. And is it not also true that once pretended actions and motives are accepted into a group of people, that falseness speads to all, leavening the "whole lump"?
So we should be on guard for not just false ideas, but 'false' people.
============ Scriptures Used ==============
Matthew 16:
1 ¶ The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites <5273>, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
5 ¶ And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
...
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine <1322>of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Mark 8:
10 ¶ And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Luke 11:
29 ¶ And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
37 ¶ And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
45 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
Luke 12:
1 ¶ 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 <5272>.
Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled <4942> likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation <5272>.
1 Tim. 4:2 Speaking lies <5573> in hypocrisy <5272>; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 Pet. 2:1 ¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile <1388>, and hypocrisies <5272>, and envies, and all evil speakings <2636>,
================== Strong's Definitions =====================
4942 sunupokrinomai {soon-oo-pok-rin'-om-ahee}
from 4862 and 5271; TDNT - 8:559,1235; v
AV - dissemble with 1; 1
1) to dissemble with
2) to act hypocritically with
4862 sun {soon}
a primary preposition denoting union; TDNT - 7:766,1102; prep
AV - with 123, beside 1, accompany + 2064 1; 125
1) with
5272 hupokrisis {hoop-ok'-ree-sis}
from 5271; TDNT - 8:559,1235; n f
AV - hypocrisy 5, dissimulation 1, condemnation 1; 7
1) an answering
2) an answer
3) the acting of a stage player
4) dissimulation, hypocrisy
From “The Complete Word Study Dictionary - New Testament”
5272. hupokrisis; gen. hupokriseos, fem. noun from hupokrinomai (5271), to pretend. Hipocrisy, dissimulation (Matt. 23:28; Mark 12:15; Luke 12:1; Gal. 2:13; 1 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 2:1).
dissimulation n. Pretense. (Webster Unified Dictionary and Encyclopedia, 1960).
5273 hupokrites {hoop-ok-ree-tace'}
from 5271; TDNT - 8:559,1235; n m
AV - hypocrite 20; 20
1) one who answers, an interpreter
2) an actor, stage player
3) a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite
5271 hupokrinomai {hoop-ok-rin'-om-ahee}
middle voice from 5259 and 2919; TDNT - 8:559,1235; v
AV - feign 1; 1
1) to take up another's statements in reference to what one has decided for one's self
1a) to reply, answer
2) to make answer (speak) on the stage
2a) to impersonate anyone, play a part
3) to simulate, feign, pretend
5259 hupo {hoop-o'}
a primary preposition;; prep
AV - of 116, by 42, under 48, with 14, in 1, not tr 6, misc 3; 230
1) by, under
2919 krino {kree'-no}
perhaps a primitive word; TDNT - 3:921,469; v
AV - judge 88, determine 7, condemn 5, go to law 2, call in question 2, esteem 2, misc 8; 114
1) to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose
2) to approve, esteem, to prefer
3) to be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion
4) to determine, resolve, decree
5) to judge
5a) to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong
5a1) to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one's case may be examined and judgment passed upon it
5b) to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure
5b1) of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others
6) to rule, govern
6a) to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment
7) to contend together, of warriors and combatants
7a) to dispute
7b) in a forensic sense
7b1) to go to law, have suit at law
1322 didache {did-akh-ay'}
from 1321; TDNT - 2:163,161; n f
AV - doctrine 29, has been taught 1; 30
1) teaching
1a) that which is taught
1b) doctrine, teaching, concerning something
2) the act of teaching, instruction
2a) in religious assemblies of the Christians, to speak in the way of teaching, in distinction from other modes of speaking in public
1321 didasko {did-as'-ko}
a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn); TDNT - 2:135,161; v
AV - teach 93, taught + 2258 4; 97
1) to teach
1a) to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses
1b) to be a teacher
1c) to discharge the office of a teacher, conduct one's self as a teacher
2) to teach one
2a) to impart instruction
2b) instill doctrine into one
2c) the thing taught or enjoined
2d) to explain or expound a thing
2f) to teach one something
5573 pseudologos {psyoo-dol-og'-os}
from 5571 and 3004;; adj
AV - speaking lies 1; 1
1) speaking (teaching) falsely, speaking lies
5571 pseudes {psyoo-dace'}
from 5574; TDNT - 9:594,1339; adj
AV - liar 2, false 1; 3
1) lying, deceitful, false
5574 pseudomai {psyoo'-dom-ahee}
middle voice of an apparently primary verb; TDNT - 9:594,1339; v
AV - lie 11, falsely 1; 12
1) to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods
2) to deceive one by a lie, to lie to
3004 lego {leg'-o}
a root word; TDNT - 4:69,505; v
AV - say 1184, speak 61, call 48, tell 33, misc 17; 1343
1) to say, to speak
1a) affirm over, maintain
1b) to teach
1c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
1d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
1e) to call by name, to call, name
1f) to speak out, speak of, mention
1388 dolos {dol'-os}
from an obsolete primary verb, dello (probably meant to decoy; cf 1185);; n m
AV - guile 7, subtilty 2, deceit 2, craft 1; 12
1) craft, deceit, guile
2636 katalalia {kat-al-al-ee'-ah}
from 2637; TDNT - 4:3,495; n f
AV - backbiting 1, evil speaking 1; 2
1) defamation, evil speaking
2637 katalalos {kat-al'-al-os}
from 2596 and the base of 2980; TDNT - 4:3,495; adj
AV - backbiter 1; 1
1) a defamer, evil speaker