King James Bible
"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."
Luke sets the scene with massive crowds pressing so tightly that people were trampling each other. This detail emphasizes Jesus's growing popularity and creates a stark contrast—while thousands seek him publicly, the religious leaders oppose him through deception. Despite the overwhelming crowd, Jesus prioritizes teaching his disciples before addressing the masses. This ordering highlights the importance of the following warning for those who would carry on his ministry. Jesus uses leaven (yeast) as a metaphor for how hypocrisy spreads invisibly through a community, just as a small amount of yeast permeates entire dough. He explicitly identifies the Pharisees' core sin as presenting a false religious exterior while harboring corrupt motives.