{2} And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

(2) We must especially take heed of those who corrupt the word of God, no matter what their position is in the Church or in civil politics.

People's New Testament

8:15 Leaven of Herod. Matthew says Sadducees (Mt 16:6) instead of Herod. Herod was a Sadducee, and the Sadducees generally were his supporters.

Wesley's Notes

8:15 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod, or of the Sadducees; two opposite extremes.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin leaven

See note 4, See Scofield Note: "Mt 13:33"

Margin Herod

See margin ref., See Scofield Note: "Mt 14:1"

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

15. And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees-"and of the Sadducees" (Mt 16:6).

and of the leaven of Herod-The teaching or "doctrine" (Mt 16:12) of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees was quite different, but both were equally pernicious; and the Herodians, though rather a political party, were equally envenomed against our Lord's spiritual teaching. See on [1456]Mt 12:14. The penetrating and diffusive quality of leaven, for good or bad, is the ground of the comparison.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:11-21 Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?