When there were gathered together an innumerable multitude— Many thousands of people;— των μυριαδων του οχλου; literally, many myriads.
Perhaps this vast assemblage of people might be owing to an apprehension, either that Christ might meet with some ill usage among so many of his enemies, or that he would say or do something peculiarly remarkable on the occasion. It was in the hearing of this vast assembly, that he gave his disciples in general a charge and exhortation, similar to that which he had given to the twelve apostles after their election. The precept, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, with which he began this charge, is similar to that which in the charge to the twelve runs thus, Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves: Matthew 10:16. For though the apostles and the disciples were to be remarkably prudent in their behaviour, yet the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy or deceit, was not to enter into the composition of their prudence; because hypocrisy is only an expedient to serve a turn, the mask being always torn from hypocrites sooner or later. See the parallel places.