After he had gone away, the scribes and Pharisees commenced to follow him up closely and cross-question him on many points,

In the meantime, after so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were stepping on one another, Jesus began speaking first of all to His disciples, “Be continually on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees [that is, their pervasive, corrupting influence and teaching], which is hypocrisy [producing self-righteousness].

Their attention being raised by this, Jesus pursued his discourse with a parable, occasion'd by their thinking, that, because he was advanc'd so nigh to Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would immediately commence.