During the feast of Unleavened Bread, leaven is not to be eaten
Exo 13:6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day keep a feast to YHWH.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Leaven comes from two Hebrew words, the first being:
This is what Paul refers to in his letter to the Corinthians were he says to get rid of the leaven of wickedness. Paul used the word:
G4189
πονηρία
ponēria
Thayer Definition:
1) depravity, iniquity, wickedness
2) malice
3) evil purposes and desires
Webster’s dictionary
Wicked
WICKED, a. [The primary sense is to wind and turn, or to depart, to fall away.]
Here wickedness is connected with leavened bread that is twisted and turned in a kneading bowl.
A related word in Hebrew is:
Twisting of the Scriptures
2Pe 3:15 And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him;
2Pe 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unsettled pervert*, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
*G4761
στρεβλόω
strebloō
Thayer Definition:
1) to twist, turn awry
This word is used in the LXX to translate the following Hebrew word:
1Co 5:8 So let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of malice* and of evil, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
G2549
κακία
kakia
Thayer Definition:
1) malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure
2) wickedness, depravity
2a) wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws
3) evil, trouble
This concept of wickedness being equated with lawlessness is seen in how the following verse in translated into the English.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked (ἄνομος ‘anomos’ – lawless) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Jay P. Green Literal Version
2Th 2:8 And then “the Lawless One” will be revealed, “whom” “the Lord” “will consume” “by the spirit of His mouth,” and will bring to nought by the brightness of His presence. Isa. 11:4
This is further seen in the first Psalm. The righteous meditate on the Torah and bear forth fruit of the Spirit. The wicked are not so.
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of scorners.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is only in the Law of YHWH, and he meditates in His Law day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of waters, which will give its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf will not wither, and all which he does will prosper.
Psa 1:4 Not so are the wicked, but they are only as chaff which the wind drives about.
Psa 1:5 On account of this the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa 1:6 For YHWH is knowing the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked shall perish.
The 2nd Hebrew word translated as leaven is:
Exo 12:15 You shall eat unleavened bread seven days. Indeed, on the first day you shall cause leaven (שׂאר ‘se’or’) to cease from your houses. For anyone eating any leaven (חמץ ‘chamets’), that soul shall be cut off from Israel, from the first day until the seventh day.
Hypocrisy
Luk 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.
Hypocrite is an actor. Or one hiding the true self with a false exterior. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, whitewashed tombs etc..
Mat 23:28 So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy (ὑπόκρισις ‘hupokrisis’) and lawlessness.
Jas 5:12 But before all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor any other oath. But let your yes be yes, and the no, no, that you may not fall under judgment (kjv condemnation-ὑπόκρισις ‘hupokrisis’).
Gal 2:13 And also the rest of the Jews dissembled with him, so as even Barnabas was led away with their dissembling (kjv dissimulation-ὑπόκρισις ‘hupokrisis’).
Vincent Word Studies
With their dissimulation (αὐτῶν τῇ ὑποκρίσει)
Not to or over to their dissimulation. Paul uses a strong word, which is employed only in 1Ti_4:2. The kindred verb ὑποκρίνεσθαι to play a part, and the noun ὑποκριτής hypocrisy do not occur in his letters. Their act was hypocrisy, because it was a concealment of their own more liberal conviction, and an open profession of still adhering to the narrow Pharisaic view. It was “a practical denial of their better spiritual insight”
G5272
ὑπόκρισις
hupokrisis
Thayer Definition:
1) an answering
2) an answer
3) the acting of a stage player
4) dissimulation, hypocrisy
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G5271
G5271
ὑποκρίνομαι
hupokrinomai
Thayer Definition:
1) to take up another’s statements in reference to what one has decided for one’s self (This is the essence of religion…people repeating what their leaders tell them to believe without finding out the truth for themselves. By definition, religion is an exterior manifestation which does not always reveal that which is within)
1a) to reply, answer
2) to make answer (speak) on the stage
2a) to impersonate anyone, play a part
3) to simulate, feign, pretend
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: middle voice from G5259 (under) and G2919 (to separate, select, choose, be of the opinion, determine, decree, judge, arbiters in matters of life, passing judgment on the deeds and words of others, rule, govern)
In essence, the word hypocrite means to be under the headship of man. This is why the word means to be a play actor. When you are under the headship of man, you are not under the headship of Messiah and walking/yoked with Him. Therefore, your righteousness is that of man (Matthew 23:28) and your fear of God is that taught of man (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:2-6; Mark 7:2-13; Colossians 2:20-23). It is not something within you but it is merely an outward appearance or mask put on in accord with the rulings of the head you are following. This is why Jesus begins His rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 with telling the people not to have men as their leaders and heads. Our only Head is to be Messiah. Our only righteousness comes from Him.
Interestingly, the first word mentioned above that is translated as leaven סאר ‘se’or’ comes from the root word סר ‘sar’ which means a ruler. A ruler is one who turns the head of the people in the direction he desires.
Mat 6:2 Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, do not trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
This Greek word is translated in the Septuagint from the following Hebrew word:
G5273
hupo krites H2611 chaneph
Pro 11:9 The ungodly (KJV hypocrite) is corrupting his neighbor with his mouth, but the just is delivered by knowledge.
Isa 9:16 For this people’s leaders led them astray, and its guided ones are swallowed up.
Isa 9:17 For this the Lord shall not rejoice over their young men, nor have pity on their orphans and widows; for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer; and every mouth speaks foolishness. In all this His anger does not turn away, but His hand is still stretched out.
Psa 35:16 with the ungodly (kjv hypocritical) they were mockers for a cake (KJV feasts), gnashing their teeth on me.
Jer 3:2 Lift up your eyes on the bare heights and see. Where have you not been lain with? By the highways you have sat for them, like an Arab in the desert. And you have defiled (חנף ‘chaneph’) the land with your fornications and with your evil.
Jer 3:11 And YHWH said to me, The apostate Israel has justified herself more than treacherous (בּגד ‘beged’)* Judah.
This is interesting to note. Treachery is associated with clothing…a wolf in sheep’s clothing…appearing righteous on the outside but the inside is full of wickedness and leaven.
Jesus’ teaching on the Pharisees.
Mat 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to His disciples,
Mat 23:2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down on Moses’ seat.
Mat 23:3 Then all things, whatever they tell you to keep, keep and do. But do not do according to their works, for they say, and do not do.
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger.
Mat 23:5 And they do all their works to be seen by men. And they make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their robes.
Mat 23:6 And they love the first couch in the suppers, and the first seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 and the greetings in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Mat 23:8 But do not you be called Rabbi, for One is your Leader, the Christ, and you are all brothers.
Mat 23:9 And call no one your father on earth, for One is your Father, the One in Heaven.
Mat 23:10 Nor be called leaders, for One is your Leader, the Christ.
Mat 23:11 But the greater of you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 And whoever will exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever will humble himself shall be exalted.
Mat 23:13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven before men; for you do not enter, nor do you allow those entering to go in.
Mat 23:14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour the houses of widows, and pray at length as a pretext. Because of this you will receive more abundant judgment.
Mat 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you go about the sea and the dry land to make one proselyte; and when he has become so, you make him twofold more a son of Hell than yourselves.
Mat 23:16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the Holy Place, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Holy Place is a debtor.
Mat 23:17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the Holy Place that sanctifies the gold?
Mat 23:18 And you say, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift on it, he is a debtor.
Mat 23:19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
Mat 23:20 Then the one swearing by the altar swears by it, and by all things on it.
Mat 23:21 And the one swearing by the Holy Place swears by it, and by the One dwelling in it.
Mat 23:22 And the one swearing by Heaven swears by the throne of God, and by the One sitting on it.
Mat 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and you have left aside the weightier matters of the Law: judgment, and mercy, and faith. It was right to do these, and not to have left those aside.
Mat 23:24 Blind guides, straining out the gnat, but swallowing the camel!
Mat 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within they are full of robbery and excess.
Mat 23:26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside of them may become clean also.
Mat 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened graves which outwardly indeed appear beautiful, but within are full of bones of the dead, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Mat 23:29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous.
Mat 23:30 And you say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Mat 23:31 So you witness to yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.
Mat 23:32 And you fill up the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33 Serpents! Offspring of vipers! How shall you escape the judgment of Hell?
Mat 23:34 Because of this, behold, I send to you prophets and wise ones and scribes. And some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and will persecute from city to city;
Mat 23:35 so that should come on you all the righteous blood poured out on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the Holy Place and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Truly I say to you, All these things will come on this generation.
Mat 23:37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one killing the prophets and stoning those sent to her. How often I desired to gather your children in the way a bird gathers her chicks under her wings! And you did not desire it.
Mat 23:38 Behold, “your house is left to you desolate.” Jer. 22:5
Mat 23:39 For I say to you, In no way shall you see Me from now on, until you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Psa. 118:26
Mat 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Mat 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Luk 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.
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Mat 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Mat 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Garments of white versus whitewashed tombs
Mat 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened graves which outwardly indeed appear beautiful, but within are full of bones of the dead, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Rom 3:10 according as it has been written, “There is not a righteous one, not even one!”
Luk 16:15 And He said to them, You are those justifying yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for the thing highly prized among men is a hateful thing before God.
Pro 30:12 a generation pure in its own eyes, and yet not washed from its own filth.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
False righteousness is as unclean rags. The only righteousness we can have that is acceptable in the sight of YHWH is the blood of the lamb.
Exo 12:22 And take a bunch of hyssop and dip in the blood in the basin. And touch some of the blood in the basin to the lintel and on the two doorposts. And you shall not go out, anyone from the door of his house until morning.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Hyssop, washing & white garments
Psa 51:2 Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Isa 1:16 Wash yourselves, purify yourselves. Put away the evil of your doings from My sight; stop doing evil.
Isa 1:17 Learn to do good, seek justice, straighten the oppressor, judge the orphan, strive for the widow.
Isa 1:18 Come now and let us reason together, says YHWH: Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as the crimson, they shall be like wool.
YHWH our Righteousness
Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Isa 1:16 Wash yourselves, purify yourselves. Put away the evil of your doings from My sight; stop doing evil. (baptism)
Isa 1:17 Learn to do good, seek justice, straighten the oppressor*, judge the orphan, strive for the widow. (walking in the Spirit/obedience)
Isa 1:18 Come now and let us reason together, says YHWH: Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as the crimson, they shall be like wool.
The word for oppressor in the above verse is חמוץ ‘chamots’ meaning soured.
This brings forth a deeper meaning of why Messiah warned believers of the leaven of the Pharisees. Throughout history, the greatest oppressions have come as a result of religion and religious leaders. Those who justify themselves because they have outwardly righteous garments. Inside they are full of wickedness and lawlessness and do not know that their garments are filthy and stinking in the eyes of the Most High.
It is during the season of unleavened bread that we are to seek to rid ourselves of hypocrisy/leaven and the false teachings/false religious authority that we have allowed to dominate our lives. Jesus the Christ alone is our righteousness. He alone is our salvation. He alone is our hope. He alone is what unites us through the covenant. Not man. Not religion. Not doctrine.
Leaven & Zeal
In Greek, the word for leaven is ζυμόω ‘zumoō’ which comes from the root word ζέω ‘zeo’ which means to boil with heat, fervency in the spirit or zeal.
In Greek, the word for leaven is ζυμόω ‘zumoō’ which comes from the root word ζέω ‘zeo’ which means to boil with heat, fervency in the spirit or zeal.
Zeal can be good or bad depending upon the source, God or the carnal flesh. Messiah offered Himself for us that we might be zealous for good works.
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Zealous in love or zealous in hate (envy)
“Unity in the body of Christ does not rest on uniformity, but on our common ‘blood,’ which is the blood of Christ. We are now members of one family, and that identity cannot be taken from us, no matter how much we disagree or quarrel”. (The Gospel in Human Contexts – Paul Hiebert pg 193)
Division comes as a result of man’s carnal nature inherited from the first Adam when he partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam was given dominion over the earth, or headship (Genesis 1:26) but when he allowed the serpent to creep into the garden and partook of the fruit of which he was commanded not to, he forfeited this dominion (Luke 4:6). Messiah Jesus overcame the dominion of the enemy (Colossians 2:15; Acts 2:23-36) and is now the only Head on this earth (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23; Psalm 18:43). Today we see division amongst men because they put other men as their heads. We must not submit to other men as Jesus alone is our head and we are all brethren (Matthew 23:8) called to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).
We must stop appointing men as our heads and dividing into little cliques based upon the knowledge and doctrine of men. We must stop accusing one another over doctrine and cutting off other members of the body of Messiah because they don’t agree with us in every doctrine.
1Co 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
The word for “envying” in 1 Corinthians 3:3 is ζῆλος ‘zēlos’ which also means zealousness. Zealousness for God’s truth is great (Revelation 3:19; Titus 2:14), but we must be careful that this zealousness does not turn into carnal envy. Although we have been given God’s Spirit, we still have sin dwelling in our carnal flesh (Romans 7:11, 17-18). Carnality is carnality whether or not it is disguised as religion or not. Sadly, many times our zealousness for God can be used by satan to lead us into persecution of one another in the guise of religious zeal (Acts 22:3-4; Philippians 3:6; Romans 10:2-4).
Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying {ζῆλος ‘zēlos’} and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Jas 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Love envies not
1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
When we walk in God’s love we realize that we do not have the corner market on truth. As a result we must be patient with one another focusing on faith, hope and love. Recall that these three things constitute the armor of God, in specific His breastplate of righteousness (1 Thessalonians 5:8-9). It is in this love that we can stand (Ephesians 6:11-18; Romans 5:1-2).
Knowledge puffs us up and leads to division. Love does not puff us up, love edifies (1 Corinthians 4:4-7; 13:4; Colossians 2:18-19)
1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Eph 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Leaven & Authority
The word for leaven {שאר ‘se`ar’} comes from the root word סר ‘sar.’ The word means to turn something to another direction as a ruler does his people, and a teacher or parent his student or son. It is connected to binding, as in a yoke put to the neck of oxen to drive then in the direction which you wish them to go. Leaven in the Scripture is a picture of teaching and doctrine. It is used to drive men in the direction to which the doctrine teaches.
The Kingdom of Heaven is to be kneaded into the hearts of men leading them to turn into the right direction and be yoked with Messiah.
Mat 13:33 He spoke another parable to them: The kingdom of Heaven is compared to leaven, which taking, a woman hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened.
Some religious leaders, by their doctrine, yoke men to themselves and attempt to lead them to their ways…usually away from the Kingdom.
Mat 16:6 And Jesus said to them, Watch and take heed from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Mat 16:7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, Because we did not take loaves.
Mat 16:8 And knowing, Jesus said to them, Why do you reason among yourselves because you took no loaves, little-faiths?
Mat 16:9 Do you not perceive nor recall the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many hand baskets you took up?
Mat 16:10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many lunch baskets you took up?
Mat 16:11 How do you not perceive that it was not about loaves that I said to you to take heed from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
Mat 16:12 Then they knew that He did not say to take heed from the leaven of bread, but from the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Luk 12:1 At which time the myriads of the crowd being gathered together, so as to trample on one another, He began to say to His disciples first, Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger.
Luk 11:52 Woe to you, lawyers! Because you took the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you kept out the ones entering.
Gal 5:7 You were running well; who held you back that you do not obey the truth?
Gal 5:8 The persuasion is not from Him calling you.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leavens all the lump.
Believers are to be without the leaven of the religious and worldly systems.
1Co 5:6 Your boast is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens all the lump?
1Co 5:7 Then purge out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For also Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.
1Co 5:8 So let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of malice and of evil, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
This is what the New Covenant is all about. Being born again (new lump), with God’s Word written in your heart where He can work through you as you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Messiah Jesus is the Authority of His covenant people (1 Corinthians 11:3; 15:24-28; Ephesians 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18-19). He guides them through His Spirit (John 14:16, 24-26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36:26-28; 1 John 2:20, 27)….this is the “leaven” doctrine of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:33).
The Hebrew word סר ‘sar,’ (the root of שאר ‘se`ar’} also means one who is in authority. Israel (the people of God) are those who rule {סרה ‘sarah’} with God….They are born again, a new lump, “leavened” with the Holy Spirit/Word of God/Kingdom.
This is the ‘leaven’ that is ‘baked’ into the two wave loaves offered on Shavuot/Pentecost.
Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
Lev 23:17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven {חמץ ‘chamets’}; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
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