PUT AWAY LEAVEN

In the Old Testament when the Israelites were about to leave Egypt, God instructed them through Moses, to observe the fourteenth day of the first month, to put away leaven out . of their houses and to eat unleavened bread for seven days (Ex 12:15-20).

 

The New Testament tells us that leaven signifies:

 

1. Heresy (Mt 16:12; Gal 5:9)

2. Hypocrisy (Lk 12:1)

3. Malice and Evil (1Cor 5:8)

 

From this we understand why God commanded them to put away leaven. He desired them to:

1. Reject heresy and hold fast to the truth;

2. Renounce hypocrisy and seek sincerity; ·

3. Remove malice and evil, and keep holiness.

 

These three ideas are now expanded further:

 

1. Reject heresy.

a. Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt 16:12).

b. Jude directed· the believers, "to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).

c. Paul rebuked those demanding circumcision of Christians (Gal 5:1-12).

d. Paul also advised believers to avoid godless gossip, knowing that it was upsetting some people's faith (2Tim 2:17-18).

 

2 Renounce hypocrisy.

The following examples show God's desire for us to be honest.

 

a. Saul disobeyed God's command, and when he was admonished by the prophet, passed the blame onto his people. Although he later acknowledged the transgression of the commandment, he was not forgiven for his dishonesty (1 Sam 15).

b. David committed a sin as serious as that of Saul, but he was forgiven for his honest repentance (2 Sam 12:3).

c. Ananias and his wife Sapphira died for lying to the Holy Spirit about their offering (Acts 5:1-11 ).

d. Jesus denounced the Pharisees, seven times with "woe to you", because of their hypocrisy (Mt 23: 13-36).

3. Remove malice and evil.

 

Our Lord is a jealous God, who dislikes evil.

 

a. Phinehas hated evil in the same way God hates. evil. Before the Israelites, he killed the Israelite man and the Midianite woman who had committed adultery. Thus, he calmed the anger of God and the plaque was immediately withdrawn (Num 25:6-13).

 

b. When Achan alone sinned, transgressing the Lord's covenant, God's anger was kindled against all Israel and as such they were defeated by their enemies (Josh 7:1-25). However, as soon as Achan was destroyed, Israel captured the city of Ai easily, and destroyed their enemies (Josh 7:25-8:29).

 

In order to defend the truth, we must reject heresies and hold fast the faith. To stand firmly before the Lord, we have to renounce hypocrisy and pursue integrity. TQ destroy the fortress of the devil, we must remove malice and evil and keep holiness. Let us remember the teaching. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9).