“Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread” (Exodus 12:17 NIV). Leavening is the process of aerating bread dough. Typically the leavening agent is yeast, a microorganism from the fungi kingdom which is used to turn starches and sugars into carbon dioxide. Most strains of yeast reproduce exponentially when introduced to the right environment, such as flour and water. Leavening is mentioned in many places in the Bible. It is used in the Old Testament as a commandment as well as an illustration tool in the New Testament. Close examination will show that it has the same figurative meaning in both scenarios.

The Israelites were to consecrate their homes by removing any leavening in preparation for the Passover. This meant that they would have to eat unleavened bread which is dense due to its lack of aeration. The Passover is one of many instances of foreshadowing the sacrifice that would be made by Christ in order to cover over man’s sins. “…Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7 NIV). Removing the yeast from their homes was a demonstration of submission to God. Not only that, but it was a way of rooting out evil from their midst. “…whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born” (Exodus 12:19 NIV). If they were not willing to submit in this small way, then how could they possibly devote themselves to God?

Today, we are still to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. “…let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8 NIV). The old yeast is the ways of the Pharisees, which is evil. Paul recognized that the unleavened bread of this Feast is symbolic of sincerity and truth, which should be hallmarks of the life of every Christian (Vince Szymkowiak). We are not bound by the law to celebrate this in the manor that the Israelites did; however, Paul meant that our lives should demonstrate our celebration of the feast, of the sacrifice which Christ made on the cross.

Christ says that the teaching of the Pharisees is leavening and that a little bit of that leavening will work through the whole dough. “…be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:11 NIV). The yeast of the Pharisees is malice and wickedness. We should not entertain thoughts other than what God commanded of us. Like the dough, evil ways will penetrate all aspects of our lives if we accept just a little. Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Trying to live mostly right is not what is desired by God. We are to repent of sin in all areas of our lives in order to fulfill the purpose for which we were called, to glorify God. If we can demonstrate repentance in all aspects of our lives, only then can we fulfill what God chose us to do, “to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4).

Remember that “a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough” (Galatians 5:9 NIV). Just as the Israelites consecrated their lives before they celebrated the Passover, we too must consecrate our lives in order to give God the glory which he is due.

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