1 Corinthians 5:6-13 Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? These verses lead us to look upon the true Church — I. IN ITS INTERNAL ENJOYMENTS. The association of Christly men is a "feast," because it contains the choicest elements for — 1. Spiritual nourishment. The quickening and elevating ideas current in such fellowships constitute a soul banquet, "a feast of fat things." 2. Spiritual gratification. What higher delight shall the loving intercourse of kindred souls. The true Church is not a melancholy assemblage, but is the most joyous fellowship on earth. II. IN ITS EXTERNAL RELATION TO THE UNGODLY. There is a connection with ungodly men — 1. That it must avoid. As the Jews put away leaven at the Passover, so all corrupt men must be excluded from the Church feasts. Their presence, like leaven, would be contagious. No Church that has such leaven in it has any occasion for exultation (ver. 6). 2. That it cannot avoid (ver. 10). You cannot attend to your temporal affairs without contact with the ungodly, and as Christians you are bound to go among them to do them good. Over such you have no jurisdiction; they are "without," and God is to judge them, not you. But if they creep into the Church you are to deal with them (ver. 11). Observe here — (1) That sin takes many forms. What is temptation to one man is not to another. One is tempted to be a "fornicator," another a "miser," &c. (2) In whatever form this leaven shows itself it must not be tolerated for one moment. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?WEB: Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump? |
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