Leavening, in biblical terms, refers to the process by which dough is fermented, causing it to rise and become light and porous. This process is typically achieved through the use of yeast or other fermenting agents. In the Scriptures, leavening holds significant symbolic meaning, often representing sin, corruption, and moral decay, but also occasionally symbolizing growth and the kingdom of God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, leaven is most prominently mentioned in the context of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast, instituted in Exodus 12:15-20, required the Israelites to remove all leaven from their homes and eat unleavened bread for seven days. This practice commemorated the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, not having time to let their bread rise. The removal of leaven symbolized the purging of sin and corruption, as seen in Exodus 12:15 : "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses, for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day must be cut off from Israel."

Leviticus 2:11 further underscores the symbolic nature of leaven in offerings: "No grain offering that you present to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire to the LORD." Here, leaven is excluded from offerings, reinforcing its association with impurity and corruption.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, leaven continues to carry symbolic weight. Jesus uses leaven metaphorically to warn against the corrupting influence of false teachings and hypocrisy. In Matthew 16:6 , Jesus cautions His disciples: "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." This warning highlights the pervasive and insidious nature of false doctrine and hypocrisy, which can spread and corrupt the entire community of believers.

The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of leaven in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 , Paul addresses the issue of immorality within the church: "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Here, Paul calls for the removal of sin from the community, drawing a parallel to the purging of leaven during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Positive Symbolism

While leaven is predominantly associated with negative connotations, it is also used positively in the New Testament to illustrate the growth and expansion of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 13:33 , Jesus presents a parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." In this context, leaven symbolizes the transformative power of the Gospel, which, though starting small, permeates and influences the entire world.

Conclusion

Leavening in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol with dual meanings. It represents the pervasive nature of sin and false teachings, necessitating vigilance and purity among God's people. Simultaneously, it illustrates the dynamic and expansive nature of God's Kingdom, highlighting the transformative impact of the Gospel. Through these varied uses, leavening underscores the importance of spiritual discernment and the call to holiness in the life of believers.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Leaven.

2. (n.) The act of making light, or causing to ferment, by means of leaven.

3. (n.) That which leavens or makes light.

From the Introduction of Methodism into the City of New York, in ...
... in low murmurings and secret whispers against the supposed wrongs and oppressions
of the mother country, when Methodism commenced its leavening influence on ...
/.../chapter 2 from the introduction.htm

The Corn of Wheat.
... religion. They suggest the importance for Christianity of the leavening process
which Judaism was accomplishing throughout the world. ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/iii the corn of wheat.htm

Introductory Note to the Writings of Justin Martyr
... the professional philosophers on a throne how false and hollow is all wisdom that
is not meant for all humanity, and that is not capable of leavening the masses ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/introductory note to the writings.htm

The Leaven.
... means channels may be opened for the admission of heat to every particle of the
dough, the result is practically the same as that which is obtained by leavening ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/iv the leaven.htm

The Cause of Spiritual Stupidity.
... as representing a hidden but potent and pervading energy: the kingdom of heaven,
he had told them, was like leaven hid in meal, gradually leavening the whole ...
/.../macdonald/unspoken sermons/the cause of spiritual stupidity.htm

Stand-Point of James as an Inspired Teacher, and his Relation to ...
... leaven, which, by an indwelling power alone and independently of all else, should
penetrate the life of humanity; in Jews and Gentiles alike leavening all and ...
/.../neander/the epistle of james practically explained/ 3 stand-point of james.htm

Secret Faults
... You see that on a large scale, for instance, in the history of the slow progress
which Christian principle has made in leavening the world's thinkings. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/secret faults.htm

Jesus and the Disciples
... If in many Christian families the children are not practically holy, if purity and
consecration are not leavening our Christian land, where after so many ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 9 28-37 jesus and the.htm

Rhoda
... In God's good time, and by the slow process of leavening society with Christian
ideas, that diabolical institution perished in Christian lands. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/rhoda.htm

Go into Peace
... The woman went home. I dare say it was a home, if what they said about her was true,
that sorely needed the leavening which she now would bring. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/go into peace.htm

Leavening (1 Occurrence)
... of leaven. 3. (n.) That which leavens or makes light. Multi-Version Concordance
Leavening (1 Occurrence). Hosea 7:4 All of them 'are ...
/l/leavening.htm - 7k

Leaveneth (2 Occurrences)

/l/leaveneth.htm - 6k

Leavens (2 Occurrences)

/l/leavens.htm - 6k

Ceases (10 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Hosea 7:4 All of them 'are' adulterers, Like a burning oven of a baker,
He ceaseth from stirring up after kneading the dough, till its leavening. ...
/c/ceases.htm - 9k

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... been their endeavor, and continued with increasing clearness and fervor, to develop
in Israel a conscience and stamina which should be a leavening power for ...
/j/jehoiakim.htm - 33k

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