Topical Bible: Leaven: Malice and Wickedness

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In biblical literature, leaven is often used metaphorically to represent the pervasive and corrupting influence of sin, particularly malice and wickedness. This symbolism is rooted in the ancient practice of using leaven, or yeast, to ferment dough, causing it to rise. Just as a small amount of leaven affects an entire batch of dough, so too can sin infiltrate and corrupt an individual or community.

The Apostle Paul explicitly uses this metaphor in his first letter to the Corinthians. Addressing issues of immorality within the church, he writes, "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 old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Here, Paul contrasts the corrupting influence of malice and wickedness with the purity and sincerity expected of believers, drawing a parallel to the Jewish practice of removing leaven from their homes during Passover.

The imagery of leaven as a symbol of sin is also present in the teachings of Jesus. In the Gospels, Jesus warns His disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6). This warning is later clarified as a caution against their teachings and hypocrisy, which can lead to spiritual corruption.

In the Old Testament, the concept of leaven is similarly associated with impurity and sin. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites were commanded to remove all leaven from their homes as a sign of their separation from the corruption of Egypt and their commitment to holiness before God (Exodus 12:15-20). This practice served as a physical reminder of the need to purge sin from their lives.

The metaphor of leaven as malice and wickedness underscores the importance of vigilance in maintaining spiritual purity. It serves as a reminder that even small compromises with sin can lead to greater corruption, affecting not only individuals but entire communities. The call to be "unleavened" is a call to live in sincerity and truth, reflecting the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice and the believer's new identity in Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Leaven.
... A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). By
expressly mentioning the leaven of malice and wickedness in connection with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/iv the leaven.htm

Easter Sunday
... also hath been sacrificed, even Christ: 8 wherefore let us keep the feast, not with
old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

But I Shall Select Examples of the Majestic Style from their ...
... even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 49 but i shall.htm

September 3 Morning
... even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/september 3 morning.htm

Spiritual Meaning of the Passover.
... leaven is made to disappear out of their houses; but "we keep the feast [5034] not
with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/13 spiritual meaning of the.htm

Gregory Nazianzen.
... from keeping a Feast to the Lord our God"the Feast of our Departure; or from
celebrating that Feast, not in the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but in ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/gregory nazianzen.htm

Festal Letters.
... Christ our Passover is sacrificed; therefore let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness [3903] .' If thou ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/i festal letters.htm

That He who Has Attained to Trust, Having Put Off the Former Man ...
... Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not in the old leaven, nor in the leaven of
malice and wickedness, but in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/11 that he who has.htm

Examples of the Various Styles, Drawn from the Teachers of the ...
... even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 21 examples of the various.htm

Matt. xii. 1
... to keep a feast all their life long; ("For let us keep the feast," it is said,
"not with old leaven, neither with leaven of malice and wickedness; but with ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxix matt xii 1.htm