Topical Bible: The Feast of the Passover: Leaven: Not to be in Their Houses During

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The Feast of the Passover, also known as Pesach, is one of the most significant observances in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Central to this feast is the commandment concerning leaven, which holds profound spiritual and symbolic significance.

Biblical Commandment

The instruction regarding leaven is explicitly stated in the Book of Exodus. God commanded the Israelites to remove all leaven from their homes during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover. Exodus 12:15 states, "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you must remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel."

This command is reiterated in Exodus 12:19 : "For seven days there must be no leaven found in your houses. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreigner or native of the land, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel."

Symbolism of Leaven

Leaven, or yeast, is often used in the Bible as a symbol of sin and corruption due to its fermenting properties, which cause dough to rise and expand. The removal of leaven from the home during Passover symbolizes the purging of sin and the pursuit of holiness. This act serves as a reminder of the purity and sanctification required by God.

The Apostle Paul draws on this symbolism in the New Testament, urging believers to live a life free from the "leaven" of malice and wickedness. In 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 , Paul writes, "Get rid of the old leaven, so 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."

Practical Observance

In practical terms, the removal of leaven involves a thorough cleansing of the home, ensuring that no leavened products remain. This includes bread, cakes, and any food containing yeast or other leavening agents. The process, known as "bedikat chametz," is a meticulous search for leaven, often conducted with a candle or flashlight to illuminate hidden corners.

The absence of leaven during Passover is a tangible expression of obedience to God's commandments and a reflection of the Israelites' haste in leaving Egypt, as they did not have time to let their bread rise. Exodus 12:39 recounts, "They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was without leaven because they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay; they had not prepared any provisions for themselves."

Spiritual Reflection

For Christians, the Feast of Passover and the removal of leaven serve as a powerful reminder of Christ's sacrifice and the call to live a life of purity. The absence of leaven is not merely a ritualistic practice but a profound spiritual exercise that points to the redemptive work of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 12:19
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whoever eats that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Preparation for Passover. Disciples Contend for Precedence.
... To the present day leaven is removed from the houses ... chamber, where I shall eat the
passover with my ... their houses for guests during this feast, and therefore ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxvii preparation for passover disciples.htm

Spiritual Meaning of the Passover.
... of sincerity and truth." Whether there be any passover and any feast of leaven beyond
the ... and on the lintels in the houses, in which we eat the passover. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/13 spiritual meaning of the.htm

Easter Sunday
... their departure, that they should eat the Passover the night ... that on the first evening
of the feast they must put out of their houses all leaven and leavened ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

Christ Our Passover
... and so, though impure, and full of leaven, I may be ... concerning the man who went unto
the feast, not having on a ... was held in Egypt, the second Passover was held ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ our passover.htm

The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ...
... For 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 ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the teaching of matthew.htm

In the House of his Heavenly, and in the Home of his Earthly ...
... other questions might arise on the subject of the Passover. ... the first time taking
part in the feast of the ... pervade the mass with the new leaven; not cast it ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x in the house.htm

Index i. Of Subjects
... the tares, 589-592; the mustard?seed and leaven, 592-594; ... the preparations for the
Feast, 479, 480; ... what rendered unfit to eat the Passover, 566-568; ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/index i of subjects.htm

How the Abbot Ceolfrid Sent Master-Builders to the King of the ...
... Seven days shall there be no leaven, found in your houses ... called the Lord's day,
and the Paschal feast of His ... we endeavour with Him to keep the Passover, that is ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxi how the abbot.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... cheer and boisterous merriment which it brought; the feast of Tabernacles ... chiefest
of feasts, the week of the Passover, when, all leaven being carefully ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

Leviticus
... use of salt compulsory, honey and leaven prohibited (ii ... in the year, beginning with
spring"the passover, regarded as preliminary to the feast of unleavened ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm