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The Leaven of the Pharisees

January 1, 2024

Hypocritical Holiness “He spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,and set all others at nought” (Luke 18:9, from the ASV unless otherwise noted). Jesus said to his disciples first, “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1). Thus, this lesson is especially for us. Jesus warned us also against the leavens of the Sadducees (Zadokites) and Herodians (Matthew 16:6‑12, Mark 8:15) but each time emphasized the leaven of the Pharisees. […]

Beware the Leaven of Herod

January 1, 2024

Politics and the Church “There came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence; for Herod would fain kill thee. And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am perfected” (Luke 13:31‑32 ASV). — Kome Ajise The leaven of Herod is not a common phrase compared to the more familiar leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. In Matthew 16, our […]

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

January 1, 2024

The Leaven of Character Jewish and Christian Perspectives (Exodus 12, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). “For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel” (Exodus 12:15, quotations from BibleGateway NIV, except as noted). — Ken Osterman The “Feast of Unleavened Bread” is intimately associated with the Passover. In the ancient custom, […]

Unleavened Offerings

January 1, 2024

How We Are to Offer “Now when anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it” (Leviticus 2:1, scriptures from NASB unless otherwise noted). — Ray Charlton Unleavened Bread The first mention of unleavened bread is in Genesis when two angels came to Lot in Sodom. Lot offered them the opportunity to stay in his house rather than in the town square. […]

An Unleavened Character

January 1, 2024

Towards Incorruption “Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ” (1 Corinthians 5:7 ASV). — Brent Hislop Given that throughout scripture, leaven is used as a symbol of sin, the concept of a Christian having an unleavened character would seem to suggest that the Christian leads a life free of sin. This, of course, is not the case. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we […]