BEWARE OF LEAVEN (Sin), EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD AND LIVE

[BroTan]

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was formally introduced to the children of Israel upon their departure from Egypt, was rooted in a message from God going back to the beginning of time. That message, which was given to Adam, is simply “eating the wrong stuff will kill you”. (Here we are speaking about spiritual eating; however, God does have a physical dietary law, which is important as well.) And no we are not talking about eating an apple. We are commanded by God to abstain from leavening and to eat unleavened bread for seven days every spring, at the beginning of God’s year cycle (immediately after the Passover…Exodus 12:13-15). God is not a vain God and he is not in the business of just giving us something to do to pass time. Therefore, we should realize that this observance has great significance, even as it pertains to our salvation. By observing this feast we acknowledge our abstinence from sinful ways (leavening) and show our commitment to true worship (unleavened) of God. We all must reach this crossroad in our life, just as Israel reached it, after leaving Egypt. They immediately ate only unleavened bread (Exodus 12:39) signifying the beginning of their new walk with God.

Notice that this observance came on the heels of Israel’s redemption by the blood of the Passover lamb. Well, Jesus is the Passover lamb and he died on this very day (the Passover…Matthew 26:1,2). Either this was quite a coincidence or God is revealing his perfect plan to us. After we come under the blood of Jesus, by baptism, we must be committed to walking with him in truth (unleavened bread), leaving behind all falsehood (leavening). Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. 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; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Corinthians 5:7,8).

Oh’ what a wonderful God we serve, who after he redeems us, tells us how the redeemed must walk to get life. Praise God! Many people believe that this feast along with God’s other Holy Days have been done away with. Why would God do away with his Perfect plan? Only Satan would promote such teaching, as he did with Adam and Eve after God had given them specific instructions. Many attempt to make this commandment too hard to fulfill, but how hard is it to change the bread you eat for one week? If we can buy a tree, haul it home, set it up and decorate it, which God never commanded, surely we can keep this feast, which he did command.

 

[Dirtman]

Jesus is the bread of life, the unleavened bread and is given to us each time we gather together and eat the body of Jesus given to us in the unleavened bread and drink his blood given to us in the wine ; proclaiming his death until He returns.

 

[oyster67]

Praise God! Many people believe that this feast along with God’s other Holy Days have been done away with. Why would God do away with his Perfect plan? Only Satan would promote such teaching, as he did with Adam and Eve after God had given them specific instructions. Many attempt to make this commandment too hard to fulfill, but how hard is it to change the bread you eat for one week?

All these things are done as commemorations and remembrances. They are not the important things themselves, but rather pointers to the important things. The precious saving Blood was shed once and for all time 2000 years ago.

 

[Hazelelponi]

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was formally introduced to the children of Israel upon their departure from Egypt, was rooted in a message from God going back to the beginning of time. That message, which was given to Adam, is simply “eating the wrong stuff will kill you”. (Here we are speaking about spiritual eating; however, God does have a physical dietary law, which is important as well.) And no we are not talking about eating an apple. We are commanded by God to abstain from leavening and to eat unleavened bread for seven days every spring, at the beginning of God’s year cycle (immediately after the Passover…Exodus 12:13-15). God is not a vain God and he is not in the business of just giving us something to do to pass time. Therefore, we should realize that this observance has great significance, even as it pertains to our salvation. By observing this feast we acknowledge our abstinence from sinful ways (leavening) and show our commitment to true worship (unleavened) of God. We all must reach this crossroad in our life, just as Israel reached it, after leaving Egypt. They immediately ate only unleavened bread (Exodus 12:39) signifying the beginning of their new walk with God.

Notice that this observance came on the heels of Israel’s redemption by the blood of the Passover lamb. Well, Jesus is the Passover lamb and he died on this very day (the Passover…Matthew 26:1,2). Either this was quite a coincidence or God is revealing his perfect plan to us. After we come under the blood of Jesus, by baptism, we must be committed to walking with him in truth (unleavened bread), leaving behind all falsehood (leavening). Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. 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; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Corinthians 5:7,8).

Oh’ what a wonderful God we serve, who after he redeems us, tells us how the redeemed must walk to get life. Praise God! Many people believe that this feast along with God’s other Holy Days have been done away with. Why would God do away with his Perfect plan? Only Satan would promote such teaching, as he did with Adam and Eve after God had given them specific instructions. Many attempt to make this commandment too hard to fulfill, but how hard is it to change the bread you eat for one week? If we can buy a tree, haul it home, set it up and decorate it, which God never commanded, surely we can keep this feast, which he did command.

Actually I'm going to disagree with you here somewhat.

In Scripture the Greek word used for “bread” in the New Testament in relation to the Lord’s Supper is not azymos, the term for unleavened bread, but artos, the word for “a small round loaf of ordinary bread.”

In Church History all of the early church used ordinary leavened bread for the Lord's Supper, likening Christ to the leaven of the New Covenant.

At some point post 1000 AD the church of Rome switched to unleavened bread, most believe it was likely a matter of convenience at that time, while eastern churches continued the use of leavening.

During the Reformation leavened bread was mainly used by the reformers, the church of England being an exception.

In Matthew 13 we see Christ give a parable likening yeast to the Kingdom of Heaven in a positive manner:

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33

We no longer celebrate the Exodus because we no longer wander in the desert. Now we have the Messiah risen from the dead, and He is the leaven of the Church.

And we do this in remembrance of Him, no longer a reminder of the desert wandering.

 

[JaumeJ]

Basically speaking, I do not believe when the Lord said do this in memory of me, he had leavened bread in His Passover meal, not for a moment.

There are many works of art depcting the last supper with loaves of leavened bread, however they go right along with the stature of Moses in the Vatican depcting him with horns. The latter is due to the mistranslation of when Moses descended the Mount having rayes emitting from his head,. It was mistranslateed as horns emintting from his head.

Unleavened bread, besides being the Body of Jesus Yeshua, is also the pure Word learned by the Holy Spirit. Unhappily people have added much leavening to the Word over the centuries, and this will be remedied when our blessed Savior returns. He will wipe away every tear.

 

[JohnDB]

But things have changed since then....

Today we have King Cake or 12th Night cake. This is a sort of bread filled with sweet things (like dried fruit or whatever) and either a "bean" or baby that one lucky person gets to find in their piece. It requires yeast to rise.

It's been made from all sorts of doughs. From danish dough to regular sweet dough...but all have yeast.

However.....
A passover week with a culminative Sedar is illustrative of what is acceptable to God.
There are a lot of rituals surrounding this....but still focusing on things like "self Righteousness" (yeast) that you sell off for charity.
But the main focus is on preparing yourself for an Exodus by preparing to meet God on your journey and traveling with him. Be careful to everything and be clean spiritually in every fashion...one bad attitude and it's the end for you.

Or we could be one of the "Cool Kids Club" and hang out with Jesus as one of his friends. He will intercede with the Father on our behalf. Because finding the baby Jesus in a king cake is always lucky.

 

[Adstar]

Leaven is not sin.. Leaven is false doctrines, traditions of men, preached by men to other men claiming their traditions are the word of God..

(Matthew 16:11-12) "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? {12} Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

 

[BroTan]

Actually I'm going to disagree with you here somewhat.

In Scripture the Greek word used for “bread” in the New Testament in relation to the Lord’s Supper is not azymos, the term for unleavened bread, but artos, the word for “a small round loaf of ordinary bread.”

In Church History all of the early church used ordinary leavened bread for the Lord's Supper, likening Christ to the leaven of the New Covenant.

At some point post 1000 AD the church of Rome switched to unleavened bread, most believe it was likely a matter of convenience at that time, while eastern churches continued the use of leavening.

During the Reformation leavened bread was mainly used by the reformers, the church of England being an exception.

In Matthew 13 we see Christ give a parable likening yeast to the Kingdom of Heaven in a positive manner:

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33

We no longer celebrate the Exodus because we no longer wander in the desert. Now we have the Messiah risen from the dead, and He is the leaven of the Church.

And we do this in remembrance of Him, no longer a reminder of the desert wandering.

The Apostle Paul and other Apostles didn’t do away with the Lord’s feasts. To the contrary, they knew the importance of these days and continued to observe them, even after Jesus was resurrected. Paul said, “...I must by all means keep this feast...” (Acts 18:21) and it is also written, “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread...” (Acts 20: 6). Obviously Paul understood what a lot of people don’t understand today, and that is The Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be observed “by an ordinance forever” (Exodus 12:17). This observance is so important to God; he issued it with the death penalty if ignored. “...for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel” (Exodus 12:15).

 

[BroTan]

All these things are done as commemorations and remembrances. They are not the important things themselves, but rather pointers to the important things. The precious saving Blood was shed once and for all time 2000 years ago.

I understand but the Apostle Paul and other Apostles didn’t do away with the Lord’s feasts. To the contrary, they knew the importance of these days and continued to observe them, even after Jesus was resurrected. Paul said, “...I must by all means keep this feast...” (Acts 18:21) and it is also written, “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread...” (Acts 20: 6). Obviously Paul understood what a lot of people don’t understand today, and that is The Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be observed “by an ordinance forever” (Exodus 12:17). This observance is so important to God; he issued it with the death penalty if ignored. “...for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel” (Exodus 12:15).

Many people who choose to ignore this feast should reexamine their teaching. Unfortunately, the majority of people (many are called but few are chosen) have not learned that there is only one true way to worship God. We leave you with the same warning Jesus gave to his Apostles, “...Take heed and beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6, 12). Observing this great feast is a sign that you are worshipping the true God correctly. Praise God! Remember Jesus says in Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

[BroTan]

Jesus is the bread of life, the unleavened bread and is given to us each time we gather together and eat the body of Jesus given to us in the unleavened bread and drink his blood given to us in the wine ; proclaiming his death until He returns.

Jesus gave to his Apostles, “...Take heed and beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6, 12). Observing this great feast is a sign that you are worshipping the true God correctly. Praise God! Remember Jesus says in Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Leaven is sin and we know that Paul says in Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Apostle Paul and other Apostles didn’t do away with the Lord’s feasts. To the contrary, they knew the importance of these days and continued to observe them, even after Jesus was resurrected. Paul said, “...I must by all means keep this feast...” (Acts 18:21) and it is also written, “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread...” (Acts 20: 6). Obviously Paul understood what a lot of people don’t understand today, and that is The Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be observed “by an ordinance forever” (Exodus 12:17).

 

[BroTan]

So the Unleavened Bread we want to eat is that spiritual bread that is from Christ. Jesus says in John 6: 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

I know many people believe on the name of Jesus, but you have to come to Jesus in faith and do his will as Jesus did the will of the father. One of the first things Jesus said was to repent.

Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Eating off this bread which is Jesus is a spiritual meal brothers and sisters. This is a daily meal we must eat consistently. Because learning about the living God is a life long journey.

 

[Amanuensis]

I am not sure what you just said. Are you trying to teach that eating things that involve yeast will kill us?

Are you suggesting that tacos are bad? Because if you are I am going to have to put you in the heresy column right now.

 

[oyster67]

I understand but the Apostle Paul and other Apostles didn’t do away with the Lord’s feasts. To the contrary, they knew the importance of these days and continued to observe them, even after Jesus was resurrected.

That is ok , as long as we do these things as a remembrance and not in the thinking that they are for maintaining our state of salvation.

only one true way to worship God.

Yes. And that is in Spirit and in Truth, not in rituals. Jesus did away with these things when He went to the cross. Now we only practice these things as remembrances (and that is all well and good.)

“...Take heed and beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6, 12)

A big "Amen!" to that.

 

[oyster67]

So the Unleavened Bread we want to eat is that spiritual bread that is from Christ.

Amen. And that does not consist of any physical ritual like Bread Eating or Water Baptism. There is nothing wrong with these things so long as they are kept in their proper context.

 

[oyster67]

Eating off this bread which is Jesus is a spiritual meal brothers and sisters. This is a daily meal we must eat consistently. Because learning about the living God is a life long journey.

Yes.

Amen.

 

[Dirtman]

Colossians 2:16–17 (LEB): 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with reference to eating or drinking or participation in a feast or a new moon or a Sabbath, 17 which are a shadow of what is to come, but the reality is Christ.

Reading of coarse the whole context of Colossians, you see these feast are mere shadows of a substance. That substance being Christ himself.
Also see Hebrews 10.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Leaven is not sin. Leaven is false doctrines...

Leaven is BOTH sin and false doctrine (which is also sin). The "old leaven" is called malice and wickedness (which basically includes all sins).

Leaven was always a symbol for sin. Therefore only unleavened bread properly represents the sinless body of Christ. Which also means that unfermented grape juice properly represents the pure blood of Christ. It is significant to note that whenever the Lord's Supper is mentioned it is always "the cup" not "wine" (even though the word "wine" can mean unfermented grape juice). Thus "The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?".

 

[Amanuensis]

Leaven is BOTH sin and false doctrine (which is also sin). The "old leaven" is called malice and wickedness (which basically includes all sins).

Leaven was always a symbol for sin. Therefore only unleavened bread properly represents the sinless body of Christ. Which also means that unfermented grape juice properly represents the pure blood of Christ. It is significant to note that whenever the Lord's Supper is mentioned it is always "the cup" not "wine" (even though the word "wine" can mean unfermented grape juice). Thus "The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?".

I don't agree that leaven is always a symbol for sin in every reference in the bible.

It was used in daily life to make bread. They ate it. It was not bad. It was used as an example in a parable about how the kingdom of God would spread just like yeast in a small measure can make enough bread rise to feed a hundred people. Jesus used something out of daily life about a woman in her kitchen everyone was familiar with and he wasn't talking about sin filling the church like it is often taught because someone forced the yeast to be sin in the parable like an allegory instead of a parable. The lesson of the parable was that the kingdom of God would start small with a small group of followers and spread throughout the whole world and fill the earth.

I know people like to say that the parable is about the church becoming apostate but the Kingdom of God stands true regardless of what sinners do and the Kingdom of God is never full of sin. The Kingdom of God will fill the earth and the apostates wont be able to stand against it. There is no Kingdom of God that is defeated by sin. Any attempt to explain it is just evidence of not understanding Jesus parable that like yeast will spread throughout the loaf so will the Kingdom of God through the evangelism of the believers from the day of Pentecost on. Apostates won't stop it.

 

[mustaphadrink]

Jesus is the bread of life, the unleavened bread and is given to us each time we gather together and eat the body of Jesus given to us in the unleavened bread and drink his blood given to us in the wine ; proclaiming his death until He returns.

How do I eat the body of Jesus? How do I drink his blood?

 

[Nehemiah6]

I know people like to say that the parable is about the church becoming apostate but the Kingdom of God stands true regardless of what sinners do and the Kingdom of God is never full of sin.

Sorry, but in this parable leaven is definitely connected with apostasy and false doctrine. Yes, leaven was used to make bread but at the end of the day God instituted the Passover (with unleavened bread) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (practically one feast extending for many days) to teach Israel and Christians that sin and corruption must be purged out of their lives. We need to go behind the symbols. And Paul plainly equates leaven with MALICE AND WICKEDNESS. End of story.