Before we can look at what the scriptures say about leaven lets take a look at how leaven works.
Leaven is a substance, typically yeast, that is added to dough to make it ferment and rise. When the dough has fully risen it is puffed up and it is leavened.
Jesus warned the disciples about two types of basic leaven.
1. Leaven of the Pharasees and Sadducees (These two were grouped together )
2. Leaven of Herod
Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
When the disciples thought that Jesus was talking about literal bread, Jesus explained to them that He was not talking about literal bread, but the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:12 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.
Let's look at an example of what Jesus spoke directly to the Pharisees and Sadducees to understand what that leaven pertains to.
Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Matthew 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Matthew 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Jesus explained that the commandant is to honor your father and your mother, but the Pharisees had taken that commandment and changed it to fit their own ideas.
So one example of what leaven is would be man attempting to change the word of God, or attempting to change the meaning of what God has spoken.
No man can override the word of God. When man attempts to change what God has spoken he is then walking by his own traditions. Again, No man can override the word of God. When we are not abiding in the word as it was spoken/written we then render it of "none effect." When God speaks, what HE says is set in place. We can walk in it, or we can step out of it, but we can't change what HE has spoken.
When a baker makes bread with leaven. It never starts out puffed up, but the baker adds leaven to it and over time it rises until it is completely leavened. The first two types of leaven listed in the scriptures always start off with compromise.
Now let's examine the leaven of Herod. In the following verse we see that Jesus spoke of the Pharisees and Herod in the same verse.
Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
In the example of Herod, we see that there was pride, very similar to the Pharisees and the scribes as they believed that they were righteous through their own traditions. In both cases, they were seeking the glory of men. Jesus explained this:
Luke 20:45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
Luke 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
Luke 20:47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
So we see that pride is a form of leaven, and seeking the glory of men is also leaven. We should be seeking the glory that comes only from God.
Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
The reward that Herod and the Scribes and Pharisees had received was the glory of men. But we should seek to be pleasing to God.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Paul talked about purging out the old leaven. Note: Paul was talking to believers here.
1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1 Corinthians 5:7 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:
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.
We know that only with Jesus can the old leaven be purged out, and then we are like a new lump of dough ready for the things of God.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Sin begins with a thought. When a desire that is sinful is in our thoughts, if we do not take it into captivity unto God that sinful desire is left to ferment and it grows until it is acted upon.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Let's look at the last type of leaven. This leaven is very different from the other types of leaven, as we see in the next verses.
Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life no man comes to the Father but by Him.
Studying His word prayerfully and leaning on Him rather than our own understanding is our direction. His word is truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
It is only with Jesus, by continuing in His word, being His disciples (being instructed by HIM,) and abiding in Him without the leaven of falsehoods, that we can mature and grow.
Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Psalms 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isaiah 28:26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
Isaiah 28:27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
Isaiah 28:29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Leaven is a substance, typically yeast, that is added to dough to make it ferment and rise. When the dough has fully risen it is puffed up and it is leavened.
Jesus warned the disciples about two types of basic leaven.
1. Leaven of the Pharasees and Sadducees (These two were grouped together )
2. Leaven of Herod
Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
When the disciples thought that Jesus was talking about literal bread, Jesus explained to them that He was not talking about literal bread, but the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:12 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.
Let's look at an example of what Jesus spoke directly to the Pharisees and Sadducees to understand what that leaven pertains to.
Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Matthew 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Matthew 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Jesus explained that the commandant is to honor your father and your mother, but the Pharisees had taken that commandment and changed it to fit their own ideas.
So one example of what leaven is would be man attempting to change the word of God, or attempting to change the meaning of what God has spoken.
No man can override the word of God. When man attempts to change what God has spoken he is then walking by his own traditions. Again, No man can override the word of God. When we are not abiding in the word as it was spoken/written we then render it of "none effect." When God speaks, what HE says is set in place. We can walk in it, or we can step out of it, but we can't change what HE has spoken.
When a baker makes bread with leaven. It never starts out puffed up, but the baker adds leaven to it and over time it rises until it is completely leavened. The first two types of leaven listed in the scriptures always start off with compromise.
Now let's examine the leaven of Herod. In the following verse we see that Jesus spoke of the Pharisees and Herod in the same verse.
Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
In the example of Herod, we see that there was pride, very similar to the Pharisees and the scribes as they believed that they were righteous through their own traditions. In both cases, they were seeking the glory of men. Jesus explained this:
Luke 20:45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
Luke 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
Luke 20:47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
So we see that pride is a form of leaven, and seeking the glory of men is also leaven. We should be seeking the glory that comes only from God.
Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
The reward that Herod and the Scribes and Pharisees had received was the glory of men. But we should seek to be pleasing to God.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Paul talked about purging out the old leaven. Note: Paul was talking to believers here.
1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1 Corinthians 5:7 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:
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.
We know that only with Jesus can the old leaven be purged out, and then we are like a new lump of dough ready for the things of God.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Sin begins with a thought. When a desire that is sinful is in our thoughts, if we do not take it into captivity unto God that sinful desire is left to ferment and it grows until it is acted upon.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Let's look at the last type of leaven. This leaven is very different from the other types of leaven, as we see in the next verses.
Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life no man comes to the Father but by Him.
Studying His word prayerfully and leaning on Him rather than our own understanding is our direction. His word is truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
It is only with Jesus, by continuing in His word, being His disciples (being instructed by HIM,) and abiding in Him without the leaven of falsehoods, that we can mature and grow.
Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Psalms 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isaiah 28:26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.
Isaiah 28:27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.
Isaiah 28:29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
Isaiah 28:17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
