Leavened bread, in biblical symbolism, often represents sin, corruption, and the pervasive nature of evil. The concept of leaven, or yeast, is used throughout Scripture to illustrate how a small amount of sin can permeate and influence a larger body, whether it be an individual, a community, or a nation.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, leaven is notably absent during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows Passover. This feast commemorates the Israelites' hasty departure from Egypt, during which they did not have time to let their bread rise. Exodus 12:15 commands, "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses, for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh must be cut off from Israel." Here, unleavened bread symbolizes purity and separation from the corruption of Egypt, representing a fresh start and a holy walk with God.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles use leaven as a metaphor for moral and doctrinal corruption. In Matthew 16:6 , Jesus warns His disciples, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." This leaven refers to the false teachings and hypocrisy of these religious leaders, which could spread and corrupt the true faith.

The Apostle Paul also employs the metaphor of leaven in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 , 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 the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Here, Paul emphasizes the need for the church to maintain purity and sincerity, free from the corrupting influence of sin.

Symbolism in Parables

Interestingly, Jesus also uses leaven in a positive sense in the Parable of the Leaven found in Matthew 13:33 : "He told them still another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.'" In this context, leaven symbolizes the transformative power of the Kingdom of God, which, though starting small, grows and influences the entire world.

Conclusion

The symbolism of leavened bread in the Bible is multifaceted, representing both the pervasive nature of sin and the transformative power of God's Kingdom. Understanding these symbolic uses helps believers discern the importance of purity and the impact of their faith in the world.