How can we apply the principle of purity from Exodus 12:20 today? Setting the Scene: Exodus 12:20 “‘You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your dwellings you are to eat unleavened bread.’” Purity Portrayed in Unleavened Bread • In Scripture, leaven consistently pictures sin’s permeating influence (1 Corinthians 5:6–8; Galatians 5:9). • Removing leaven before Passover required diligent, house-wide searching—an outward symbol of inward cleansing (Exodus 12:15). • The command was comprehensive: “in all your dwellings,” stressing purity in every sphere of life. Christ, Our Unleavened Bread • Jesus lived the sinless life leaven never touched (Hebrews 4:15). • At the cross He became our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Because we are united to Him, we are called to walk in that same unleavened sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8). Principles for Today • Purity is not optional; it is woven into covenant identity (1 Peter 1:15–16). • Cleansing is both positional (John 15:3) and ongoing (1 John 1:9). • Purity affects every “dwelling”: heart, home, church, workplace, online presence. Practical Ways to Live Unleavened Personal Life - Set aside daily time for honest self-examination under God’s Word (Psalm 139:23-24). - Guard thought-life: filter entertainment, music, and internet through Philippians 4:8. - Choose transparent accountability with a mature believer (James 5:16). Home - Remove media, literature, or habits that normalize impurity. - Model gracious speech; refuse sarcasm, gossip, or profanity (Ephesians 4:29). - Schedule regular family Scripture reading so the atmosphere itself is “unleavened.” Church - Maintain biblical church discipline when open sin appears (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13). - Uphold sound doctrine; error is leaven of the mind (2 Timothy 4:3-4). - Celebrate the Lord’s Table with examined hearts (1 Corinthians 11:28). Community & Work - Refuse shady practices, half-truths, or questionable partnerships (Proverbs 11:3). - Shine by consistent integrity so coworkers taste the “unleavened bread” of authentic faith (Matthew 5:16). Cautions Against Modern Leaven • Moral relativism that blurs sin’s seriousness. • Entertainment that makes impurity amusing. • Doctrinal compromise in the name of unity. • Bitterness or unforgiveness that quietly ferments (Hebrews 12:15). Continual Cleansing and Joy • Purity is sustained not by grit alone but by ongoing reliance on the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). • Regular intake of Scripture renews the mind and pushes out leaven (John 17:17). • A pure life magnifies Christ to a watching world and preserves the sweet fellowship He purchased for us (Psalm 24:3-4; 1 John 1:7). |
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