How can Exodus 12:18 inspire us to remove sin from our lives? Setting the Scene Exodus 12:18: “In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, you are to eat unleavened bread.” What Israel Actually Did • Removed every trace of leaven from their homes (Exodus 12:15,19) • Ate only unleavened bread for seven full days • Obeyed strictly, generation after generation (Exodus 12:17) Leaven as a Picture of Sin • Leaven spreads quietly and pervasively—so does sin (1 Corinthians 5:6) • Leaven puffs up—sin inflates pride (1 Corinthians 8:1) • Jesus warned of “the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1) Practical Ways the Verse Inspires Us to Sweep Out Sin 1. Personal Housecleaning – Begin with a thorough self-examination (Psalm 139:23-24) – Identify hidden “crumbs”: habits, attitudes, influences that corrupt 2. Swift Action – Israel had only hours before the Passover night; delay was dangerous – Confess and forsake sin immediately (Proverbs 28:13) 3. Total Removal, Not Partial – No corner of the house was exempt – We surrender every area—speech, entertainment, relationships, finances (Romans 6:13) 4. Sustained Vigilance for Seven Days – The week-long feast pictures an ongoing lifestyle, not a momentary purge – Keep watching and praying so sin doesn’t re-enter (Matthew 26:41) 5. Replace the Old with the New – Eat “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8) – Fill the vacuum with Scripture, worship, fellowship, service 6. Family Participation – Every household took part; children asked, “What does this mean?” (Exodus 12:26) – Model repentance and holiness together (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) Christ, Our Passover Lamb • “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7) • Because His blood secures our deliverance, we can confidently cast out sin’s leaven Living the Unleavened Life Today • Daily choices align with the new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17) • Regular spiritual check-ups keep the house clean • Joy replaces burden when sin’s leaven is gone (Psalm 32:1) Conclusion Exodus 12:18 calls us not only to remember Israel’s hurried flight but to imitate their zeal in clearing out leaven. By decisive, comprehensive, and ongoing removal of sin, we honor Christ and walk in the purity symbolized by unleavened bread. |
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