How can observing this command deepen our understanding of Christ's sacrifice for sin? The command in view “ ‘For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh must be cut off from Israel.’ ” (Exodus 12:15) What leaven meant then • Daily staple removed: bread, the heart of every meal, had to be purged of yeast. • Total house sweep: every crumb of leaven gone, signaling a decisive break with the old. • Serious consequences: “cut off” underscores God’s holy standard and the cost of disobedience. Why Scripture treats leaven as a symbol of sin • Small yet spreading (Galatians 5:9) — a picture of how sin infiltrates. • Hidden action (Matthew 13:33) — yeast works quietly; so does rebellion in the heart. • Corrupting influence (1 Corinthians 5:6) — unchecked sin spoils the whole “loaf.” Connecting Passover to the cross • Exodus 12 pairs unleavened bread with the slain lamb; the New Testament joins them in Christ: – “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) – The very next verse urges: “let us keep the feast… with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (v. 8) • By removing leaven, Israel rehearsed the sinless life their Redeemer would one day live. • The lamb’s blood spared them from judgment; Christ’s blood “takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) How observing the command sharpens our view of Calvary • It exposes sin’s seriousness. If crumbs could exile an Israelite, how grave is the sin Christ bore? • It highlights substitution. Judgment fell on the lamb—and ultimately on Jesus—so the people could go free. • It pictures purification. As homes were cleansed of leaven, hearts are cleansed “by the washing with water through the word.” (Ephesians 5:26) • It nurtures vigilance. A week of yeast-free living cultivates holy watchfulness against hidden compromise. • It fuels gratitude. Every unleavened bite reminds believers that the Sinless One was broken for them. Practical takeaways for believers today • Regular self-examination: ask the Spirit to spotlight “leaven” before it spreads. • Swift repentance: refuse to rationalize small sins; sweep them out immediately. • Joyful remembrance: participate in Communion conscious of Christ’s flawless offering. • Everyday symbolism: choosing simple bread at meals can quietly preach the gospel to the heart and household. Deepened gratitude for the cross Tracing the removal of leaven from ancient kitchens to the removal of sin at the cross enlarges the soul’s awe. The thorough housecleaning in Exodus becomes a living parable: only a flawless Lamb, untainted by the slightest “yeast,” could bear our guilt and secure our rescue. The more we appreciate that detail, the richer our worship and the steadier our walk. |
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