Deuteronomy 16:4
No leaven is to be found in all your land for seven days, and none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day shall remain until morning.
No leaven is to be found in all your land for seven days
This command is part of the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows Passover. Leaven, or yeast, symbolizes sin and corruption due to its fermenting process. The removal of leaven from the land signifies a call to holiness and purity, reflecting the Israelites' departure from Egypt and their separation from pagan practices. The seven-day period represents completeness and perfection, emphasizing a complete break from sin. This practice is a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, as they did not have time to let their bread rise. In the New Testament, leaven is often used metaphorically to describe the pervasive nature of sin (1 Corinthians 5:6-8), and the removal of leaven can be seen as a type of Christ's sinless sacrifice.

and none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day shall remain until morning
This instruction pertains to the Passover sacrifice, which was to be consumed entirely on the night of Passover. Any remaining meat was to be burned, ensuring that nothing was left over. This practice underscores the urgency and immediacy of the Israelites' departure from Egypt, as well as the completeness of God's deliverance. It also signifies the totality of the sacrifice, pointing to the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work on the cross. In the New Testament, Jesus is identified as the Passover Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7), whose sacrifice is complete and sufficient for the redemption of humanity. The prohibition against leaving any meat until morning highlights the importance of obedience and trust in God's provision and timing.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The recipients of the law, God's chosen people, who are preparing to enter the Promised Land.

3. Passover
The event commemorated by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, marking Israel's deliverance from Egypt.

4. Promised Land
The territory God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

5. Feast of Unleavened Bread
A seven-day festival following Passover, during which no leaven is to be found in the homes of the Israelites.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Leaven
Leaven often symbolizes sin and corruption in the Bible. The removal of leaven during the Feast of Unleavened Bread serves as a reminder for believers to examine their lives and remove sin.

Obedience to God's Commands
The Israelites were instructed to follow God's commands precisely. This teaches us the importance of obedience and faithfulness in our walk with God.

Remembrance and Reflection
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a time of remembrance of God's deliverance. Christians are called to remember Christ's sacrifice and reflect on His deliverance from sin.

Community Purity
Just as the Israelites were to ensure no leaven was found in their territory, the church is called to maintain purity and holiness within the community of believers.

Daily Renewal
The command to not let the sacrificial meat remain until morning signifies the need for daily renewal and reliance on God, rather than relying on past experiences or blessings.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the removal of leaven symbolize in the context of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and how can this symbolism be applied to our lives today?

2. How does the command to not let the sacrificial meat remain until morning encourage us to seek daily renewal in our relationship with God?

3. In what ways can the church today ensure that it remains pure and free from the "leaven" of sin and false teachings?

4. How does the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread serve as a reminder of God's deliverance, and how can we incorporate similar practices of remembrance in our spiritual lives?

5. Reflect on a time when obedience to God's commands required you to make a significant change in your life. What was the outcome, and how did it strengthen your faith?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 12
Provides the original instructions for the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing the importance of removing leaven as a symbol of purity and separation from sin.

1 Corinthians 5
Paul uses the metaphor of leaven to discuss the need for purity within the church, drawing a parallel to the removal of sin.

Matthew 16
Jesus warns His disciples about the "leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees, referring to their corrupt teachings and hypocrisy.
Conditions of WorshipJ. Parker, D. D.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Jewish Commemorative FeastsE. White.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Passover a Memorial and a ProphecyD. Davies Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Passover, a Memorial of DeliveranceR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Yearly FestivalsW. Roberts, M. A.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Yearly FestivalsWalter Roberts, M. A.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Unleavened BreadS. A. Blackwood.Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The PassoverJ. Orr Deuteronomy 16:1-9
People
Levites, Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Egypt
Topics
Border, Borders, Bread, Coast, Death, Evening, Flesh, Kept, Leaven, Leavened, Meat, Morning, None, Nothing, Overnight, Possession, Sacrifice, Sacrificedst, Sacrificest, Seven, Territory, Till, Yeast
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 16:1-4

     4530   unleavened bread

Deuteronomy 16:1-6

     4945   history

Deuteronomy 16:1-8

     4438   eating
     7394   memorial
     8467   reminders

Deuteronomy 16:3-4

     7360   Feast of Unleavened Bread

Library
The Age of the Apostles (Ad 33-100)
The beginning of the Christian Church is reckoned from the great day on which the Holy Ghost came down, according as our Lord had promised to His Apostles. At that time, "Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven," were gathered together at Jerusalem, to keep the Feast of Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks), which was one of the three holy seasons at which God required His people to appear before Him in the place which He had chosen (Deuteronomy xvi. 16). Many of these devout men there converted
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

Whether Six Daughters are Fittingly Assigned to Gluttony?
Objection 1: It would seem that six daughters are unfittingly assigned to gluttony, to wit, "unseemly joy, scurrility, uncleanness, loquaciousness, and dullness of mind as regards the understanding." For unseemly joy results from every sin, according to Prov. 2:14, "Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in most wicked things." Likewise dullness of mind is associated with every sin, according to Prov. 14:22, "They err that work evil." Therefore they are unfittingly reckoned to be daughters
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Pride Should be Reckoned a Capital vice?
Objection 1: It would seem that pride should be reckoned a capital vice, since Isidore [*Comment. in Deut. xvi] and Cassian [*De Inst. Caenob. v, 1: Collat. v, 2] number pride among the capital vices. Objection 2: Further, pride is apparently the same as vainglory, since both covet excellence. Now vainglory is reckoned a capital vice. Therefore pride also should be reckoned a capital vice. Objection 3: Further, Augustine says (De Virginit. xxxi) that "pride begets envy, nor is it ever without this
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Passing and the Permanent
'For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.'--ISAIAH liv, 10.-- There is something of music in the very sound of these words. The stately march of the grand English translation lends itself with wonderful beauty to the melody of Isaiah's words. But the thought that lies below them, sweeping as it does through the whole creation, and parting all things
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Obedience
Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king,
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
Presented to the World in a Familiar Dialogue Between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive. By John Bunyan ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The life of Badman is a very interesting description, a true and lively portraiture, of the demoralized classes of the trading community in the reign of King Charles II; a subject which naturally led the author to use expressions familiar among such persons, but which are now either obsolete or considered as vulgar. In fact it is the only work proceeding from the prolific
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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