Topical Encyclopedia Bread, a staple food in biblical times, holds significant spiritual and cultural symbolism throughout the Scriptures. It is often mentioned in various contexts, from daily sustenance to sacred rituals. In particular, unleavened bread plays a crucial role in several key biblical events and teachings.Unleavened Bread in the Old Testament The concept of unleavened bread is first introduced in the Book of Exodus during the account of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. As God prepared to deliver His people from bondage, He instituted the Passover, a pivotal event in Jewish history. The Israelites were commanded to eat the Passover meal with unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste with which they were to leave Egypt. Exodus 12:8 states, "They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs." The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows Passover, is a seven-day observance where no leaven is to be found in the homes of the Israelites. This feast serves as a reminder of their deliverance and the purity required by God. Exodus 12:15 instructs, "For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses." Symbolism of Unleavened Bread Unleavened bread, or matzah, is often associated with purity and separation from sin. Leaven, or yeast, is frequently used in Scripture as a metaphor for sin or corruption, as it permeates and alters the nature of the dough. In the context of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the absence of leaven signifies the call to holiness and the removal of sin from one's life. In Leviticus 2:11 , God commands, "No grain offering that you present to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire to the LORD." This further emphasizes the symbolic purity associated with unleavened offerings. Unleavened Bread in the New Testament The New Testament continues to highlight the significance of unleavened bread, particularly in the context of the Last Supper. Jesus, during His final Passover meal with His disciples, used unleavened bread as a symbol of His body, which would be sacrificed for the sins of humanity. Matthew 26:26 records, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is My body.'" The Apostle Paul also draws on the symbolism of unleavened bread in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 , he writes, "Get rid of the old leaven, so 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." Cultural and Religious Practices Throughout history, the practice of eating unleavened bread has been preserved in Jewish tradition, particularly during Passover. This observance serves as a tangible reminder of God's deliverance and the call to live a life set apart for Him. In Christian practice, the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist or Communion reflects the purity and sacrifice of Christ. It serves as a reminder of His body, broken for believers, and the new covenant established through His death and resurrection. Unleavened bread, therefore, is not merely a dietary choice but a profound symbol woven into the fabric of biblical teaching, representing purity, deliverance, and the redemptive work of Christ. Torrey's Topical Textbook Exodus 12:18In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Corinthians 5:8 Library Moreover, the Allegation which they Sometimes Make against Us... Preparation for Passover. Disciples Contend for Precedence. How the Abbot Ceolfrid Sent Master-Builders to the King of the ... Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ... Give us Today Our Needful Bread The Festal Life Armenians. The Levites Ought to be Utterly Free from all Earthly Desires. ... Samaria. Sychem. Acts XII Resources What did Jesus mean when He said, “This is my body, broken for you”? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood? | GotQuestions.org Why is the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper such a controversial issue? | GotQuestions.org Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire Bread with Water, the Food of Prisons Bread: (Eating Without Scarceness) of Plenty Bread: (Fulness of) of Abundance Bread: (Of Adversity) Heavy Affliction Bread: (Of Deceit) Unlawful Gain Bread: (Of Wickedness) Oppression Bread: (Partaking of) Communion of Saints Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty Bread: (When Broken) the Death of Christ Bread: Called the Staff of Life Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast) Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast) Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness) Bread: Multitudes Miraculously Fed by Christ With Bread: Nutritious and Strengthening Bread: Offered With Sacrifices Bread: Often Given As a Present Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread Bread: Placed on Table of Shew Bread Bread: Plenty of, Promised to the Obedient Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment Bread: Served Round After Funerals Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy Related Terms |
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