Topical Bible: Leaven: Forbidden: To be offered With Blood

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In the context of biblical regulations and symbolism, leaven is often associated with sin, corruption, and impurity. The prohibition against offering leaven with blood is rooted in the broader Levitical laws that govern the sacrificial system and the worship practices of ancient Israel. This prohibition underscores the importance of purity and holiness in offerings made to the LORD.

Biblical Reference:

The primary scriptural basis for the prohibition of leaven in offerings made with blood is found in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 2:11 states, "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." While this verse specifically addresses grain offerings, the principle extends to the broader sacrificial system, emphasizing the need for offerings to be free from corruption.

Symbolism and Significance:

Leaven, or yeast, is a substance that causes dough to rise and is often used in the Bible as a metaphor for sin and moral corruption. In the New Testament, Jesus warns His disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6), referring to their hypocritical and corrupt teachings. The Apostle Paul also uses leaven as a metaphor for sin in the church, urging believers to "clean out the old leaven" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The prohibition against offering leaven with blood sacrifices highlights the need for purity in worship. Blood, representing life and atonement, is central to the sacrificial system. The mixing of leaven, symbolizing sin, with blood sacrifices would compromise the sanctity and intended purpose of the offering.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the prohibition of leaven in offerings with blood reflects God's demand for holiness and the separation of His people from sin. The sacrificial system was designed to teach Israel about the seriousness of sin and the necessity of atonement. By forbidding leaven, God reinforced the concept that offerings must be pure and untainted by corruption.

This principle is further illustrated in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, where the Israelites were commanded to remove all leaven from their homes for seven days (Exodus 12:15). This feast commemorated the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt and symbolized their call to live as a holy and distinct people.

Practical Application:

For believers today, the prohibition of leaven in offerings with blood serves as a reminder of the call to holiness and the need to approach God with sincerity and purity. It encourages Christians to examine their lives for any "leaven" of sin and to seek cleansing through repentance and faith in Christ, the ultimate sacrifice who fulfilled the law and provided atonement for sin.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 34:25
You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left to the morning.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ...
... but bread, wine, oil, incense, and salt should be offered to God. ... that the use of
honey, and of leaven which makes bread savory, should be forbidden in a ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a suitable cause can.htm

Easter Sunday
... pure lump, and God himself has urgently forbidden it ... They are no more the old leaven
they were when ... Jews had annually to partake of their offered sacrifice, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter sunday.htm

Leviticus
... the use of salt compulsory, honey and leaven prohibited (ii ... A female animal shall
be offered for certain legal and ... x.1-7. Officiating priests forbidden to use ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

The Synod of Jerusalem, and the Compromise Between Jewish and ...
... the church of Jerusalem, the old leaven still wrought in ... closely connects the eating
of meat offered to idols ... was not included among the forbidden articles of ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 34 the synod of.htm

Faustus Fails to Understand Why He Should be Required Either to ...
... the New Testament, or which is even forbidden, instead of ... the faith keep it, not
in the leaven of the ... he finds fault with sacrifice itself, as offered by the ...
/.../faustus fails to understand why.htm

The Second Oration on Easter.
... Then the removal of leaven; that is, of the old and ... we fall not into that fault which
was forbidden to Lot ... To Whom was that Blood offered that was shed for us ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xlv the second oration.htm

The Fifth Day in Passion-Week - Make Ready the Passover!'
... eleventh hour might insensibly run into the forbidden midday ... early meal, and when
the eating of leaven had ceased ... Paschal Lamb could not have been offered in the ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the fifth day.htm

Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his ...
... to which the Lord had so strictly forbidden addition or ... He, though a private man,
offered sacrifice to God, and did ... that we were to beware of the leaven of the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 of the power.htm

The Lord's Supper
... forbear, which is a great contempt offered to Christ's ... God says, Eat not of this
forbidden fruit;' then ... hidden sins, as Israel searched for leaven before they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 5 the lords supper.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... who were accused of meeting in forbidden societies should be ... and consecrated the
eucharist and offered sacrifice to ... the people put away the leaven; I, therefore ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm