The Awesome Symbolic Value of the Unleavened Bread of Communion
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be
killed. Luke: 22:1,717 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples
came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do you want us to prepare for You
to eat the Passover?” Matthew 26:177 ‘And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.
8 ‘Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Exodus 12:7-8
The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Passover were celebrated by the Hebrews on the same weekend. The Feast of Unleavened Bread extended further for seven days. Also, on the Sunday of that very weekend of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover, the first fruits were offered. The first fruits were offered on the day after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:11). The first fruits were symbolic of the resurrection of Christ (1Corinthians 15:20). (All of the feasts of the Lord are introduced in Leviticus chapter 23.)
Luke 22:1 quoted above, shows that the great gathering of the Jews on this weekend was called either the Feast of Unleavened Bread or the Passover. These two feasts were not celebrated with each other by accident. It takes two feasts to adequately and completely symbolize the meaning of the Lord’s death. This is in line with what the New Testament declares in 1Corinthians 11:26; where it also shows that it takes two symbols to adequately proclaim the Lord’s death.
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the
Lord’s death till He comes. 1Corinthians 11:26
Most people who go to a Christian church understand that the blood of the Passover lamb is symbolic of the power of the blood of Christ to redeem the believers and give them forgiveness for their sins. The angel of death passed over the house where the blood was applied to the lintel and two door posts; this speaks of forgiveness and redemption. The blood here, among other truths, also speaks of deliverance from demonic attacks. Many a believer, including myself, by faith apply and declare by faith the blood over situations or relationships in order to stop demonic activity (Revelation 12:11). Many Christians say and sing:“there is power in the blood.”
With the unleavened bread of communion, there is another vital truth of the cross that can be seen in the scriptures quoted below. Just as the cup has a fundamental meaning, so the bread has a fundamental meaning.Also, below are several other “companion”truths that the unleavened bread of communion symbolizes. Each truth is of the utmost importance. Thus the title of this article: “The Awesome Symbolic Value of the Unleavened Bread of Communion.” We will discuss the following truths in this article:
1) The unleavened bread of communion symbolizes deliverance from sin so the believer can live for righteousness and bear fruit to God, which the below given scriptures speak to.
2) The unleavened bread of communion symbolizes the unity of the believers;
3) The unleavened bread of communion symbolizes true and accurate teaching which is the foundation of the church (the church being the body of Christ);
4) The unleavened bread of communion symbolizes deliverance from the self –righteousness, pride and Pharisee-ism which is the inevitable consequence of being under the law. These traits are the inevitable consequences of being left to rely on one’s own powers and abilities, which is what the law also relies on (Romans 8:4; Romans 7:7-14).
The following are scriptures that speak of deliverance from sin. Notice the use of the word, “body,” which is what the bread of communion stands for.
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own BODY on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1Peter2:24-25)4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the BODY of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. (Romans 7:4)(Also, consider Galatians 2:19)
7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1Corinthians 5:6-8)(Notice the theme here of coming out of evil living, and coming into godly living.)
Referring to the above scriptures; the body of Christ and the bread of Communion have the meaning of deliverance from sin, so that the believer can live for God. There are two fundamental truths of the cross of Christ in the New Testament. There are other truths of the cross but these two are foundational: One is redemption, the forgiveness of sins. This is where Jesus was the sacrifice to pay for our sins. He purchased and redeemed us through His death. We belong to Him now (1Corinthians 6:19-20). This truth is symbolized by the cup of Communion.
The second fundamental truth of the cross of Christ is that we died with Christ by grace through faith, so that we can live for God. At the same time He was suffering and dying to redeem us; by the grace of God we were included in His death (Galatians 2:19-20; Romans 6:1-11; 2Corinthians 5:14-17; Colossians 2:11-12, Colossians 3:3; 2Corinthians 4:10-11; Philippians 3:10-11; 1Peter 2:24-25; Hebrews 10:10; as well as the three scriptures quoted above; and many more). This second truth of the cross has not been well received by the gentile world for about the last 1800 years. (By the way, I am a gentile.) There certainly have been those who embraced this message of the cross, but not nearly enough. The early church and the New Testament, on the other hand, saw these two truths of the cross as being hand in hand, and side by side.As we will show here in this article, redemption is seen in the Cup of Communion; while deliverance from sin or sanctification, so that the believer can live for God, is seen in the Bread of Communion. “for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1Corinthians 11:26).
The meaning of the unleavened bread of Communion is further established and witnessed to, by Old Testament scriptures:
3 And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Exodus 13:3
2”Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the Lord your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the Lord chooses to put His name. 3”You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.” Deuteronomy 16:2-3
7”Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters.
8”And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’
9”It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’slaw may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt.” Exodus 13:8-9
The above Old Testament scriptures show a recurring theme regarding the unleavened bread. The phrase, “out of Egypt,” is a key phrase used and associated with the unleavened bread. The unleavened bread was seen as a symbol for the Hebrews to remember their great deliverance, when God delivered them out of Egypt. To this day at least some Jewish people celebrate Passover, and take the unleavened bread; and thank God for delivering them out of Egypt as they eat the bread.
When Jesus was introducing the Lord’s Supper to His disciples on the Passover, the symbol He used to represent His body was unleavened bread. Think of the New Testament scriptures that were just presented in this teaching. Consider this one: “who Himself bore our sins in His own BODY on the tree, that we having died to sins might live for righteousness…” (1Peter 2:24).
The unleavened bread is a symbol of deliverance. It symbolizes how the Hebrews were delivered out of Egypt. It also symbolizes and foretold an even greater deliverance. It symbolizes the deliverance of the human race out of its horrific, sinful nightmare,through Christ’s death on the cross; so that believers can be lead by the Spirit instead of being driven by their lusts, and passions, and demons.
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:6
Jesus set us free at the cross, as stated in Romans 6:6 above. We no longer have to be enslaved by our sinful habits. This does not mean that we never sin (1John 1:8-10). It does mean that we do not have to be a slave to our sin as Romans 6:6 says. We can have the “revelation,” confidence, and assurance that we don’t have to be doing that thing or those things anymore. We have the authority and the right to be free. This deliverance as it is being worked out in a believer’s life, is usually not without some pain, suffering and patience.
This deliverance is not self-confidence. (You cannot deliver yourself; but you can choose to want deliverance. You can choose to look to Jesus for your deliverance) This is a “knowing” that we have been set free at the cross. We can have confidence that we are free people because we died with Jesus on the cross by grace. This confidence that we died with Him; this is our God given authority to resist and see substantial victory over a bad habit or bondage. There are many other truths that can and will help, but this truth is foundational. We can use our freedom won at the cross, to utilize and apply other words of wisdom and scriptures that will be helpful in keeping us safe and free.
“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to BE dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:11). Dead to sin and delivered is what we are because of the cross, and only because of the cross. Work this truth of your deliverance in Christ into your spirit. By virtue of Christ’s death on His cross, you are dead to sin. Dead to sin is what you are! Meditate on this truth! Step out in faith just as the Hebrews stepped out in faith when they crossed the Red Sea. The Lord opened the way, but they had to believe and step out, and act on their faith in what God did for them. Spend time meditating on your deliverance in Christ. Memorize Romans 6:1-11. Start stepping out in faith as you leave that past behind. The Holy Spirit will also help you believe. The Holy Spirit wants to give you boldness, courage, encouragement, and strength to step out in your new life in Christ. You were delivered from sin so that you can be encouraged, empowered, filled, gifted and lead by the Holy Spirit.
There is an ocean of knowledge here. We are dying with Jesus so that we can be an empty vessel to be filled, and lead, and gifted, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We can be an empty vessel so that we can be filled with the word of God, and be relying on the promises of God. This is a radical transformation of the human soul. It is dying and rising with Jesus in a practical way (Galatians 5:22-24; don’t forget verse 24 here).This is the New Testament way to fulfill what Jesus said, “…If anyone desires to come after Me; let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it”(Luke 9:23-24). We have the authority of the cross, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and the good word of God; to see this happen in our lives.
There are two points to be made regarding dying and rising with Jesus. The first major point is that you cannot rise with Jesus, if you don’t die with Jesus. Your flesh or sinful passions will always have too much sway in your life if you do not embrace your death with Christ won at the cross. This is a fundamental message of the cross that you need to be grounded in.
The second major point is that if you do embrace dying with Jesus, you must also rise with Jesus and pursue resurrection life which is by His Spirit and His word. Go for as much life in the Spirit that you can possibly lay hold of. Cooperate with God’s Spirit and His word; and fill the vacuum in your soul left when you forsook your sin and selfishness.
• “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts… (1Corinthians 14:1).
• “… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love (2 Peter 1:5b -7).”
• Memorize, and seek, and believe for the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:22-24, notice verse 24).
• Lay hold of as many promises of God that you can possible believe for.
• Memorize and believe for the seven Spirits of God mentioned in Isaiah 11:2: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 2:2).” These Spirts or manifestations of the Spirit,are all individually mentioned extensively throughout the New Testament. Revelation 4:5 refers to all seven (One Spirit is simply the Spirit of God).
We have forgiveness because of the cross of Christ. We also are emptied from sin and self at the cross of Christ. By the Spirit of Christ we need to fill our souls (or vessels) up with the good things of the Spirit, and the word, and the promises of God. Don’t just sit at the edge of the Red Sea after you have crossed over; press on towards the promised land. Many might need to pursue some kind of a career so they can provide for themselves, and help others. As a top priority, seek and let God lead you into your God given ministry in the Body of Christ. Connect with a good body of believers so that they can help you in your quest to pursue God’s calling on your life. Also, you can help others find their place in the body of Christ, and encourage them in that.
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Another vital truth that the unleavened bread (the bread of Communion) symbolizes is the unity of the believers. We were set free at the cross and are lead by the Spirit to be useful, contributing members of the body of Christ. We also have each other to help, correct and encourage us. We are not in this alone. Let’s consider some scriptures about unity.
17 For we, though many are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. I Corinthians 10:17
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 1Corinthians 3:3-4
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 3 … for there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever more. Psalm 133: 1,3
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Corinthians 5:4
In 1Corinthians 10:17 mentioned first in the above scriptures, Paul teaches that as we believers partake of the bread of Communion, we should understand that we also are the body of Christ, which is a unifying truth. Consider another scripture that explains that we believers are the body of Christ.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church;
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23
Just the fact that we believers are the body of Christ is a powerful statement for the massive importance that God puts on unity. Also, consider the following scripture where Jesus was praying His high priestly prayer in the gospel of John.
21 “that they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one;
23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:21-23
Think of the massive importance that God puts on the unity of the true believers. This unity is symbolized in the bread of Communion. The meaning of the bread of Communion has this mind boggling truth, as well as the other truths that we are addressing in this article.There are three fundamental enemies to unity in the body of Christ (if not more). Leaven itself has these three spiritual meanings. Let me repeat this. Leaven has three meanings, all bad. These three meanings involve destroying and hindering unity in the body of Christ. The following are the three meanings of leaven which are also three huge hindrances to unity in the body of Christ.
1. Just plain old sin destroys unity. Leaven symbolizes sin (1Corinthians 5:8). Thus the name, “unleavened bread.” We are called to be unleavened (1Corinthians 5:8 again). Sin usually hurts another member. Consider as an example the last six of the ten commandments.
2. False or incorrect teaching is symbolized by leaven in the Bible (Matthew 16:12; Galatians 5:7-9). False teaching is a major hindrance to the body of Christ and to the unity of the church. Poor teaching is like eating meals that lack certain necessary nutritional benefits, or they contain unhealthy additions to the food. Over time your physical body will suffer.
Spiritual food that lacks important truths or that has man made additions (Revelation 22:18-19), is very similar in this regard. Over time, a diet of incomplete teaching will cause those who want to be part of the genuine body of Christ, to break down. Similarly, unhealthy, man-made additions (teachings) to one’s spiritual food, will do damage over time to those desiring to be the body of Christ.
Many western churches are suffering in this way. People pleasing can cause this. Striving for a following rather than a New Testament church, will have this result and scenario. Teaching that permits and even panders to people in pursuing their carnal desires, will weaken and destroy the church.
The following are some scriptures showing how false teaching is symbolized by leaven.
11”How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? – but beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:11-127 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven, leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5:7-9
False teaching eats at the very foundation of the church. The apostle Peter
had a revelation of Christ from the Father in Matthew 16:13-19. Jesus called Peter the rock upon which Jesus would build His church. Jesus can’t build His church on inaccurate or false teaching. False teaching causes major concerns, divisions and trouble in the church of Christ.
The following are some more scriptures that would apply to the teaching of the word:
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138:2
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2Timothy 2:13
Regarding 2Timothy 2:13, if God were to not come through on His word, He would be denying Himself. Faithfull is what and who He is. He was this way for all eternity past.He literally invented faithfulness. Also, His word is so important to Him that He magnifies His word above His name (Psalm 138:2 above).
Also, since God has to be faithful to His word, He cannot bless and backup words that are contrary to His word. If we teach man made doctrines and incorrect ideas no matter how well accepted by people, God might have to deny Him-self to back them up and bless them. Every situation is unique. Yet we are on thin ice thinking we can go with some fad, or people pleasing idea, or man-made teaching; and expect God to bless it. He simply can’t. He is constrained to back-up His word only. Otherwise, He would be unfaithful, and therefore be denying Himself.
It is easy to see that false teaching causes great havoc and divisions in the body of Christ.Think of all of the denominations. People say that God uses these denominations. Maybe, but I believe that God endures these divisions; this doesn’t mean that He likes or wants them. A person might love their child, but that doesn’t mean they agree with some things the child is involved in.
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 1Corinthians 3:3-4
3. Pride or being “puffed up” divides the body of Christ and leads to sin.This is the third “type” of leaven that is a hindrance to unity and oneness in the body of Christ. Pride is the kissing cousin of sin. Pride is often associated with being under the law(Romans 7; Romans 8:3-4; Philippians 3:3-11; Galatians 5:1-18; and more) in the New Testament. The Pharisees were the ultimate and greatest example of people being under the law; which lead to pride, hypocrisy, and a “holier than thou” and condemnatory mentality. There is nothing wrong with the law (Romans 7:12-14). There is something wrong with people. People are sinful and they can get puffed up when they see that they are doing a few things right.They can get proud of their good deeds or any accomplishments. People have a desperate need to embrace and cling to the cross. It just might take some time for them to realize this need.
It is not just a random thing that God chose leaven(yeast), which causes the bread to rise and get “puffed up.” It is not by accident that unleavened bread is flat bread that is a physical example and symbol of not being puffed up. I think it is fair to say that the flatness of the unleavened bread speaks of humility; the opposite of the leaven of pride. The apostle Paul mentioned being “puffed up” often (1Corinthians 4:6,18-19; 1Corinthians 5:2; 1Timothy 3:6; Colossians 2:18). Notice that Paul used the phrase, “puffed up,” in 1Corinthians chapter 4 and chapter 5. This idea of being puffed up was mentioned near1Corinthians 5 where Paul writes of purging out the leaven of malice and wickedness, and being the new lump of sincerity and truth.
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And so we have covered much territory regarding the unleavened bread of communion:
1) We have shown that the unleavened bread of communion symbolizes deliverance from sin. Leaven is a type of sin. This deliverance is the door to living for righteousness by God’s Spirit (Romans 8:4). This deliverance is to empty us of sin and self, so that we can be filled with all of the good things of the Spirit, the promises of God, and all other aspects of the word of God.
2) We have shown that the unleavened bread of communion symbolizes the importance of the unity of the body of Christ. The bread stands for unity and oneness.
3) We have shown that there are three huge enemies to the unity of the body of Christ. These three enemies are symbolized by leaven: the leaven of sin; the leaven of false teaching; and the leaven of pride.
4) We have shown that false teaching is a deadly spiritual virus that destroys the foundation of the church; and destroys unity in the body of Christ.
We covered this subject in the context of enemies to the unity of the body of Christ.
5) We have shown that pride is a type of leaven that hinders the unity of the body of Christ. The issue of Pride was mentioned as one of the three hindrances to the unity of the body of Christ. I want to discuss some scriptures regarding pride and self confidence in the following section.
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The following are scriptures regarding the leaven of pride and self-confidence. In the New Testament, these two traits are often associated with being under the law.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
4 though I might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so;
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee:
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus Lord my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained it, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
(Philippians 3:3-12, 20-21)
(Perfection is found when we are given glorified bodies. We are making progress in our present bodies. We are making our election and calling sure in our present bodies. 2Peter 1:10)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are lead by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:4-6)3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 that the righteousness requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control.against such there is NO LAW. (Galatians 5:22-23)
We were delivered from the law through Christ’s death on the cross; so that we can bear fruit unto God, and live for God (Romans 7:4; Galatians 2:19; Romans 14:5-7). Notice that scriptures state or imply that through Christ, we are not under the law; so that we can live for God and bear fruit unto God. One point being here is that we have not been delivered from the law so that we can do as we please. I have heard people misinterpret the meaning of not being under the law.
Now, the law is holy, and the commandments are holy and just and good (Romans 7:12). So what is the problem with us being under the law? The problem is not with the law, the problem is with us. We are inherently sinful from birth. Our self-effort and self-confidence degenerates into disasters. Our reliance on ourselves to produce God’s righteousness and right living,becomes self-righteousness, condemnation of others, hypocrisy, pride, haughtiness, envy, strife, self-seeking, and anything but unity and love. As mentioned previously, the great historical example of people being under the law is the lives of the Pharisees. With all of their best efforts and religious devotion, they ended up being complicit in the murder of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:36-37). This is where being under the law got them.
With the gospel of Jesus Christ, I and the law, are replaced by me and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit replaces the law in my life (Galatians 5:18; Galatians 5:22-23; etc.). My cooperation with the Holy Spirit replaces my striving under the law. When the word of God and the Spirit shows me something to do or strive for, I and the Holy Spirit partner together to get it done. I am now lead by the Spirit Who is in unison with the word of God, and seek the Holy Spirit’s help. Thus, my relationship with the law which requires confidence in myself and my abilities is replaced by my relationship with the Holy Spirit who will lead me and help me fulfill the righteous requirements of the law. “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). This is a radical transformation of the human soul. This is not some “easy, peasy” ticket to heaven; and then business as usual (Galatians 5:17-18). Although, if I were about to die, I would ask Jesus to forgive me for my sins and come into my life. There might not be any time for anything else (2Corinthians 5:15, “…that those who live…”).
Also, being under the law or some religious system can often get old, tedious and burdensome. The Holy Spirit seeks to make things new every morning and day. The Holy Spirit seeks to bring encouragement and times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).
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Finally, the following are two short parables that Jesus gave that shed light on the meaning of leaven:
31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed into his field,
32 “which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:31-33)
On the positive side of things in the Kingdom of heaven;the little mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, but becomes a great tree. When God does some kind of work in a believer’s life, it usually starts like a small mustard seed. People, including the believer whose life has this small mustard seed, often don’t even notice that God is doing anything special in his life. Yet, as the believer sticks with doing that thing regularly, that seed begins to grow. And then it grows and grows and grows. The devil will try to stop and discourage it. However, as the believer sticks with it, and fights through the opposition; the work becomes quite fruitful and significant. Eventually, no one can deny what God is doing through that believer.
Genuine ministries in the kingdom of God usually start small. Yet, anything rooted in God in His kingdom, will grow (John 15:8). Some people see their efforts grow and come to fruition after they die. Another takes up and continues the work, where the first left off. Many martyrs see the fruit of their labor and suffering, watching from heaven. Also, how many believers have not recognized the mustard seed that they had, and walked away from or ignored the wonderful ministry God wanted for them?
Regarding the negative occurrences of the kingdom of heaven, Jesus spoke of leaven. Just as Jesus spoke of tares in the parable of the harvest (Matthew 13:24-30, and this scripture is right before the ones dealing with the mustard seed and the leaven), so He had another parable of negative aspects of life in the kingdom of heaven. This parable simply describes the well-known truth: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump”(Galatians 5:9).Leaven is always used in scripture as something bad: malice and wickedness (1Corinthians 5:8); false teaching(Galatians 5:8-9); pride and being puffed up 1Corinthians 5:2,6).
Regarding pride and being “puffed up,” the following are some scriptures that seem to connect this with the unleavened bread:
2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. (Galatians 5:2)(The evil deed is leaven. Getting puffed up and justifying the evil, is also wrong. Here, being puffed up and the sin itself, go hand in hand.)
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (Galatians 5:6)(In this particular scripture, the leaven is false teaching. Yet some Galatians were glorying in their false beliefs. Their pride in their false beliefs was “not good.” Here again, the false teaching itself which is leaven, and being puffed up over it; go hand in hand.)
As mentioned before, It is an interesting thing that the leaven (yeast) “puffs up” the lump of dough, which is to become bread. The unleavened, flat bread symbolizes humility.
The little leaven mentioned in 1Corinthians 5:6above, refers to malice and wickedness mentioned in 1Corinthians5:8. Yet the Corinthians were also “glorying”in their poor choices and attitudes(1Corinthians 5:6). Malice, wickedness, and glorying in in one’s poor decisions and attitudes, are both not good.
Paul refers to glorying and being “puffed up” in 1Corinthians 5:2 and 5:6; and in 1Corinthians 4:6 and 4:18. Pride and sin are equally significant. You can say that they reinforce one another. “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law”(1Corinthians 15:56). The law relies on self-effort, self-confidence and it inevitably produces pride.Thus, I believe that the unleavened, flat bread symbolizes humility and dependence on God. Leavened bread (puffed up by yeast, also known as leaven) symbolizes pride, self-righteousness,and arrogance in this symbol. Thus, I believe that leaven is symbolic of sin, false teaching and pride.
There are people who misinterpret the parable of the leaven and try to make it a positive thing. It is not. There is no way that God would use leaven as a type of the gospel.
These two parables show two fundamental realities in the kingdom of heaven. The parable of the mustard seed teaches us not to despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). Often wonderful works of God start with just a small mustard seed, and then grow.
The second parable of the leaven, shows how a small bit of leaven, when not dealt with, can grow into a total disaster. The three lumps in this parable of the leaven, make me think of the three leavens of sin, false teaching, and pride.