This is a topic that on the surface seems to be fairly obvious when we take a look at it in scripture. Leaven is something that once added to bread cannot be removed. Why is this reference used so often regarding sin? What is it about leaven that makes it such a good description of sin? If one does a quick word search on any solid bible dictionary site, you’ll notice that leaven is used all but once as a reference to sin, Christ likens the power of a small amount of leaven to the power of the Gospel to bring about a huge change from a small amount. Every other reference speaks to the power of sin to penetrate in the smallest of ways to bring about massive negative change to a large entity. If there’s one thing I’ve witnessed, its the power of small misconceptions or misrepresentations of scripture to bring about widespread wrong teaching of the Word of God. On an individual level, just the smallest amount of falsehood believed about oneself can bring about a potentially long season of joyless living as we search for peace and happiness we may have lost due to the smallest of lies or misconceptions we carry from errant teaching or condemnation from otherwise well meaning individuals.

One of the biggest areas of our lives that can creep upon us are the “little idols” we allow in there. A bit too much time on phone, the tv, at the gym, the boat, the lake, the xbox, etc. The little harmless things that we become complacent with are usually the places where the enemy gets a foothold. We’ve allowed “a little leaven” to get in and if not dealt with, that little leaven will affect the whole lump. Perhaps my favorite individual book of the Bible is 1 John, in the last verse of the 5th chapter, John simply says this, “little children, guard yourselves from idols.” Such a short, but absolutely profound verse. He assumes here the continued temptation of idols among his christian brothers and sisters as well as the necessity of always being on guard against idolatry creeping into their lives.

The most important thing to bring to light here, is that all men are born “leavened,” or with an inherent sin nature. There is no one born in a “moral neutral ground” that becomes a sinner once they sin, they are born a sinner and therefore sin. One of the titles of Christ is “The Bread of Life.” He is able to call Himself this during His time on earth as a man because he lived a sinless (or leaven free) life. He fulfilled the entirety of the Law on behalf of all those who had or ever will believe on Him (John chapters 3, 6, and 17) God is Holy, or unleavened. We are unholy, or leavened. God must perform in us the supernatural act of removing the leaven that is our nature. He must take out our heart of stone, and put in a heart of flesh, that He may begin the work of sanctification within us to the Glory of His Name.

By God’s Grace

Joshua