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Yeast.
Leaven is a natural substance, a fermenting agent, which is
used to make bread 'rise.' Israel under Moses, left Egypt
in a hurry. Their last meal included 'unleavened bread' because
there was no time to wait for the bread to 'rise'.
"The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the
country. 'For otherwise,' they said, 'we will all die!' So
the people took their dough before the yeast [leaven] was
added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs
wrapped in clothing." (Exodus 12:33-34).
Unleavened bread became a symbol of Israel's escape from Egypt.
The anniversary became a national festival known as the 'Passover'
(q.v.) and is still celebrated by the Jews today, when they
re-enact the details of the first Passover, including eating
unleavened bread.
Leaven was also a symbol of corruption, illustrating the way
sin works to corrupt men and women. Jesus refers to leaven
when he warns his disciples of the corrupting effect of the
hypocritical teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees. "Meanwhile,
when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they
were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first
to his disciples, saying: 'Be on your guard against the yeast
[leaven] of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy'" (Luke
12:1).
This is also illustrated by the apostle Paul, who urged the
Corinthians to get rid of the 'leaven' or wrong conduct of
some among them, which was providing a bad example, and would
be a bad influence on the whole church if not deal with: "Your
boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works
through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast
that you may be a new batch without yeast-as you really are.
For Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore
let us keep the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast
of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the
bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
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Lamb
Last Supper
Law
1. Given to Israel by God through
Moses
2. of Christ
3. The Law of the Land
Leaven
Leprosy
Letter
Leviticus
Life
Light
Lord
Love
Lucifer
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