Jesus used the parable of yeast in a few places in the Bible. It always symbolizes great growth. The metaphor must have stuck with His disciples as I came across this use of the word yeast while I was meandering through scripture: “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” Galatians 5:7-9NIV.
Hmmm. Now that’s an interesting way to make a point. Men certainly weren’t baking bread in those days, so why use that metaphor? There are actually 58 passages related to yeast in Scripture. Jesus used examples of “leaven” (yeast) in His teachings, so it was a topic that was more well known than I thought.
What Did Jesus Say about Yeast?
In Luke 13:20-21NIV Jesus taught this parable of yeast: “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
A small spoonful of yeast can cause bread dough to double in size. Likewise, Jesus’s kingdom would start small and grow much larger; blossoming until the whole world was impacted. The yeast is seen as a positive symbol of great growth!
When the word “yeast” is used in the bible, it can also be symbolic of sin or false teaching as seen in the Galatians verse above. To help explain why Jesus used this term, I decided to add to my knowledge of biblical bread making.
How Was Yeast made in Biblical Times?
The ladies of Bible times did not have yeast as we know it. They mixed up flour and water and added a tiny bit of leftover dough, the starter, from previous baking. The dough was sometimes left out to absorb the yeasts (fungus spores) that are naturally in the air. They could also remove the ‘bloom’ off of the grapes or grape leaves that contained natural yeast cells by washing them in water, mixing it with a bit of fruit and wait for it to ferment.
Thank goodness for Louis Pasteur who figured out fermentation in 1857 and made our lives much easier. Hey, you can’t say you don’t learn some stuff while reading my blog!
Why Is Yeast a Symbol of Sin?
Back to Jesus. Let’s look at another parable about yeast. We’ll start with Luke 12:1. Jesus was speaking to his disciples and said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” The Pharisees were pretenders. Outwardly, they sounded religious, but inwardly, they had no regard for the spiritual or physical well-being of the people.
The Yeast of the Pharisees
They were spreading their “yeast” of bad moral influence that contaminated the people’s minds.
Jesus spoke of the yeast of the Sadducees as well in Matthew 16. They had come to test Jesus and ask for a “sign.” He rebukes them and leaves. He tells his disciples to beware of the yeast of the Sadducees. Again, the idea of spreading their false doctrines (denying the resurrection, and the immortality of the soul for starters) could keep many from following Christ.
In Paul’s case in the above Galatians verse, the sin of the Jewish Christians was also spreading false teachings to other Christians. Like yeast, it will grow and work its way through all it comes in contact with.
Sin is Like Yeast
So there you have it- sin is a deceptive, creeping entity that can start small but grow into a bigger issue. What’s a sinner to do?
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
God gives us the answer in the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. It was so important that God made it a seven day Feast. Not just a day or a weekend, a whole week. It’s actually the first day of Passover (which lasts only 24 hours.)
The Feast commemorates the Israelites leaving Egypt so quickly in the middle of the night that they didn’t have time to add yeast to their bread. For the entire seven days of the feast, they eat only unleavened bread. Not only that, they are to start the festival by thoroughly removing every trace of leaven in their home. Since leaven (yeast) is symbolic of sin, this was a time of reflection and repentance for them and the “removal” of sin from their lives.
Meaning of Unleavened Bread
The Feast of Unleavened Bread symbolizes how we are to live.
For starters, we have to recognize the sin in our lives. That takes introspection. We are to actively seek out the sin that is creeping into our lives. Look into every nook and cranny of our hearts and sweep it away. Resist temptation when it strikes. Shut it down quickly before it can become sin. Find whatever prayer or action that works for you to turn from the temptation.
Finally, when we do sin, ask for forgiveness immediately. Spend time with God, remembering all He has done for us.
Related Post∼ Confession of Sin
Here’s one of my favorite verses that perfectly describes our dilemma:
“I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. Romans 7:18-20
And it continues in verse 25: “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We’ll never be perfect, but a healthy respect for the insidious nature of sin can keep us in check. Keep in mind then when we became Christians, we repented of our sins and received the Holy Spirit! He lives in us and He will help us live righteous lives.
Think of that the next time you eat a sandwich!
Blessings!
AnnMarie
All Scripture is taken from the NIV unless specified otherwise.
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