Many people associate “leaven” with sin. This is actually the result of rabbinic and midrashic teachings primarily sourced from the Talmud. However, our Rabbi, Yeshua, compared leaven to teachings, specifically of the Pharisees and Sadducees, but also any teaching that leads one away from obeying the truth.
- Matthew 16:5-12 The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread. Yeshua said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” Yeshua, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread? Don’t you yet perceive or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up, or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Luke 12:1-3 Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, [Yeshua] began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops…”
- Galatians 5:7-9 You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Pesach, has been slaughtered in our place.