RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-06-07	A Little Leaven Leavens The Whole Lump (Ga.5:9)
		Gal 5:9  A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Paul uses this metaphor to compare the effects of false teaching in the church, to the results of yeast in bread dough. Just as a small amount of yeast will make a whole loaf of bread rise, so a little bit of legalistic teaching will contaminate the whole church. Leaven (like yeast) is a substance used to produce fermentation in dough. It is the main ingredient that causes bread to rise in preparation for baking. Paul refers to “the whole lump” as referring to the entire batch of dough. So, in Paul's analogy the whole lump refers to the whole congregation of believers. Paul stresses that through the working of the Holy Spirit, believers have been set free from slavery and outward control of the law (v.1-6). He then begins to list the destructive consequences of returning to a legalistic bondage to the law. One adverse outcome from allowing legalistic teaching is stunted spiritual growth (v.7). Gal 5:7  You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? Paul uses the comparison of the Christian life to a race. They were excelling well in the race until false teachers cut them off their spiritual growth. Legalism is like obstacles confusing believers in their spiritual development. The Galatians allowed the influence of bad company to corrupt their good character (1Co.15:33). 1Co 15:33  Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Leaven symbolizes wrong teaching that destroys Christian freedom. Paul encourages the Galatians to keep on the path of truth, knowing that God will judge false teachers who were corrupting them (v.10). Paul uses this same leaven metaphor with the church in Corinth (1Co.5:6-7) 1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 1Co 5:7  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. In this context, “leaven” represents sin. In particular, it is the sin of pride (1Co.5:2). Their arrogant attitude of tolerating an appalling sin in the church posed a severe threat. Jesus also used the word leaven to describe the corrupt teachings of the Sadducees and Pharisees (Mt.16:6, 11–12). Just as a little bit of false teaching can permeate people's thinking, so a little leaven can corrupt the whole lump of dough (congregation). There is a lot of leaven being put in the gospel today to make it more palatable. Natural man likes leavened bread. It tastes good. However, we are warned not to do that. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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