Some thoughts I have come to appreciate:
In all Bible references leaven is shown as the natural human condition as sinners before a holy God. The OT saints were instructed to use no leaven in their offerings, except the Peace Offering. In the Peace Offering it speaks of worship, and worshippers are of sin by nature (even though preserved for Heaven), so leaven was appropriate there. The saints in the NT also have leaven in their loaf at the Lord's Supper, for we are yet sinners in nature, saved only by grace. Most Bible scholars show this distinction.
In Matthew 13:33; Matthew 16:6; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, we read of the leaven as harmful spiritually. The Kingdom of Heaven now, which is profession of God, has leaven in it. Man is not free of spiritual leaven here in this world. May we who are "born of the Spirit" (John 3) be mindful of our walk and manner before God to honor Him (1 Pet. 1:15-16), and strive and embrace holiness to obey and honor God who is always holy.
THE LEAVEN
We find leaven stated in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. As leaven in bread (yeast) we see how it permeates and swells to puff it up and make it light ---not considered spiritually good in a "child of God". We must not add man's ways to the "bread of life" which is of God!In all Bible references leaven is shown as the natural human condition as sinners before a holy God. The OT saints were instructed to use no leaven in their offerings, except the Peace Offering. In the Peace Offering it speaks of worship, and worshippers are of sin by nature (even though preserved for Heaven), so leaven was appropriate there. The saints in the NT also have leaven in their loaf at the Lord's Supper, for we are yet sinners in nature, saved only by grace. Most Bible scholars show this distinction.
In Matthew 13:33; Matthew 16:6; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, we read of the leaven as harmful spiritually. The Kingdom of Heaven now, which is profession of God, has leaven in it. Man is not free of spiritual leaven here in this world. May we who are "born of the Spirit" (John 3) be mindful of our walk and manner before God to honor Him (1 Pet. 1:15-16), and strive and embrace holiness to obey and honor God who is always holy.