Pod Prep: 4-8-16
Were The Corinthians Really Unleavened And Why?
Paul knew that the Corinthians were actually unleavened.
The key scriptures that we use to prove that gentile Christians were really keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread with unleavened bread are in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. Verse 6, Your glorying is not good; know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Verse 7 states, Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, AS YOU ARE UNLEAVENED. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: verse 8, Therefore let us KEEP THE FEAST not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. They were to put out the sinful man who was sinning with his step mother as they had put out the leaven. This would allow them to be pure spiritually as they were pure physically since leaven is symbolic of puffed up pride and sin physically.
It is beyond doubt he is saying ‘keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread’!
Paul is also saying to purge out (get rid of) the old leaven (sin), that ye may be a new (unleavened) lump (spiritually) as ye are (actually) unleavened. He wrote this to them during the Days of Unleavened Bread when he knew they were free of leaven.
Paul knew that this letter would reach them during the Days of Unleavened Bread!
Those who don’t want to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread twist these scriptures and try to say that gentile Christians were not physically keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread just spiritually. They say “as you are unleavened” does not mean what it says, but is a simile. A simile tries to make a point by comparing two things that are not alike in a way, but similar in another manner, for instance, a man and a turtle. “He is as slow as a turtle is a simile. A simile uses “like or as” for this comparison. In our simile, he and turtle are not alike, but the turtle is used to point out that the man is slow physically just like a turtle. If ‘as ye are unleavened’ is only meant by Paul as a simile and not to mean that they were actually unleavened, then the phrase ‘as you are unleavened would make no sense’.
Similes are not constructed this way. It is illogical. Remember that a simile is a comparison between two things that are unlike in one manner and similar in another. In the case of our scripture, the spiritual is being compared with the physical. Otherwise the simile makes no sense because it would not be comparing two things that are different. What Paul must be writing is “Be free from leaven” (sin) spiritually, as you are free from leaven literally (Physically). It would be like saying be as fast as a turtle when a turtle is clearly not fast. Be unleavened spiritually as you are not unleavened physically makes no sense.
The Greek gentile Christians were literally unleavened years after Christ’s death, as Acts 20:6 plainly shows. Paul tells these gentiles to keep the Feast. He is clearly speaking of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the New Testament Passover or Lord’s Supper.
For timing issues look at the phrase I Cor11:23 ‘the same night in which he was betrayed’. It was not the evening of the Jewish Passover which is celebrated after the lamb is killed, cleaned and its blood is put as protection on their doorpost. The physical lamb was killed at the time of the evening sacrifice 3: 30 p.m. After preparing it, and roasting it, the meal would be ready at sunset the First Day of Unleavened Bread. Old Testament Passover commemorates the lamb’s blood protection from the death angel and the beginning that night of the exodus from Egypt. See Exodus 12:12-13, 30-34, 39, and 42. The Old Testament Passover is primarily looking from the death of the physical lamb to the leaving in a hurry of Israel from Egypt. While the New Testament Passover is commemorating the last meal and new symbols of the Apostles and Jesus Christ to His betrayal suffering and death on the stake. See John chapters 13-17.
Acts Further Supports the New Testament Church Being Unleavened
Note that in Acts 12: 3-4
The Jewish religious leaders out of jealousy and fear of the Apostles wanted to kill Peter after the Passover Unleavened Bread Holy Days. Why did the translators put in an obvious counterfeit word like Easter instead of Passover? The spring holy days of the church of the translators was NOT in the New Testament. They found an excuse to fit one into their translation. All scholars know it is false and most Bibles have a middle column with the correct word available to all.
Note Acts 20:6
It is clear they did not want to leave a church area and be on the road during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Some commentaries try and explain that only the Jewish members of the church kept the holy days. Paul emphasized church unity constantly. It is unbelievable that he would have a separate set of Holy Days for Jews and gentiles. That would be divisive. Obviously the gentile Christians of Philippi were keeping these days as well like the Corinthian gentile Christians.
Behold the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Jesus Christ is the ultimate spiritual Lamb of God for all mankind. The true final fulfillment of the Passover Lamb is Jesus. The Passover lamb is always eaten with Unleavened Bread. This lamb takes away the sins of the world. Just as the Passover lamb protected the Israelites from death so does Christ’s sacrifice when applied. It takes away or covers the sins for all mankind.
The Sacrifice Of Jesus Christ And Unleavened Bread Go Hand In Hand.
“BE FREE OF SIN …AS YOU ARE FREE OF LEAVEN “
