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First Corinthians 5:6-8

Let Us Keep the Feast
Paul has been using an illustration to point out to the believers in Corinth the source of the abomination that
was being carried out within their assembly by an unbeliever who professed to be a Christ One.
That illustration of leaven led Paul in his mind to the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, and last
week, we followed Paul there. But now lets go back to our passage in Corinthians to understand the
significance of what Paul was saying to the believers. Well read this section again.
[First Corinthians 5:6-8]
So after issuing the Lords judgment on the sinful man, Paul writes of leaven; a little of it will leaven the
whole lump of dough; and then he commands the believers in Corinth to purge out the old leaven.
Because of what Paul had just said about the sinful man, this has led many to conclude that Paul is saying
this man is the old leaven, that must be purged out - expelled from their church. You can see how they
might reach this conclusion. Purging out suggests the idea of putting out - removing the man from their
assembly. And Paul had certainly made it clear that they must do that - expel him.
But this thought is not borne out through the whole of the passage. What do we know leaven symbolizes,
in Scripture? Sin; evil thoughts, motives, conduct. But leaven doesnt symbolize the doer of this evil; it is
the evil, itself.
And if leaven were to symbolize the sinful man here, it must be taken as symbolic for all sinners. Were the
believers in Corinth then to put out all sinners from their assembly - such as those seeking to know the
Lord? How then would sinners ever come to know Him? In fact, Paul makes it clear in the next section
that it would be impossible for them to avoid keeping company with sinners, in general - and that he was
not telling them to do that.
So leaven cannot be taken as representing the sinner, here. And in order for us to be sure of what it does
represent, were going to take a look at other symbolic uses of it, in the NT.
Turn first to Galatians chapter 5. The Galatian assemblies had been bewitched by some false teachers that
had come into their midst after Paul had preached the gospel there. These teachers were Jews, often falsely
masquerading as Christ Ones (Gal 2:4).
As Paul said of them, they preached another gospel (Gal 1:9) - a perverted gospel, that added human works
to faith in Christ - specifically, the works of the Law.
Many who had genuinely place their faith in Christ saw in this deception a way of achieving a sanctified
life - an answer to their struggle with sin. What was even worse was that those in the assemblies who had
not yet believed into Christ were being hoodwinked into thinking that Christ alone could not save them;
they must also work, for their salvation.
But to attempt to add to the work of Christ is the same as not believing that His work is sufficient; it is
therefore to refuse His salvation. Small wonder that Pauls letter rings of such dismay and grief, over his
beloved Galatians.

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The false teachers held forth circumcision to the Gentiles as the initiation rite for becoming one of the
covenant people of God; and they insisted that one must be counted with Gods people, the nation of Israel,
in order to be saved. In this passage, Paul implores the Galatians - in particular, the Gentiles - to consider
what it would mean, if they were to go ahead and get circumcised.
[Galatians 5:1-9]
v. 1 This is actually the conclusion to the allegory that Paul told, in chapter 4. Those who had genuinely
believed into Christ have been born of the Spirit, born free from the bondage of the Law. So in conclusion,
Paul is saying to the believers, live in your freedom; dont put yourself back into bondage.
But now Paul speaks directly to those Gentiles in the assemblies who have yet to make a decision,
concerning Christ - and are the most in danger, from the false teachers.
v. 2 Why would these Gentiles in the assembly get circumcised? Because they have bought into the lie
that they need to do that in order to justify themselves, to be saved.
Paul is saying, if you do that, it means you believe that what Christ has done at the cross was not enough to
justify you. His sacrifice didnt satisfy God; God expects more. That amounts to a rejection of Christ - and
then, Christ profits you nothing - He cant justify you; because you wont let Him.
v. 3 Circumcision was seen as the initiation to taking on the yoke of the Law, which meant keeping the
works of the Law - every jot and tittle. A man would have to keep it perfectly, to justify himself before a
perfectly holy God. Was this the course that the Gentiles in the assembly wanted to take?
v. 4 These Gentiles had been taking in the truth that they heard, in the assemblies; becoming enlightened to
Christ. When Paul says they have fallen from grace, he doesnt mean that they have lost their salvation.
These Gentiles in the assembly that he is addressing here do not have salvation; they havent yet believed
into Christ.
Instead, the idea is that they have fallen off course; what course? The course of grace; the course that
would take them to Christ, and His salvation. If they now choose to pursue the course of works, that is an
entirely different, separate course from the course of grace; in fact, an opposite course.
And instead of coming closer and closer to Christ, until they fully trust in Him for their salvation, works
will take them further and further away from Him, until He becomes a complete stranger to them. Is that
the course they want?
v. 5 Notice the change in pronouns - from you to we. Paul is now speaking of the believers, including
himself.
Having followed the course of grace all the way to Christ, the believers are now resting in His finished
work, on their behalf. Having been justified by faith, to be made the righteousness of God in Christ, the
believers are simply waiting for the realization of their know-so hope - as glorified sons of God.
What a contrast to the sad thinking of the other Gentiles in the assembly, who think theyve got to work and keep on working for their salvation!

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v. 6 Paul is saying that for those who believe, circumcision doesnt do anything. Why? Because they
already have the circumcision made without hands, having put off the body of death through union with
Christ, by faith. Having been united together in the likeness of Christs death, they will be in the likeness of
His resurrection (Rm 6:5) - in glorified bodies of eternal Life.
So for those who believe, circumcision doesnt work for them. What does work for them? Faith. Faith
works. Faith effected their justification, and now, it continues to work, throughout their earthly course - as
they are being sanctified. God, in His great love with which He loves us, is working that work, though our
faith. Faith works through God, who is Love.
But now, Paul goes back to the unbelieving Gentiles, in the assembly.
v. 7 These Gentiles had been running quite well along the course of grace - but now they had been
hindered. This is an athletic expression, referring to jostling and throwing a participant out of the way; off
course, in a race.
These Gentiles had been approaching a decision about Christ, to obey the truth of the gospel; and then
someone had tripped them up. Paul asks, who knocked you off course? The question is meant rhetorically,
to get the Gentiles in the assembly to realize that theyd been deceived.
v. 8-9 Paul was saying that this influence, that the Gentiles were being swayed by, wasnt from God; God
was calling them to become His sons, through faith in Christ. This influence would keep them from Gods
purpose, for them.
So who would be the source of this influence? The evil one, who was working his influence through
human agents that bought into his religious system of works, and then peddled that thinking, to others (2
Cor 2:17).
Then Paul uses leaven as an example, of what was happening in the Galatian assemblies. Notice that this is
identical to his wording in our letter. So in this context, what do the leaven and the whole lump of dough
represent? The false doctrine that was spreading throughout the Galatian assemblies - works-based
salvation; that evil, pervasive thinking.
In fact, in the NT, leaven exclusively represents false doctrine. Jesus also used it to mean this. We find one
such case in a rather humorous exchange between Jesus and His disciples.
Turn to Matthew chapter 16. Now, Jesus had just miraculously multiplied loaves of bread and fish to feed
the multitudes - for the second time. After that, the Pharisees and the Sadducees had come to Jesus, testing
Him once again - asking Him for a sign, when He had done sign after sign.
After denying their request, Jesus left them, departing with His disciples by boat, to go to the other side of
the Sea of Galilee. It was then that the disciples realized they had forgotten something.
[Matthew 16:5-12]
v. 5 We can take it that the disciples were likely discussing this omission in the hearing of Jesus, because of
what He says next.
v. 6 The disciples were occupied with their thoughts concerning material provision. But Jesus was
occupied with them being prepared to be His sent apostles.

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After His last encounter with the Pharisees and the Sadducees, Jesus knew He must warn His disciples,
concerning them. And so to capture their attention, Jesus played off of the idea of bread, using leaven.
But the disciples didnt understand His meaning.
v. 7 Obviously, they werent following Jesus on this; their thinking was still consumed with the things of
the earth, here - specifically, bread. And trying to reason it out in their minds was clearly unproductive!
v. 8-11 So what was Jesus saying? That faith would have shown them He wasnt talking about them not
bringing bread; faith would have caused them to remember the miracles He just did; multiplying the loaves
and the fish.
Faith would have understood that Jesus could make bread - anytime He wanted. Faith would have caused
them to move past the earthly appearances - no bread - to the spiritual realities - beware of the leaven. But
once they began to look through eyes of faith, their understanding was enlightened.
v. 12 So now the disciples understood Jesus warning to them - to beware of the teaching of the religious
rulers - and they would heed it. The disciples may even have connected this with the parables that Jesus
had taught, concerning the Kingdom - for one of those parables concerned leaven.
Turn back to Matthew chapter 13. Jesus had taught these parables to great multitudes that had gathered, as
well as to His disciples. These parables are prophecies concerning the kingdom of God - which Matthew
calls the kingdom of heaven. There are seven parables in all - the complete picture, of how God will set up
His kingdom.
The first two are the parables of the Sower, and of the wheat and the tares, which concern the spread of the
gospel, and false teachers of the evil one, who try to ruin Gods harvest of souls.
The second two parables concern the mustard seed and the leaven - thats the one well be looking at today.
These parables both pertain to the church.
The third set of two are the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, which both relate to
Israel, set aside during the church age, but coming forth as the remnant through the suffering of the
Tribulation.
And the last parable, the parable of the dragnet, pertains to the Gentile nations. After the Tribulation, the
rebels will be judged, and the rest gathered into the kingdom, for the thousand year reign of Christ on the
earth.
So lets return to the two parables concerning the church. First well read the parable of the mustard seed.
[Matthew 13:31-32]
The parable of the mustard seed speaks of the outward form of the church. A mustard seed naturally
produces a mustard plant, which is by nature a small herbaceous bush.
The idea of this seed growing into a great tree shows unnatural growth; that which was not right, by nature.
So this parable reflects not the true church, but the monstrosity of Christendom, with all of its division;
with its many branches of denominations.

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Those branches create an inviting home for birds to nest; and they reproduce there, after their kind. Now in
Scripture, even in the first parable, the birds of the air represent the emissaries of the evil one (Lk 8:5). The
idea is that the world system has made its home in Christendom, and men in the flesh are multiplying there,
in droves.
Now lets read the parable of the leaven, in verse 33.
[Matthew 13:33]
The meal is flour. Since the woman is adding leaven to the flour, is the flour initially leavened? No; it
must be unleavened.
In the offerings, unleavened flour represents Christ in His perfect humanity; fine flour, without any lump of
self, without any leaven - no evil thought, motive, word, conduct.
There are three measures of the meal - these are the great measures of Christs work, as the perfect man.
Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and He rose again the third day,
according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4). Taken together, we have the gospel of Christ.
But then there is a woman, and she is introducing leaven to the meal; in fact, she is hiding it in the meal.
Who is this woman? Considering the place in prophetic history, this is the same woman described as a
harlot in the Revelation of Jesus Christ; Babylon the Great; the religious system, of the world (Rev 17).
And the leaven that she is introducing to the gospel are her evil doctrines; the worlds religious thinking.
She is mixing the lies of religion in with the truth of Christ. And here, Jesus was indicating that the woman
would be successful in her efforts.
When we look at Christendom in our day, we see that this is certainly the case; its all mixed up. But God
has preserved the truth in His Word, so that those who desire to know the truth can still find it.
[Return to First Corinthians 5]
As we consider what Paul is saying to the Corinthian believers in light of the way leaven is used in the NT,
his meaning becomes very clear.
Your glorying is not good - the Corinthians were boasting in their new versions of the gospel, having
mixed in some Greek philosophy with it. That was the leaven, in their case - their no-good doctrines.
And just as leaven spreads invisibly throughout the whole lump, that thinking had spread throughout their
assembly, puffing up the believers with spiritual pride, while at the same time breaking out in the
corruption of sin: envy, strife, divisions, as well as more heinous sin.
And the effect on the gospel? Like the pure grain with the leaven, it was being consumed in the process, till
soon there would be nothing but mixed up thinking left, in Corinth.
It was in this way that Paul was showing the Corinthian believers that they were really the cause of this
abomination that was being carried out in their midst. Their mixture of thinking permitted it to exist; even
to be perpetuated. They had created this darkness, in the church in Corinth, through their darkened
thinking - and darkness is the atmosphere which is conducive to sin.

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So Paul tells them what they must do, to remedy the situation; and whats that, in verse 7? Purge out the
old leaven; get rid of that old evil thinking - the thinking of this world.
How will they do that? After all, theyve got quite of mixture of thinking in their heads now, havent they?
Well, who helps us to get rid of our old thinking? The Spirit of truth; the Holy Spirit.
As they hold up everything to the light of the Spirit within them, they will clearly discern what is of Christ
and what isnt. Their part is to then let that old worldly thinking go. Why should they? So they can be
what they truly are. As Christ Ones, they truly are unleavened.
Paul explains this statement - that they truly are unleavened - on the basis of Christ - as our Passover,
sacrificed for us. As we learned last week, unleavened bread was prepared by the children of Israel to be
eaten with their Passover lambs. That unleavened dough was then taken with them when they hastily left
Egypt; and as they followed hard after the LORD, there was no time to leaven their dough; they continued to
eat unleavened bread.
This was then commemorated by having the feast of Unleavened Bread begin at the close of the feast of
Passover. In this way, Unleavened Bread begins with a look back, a remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ.
It was by the sacrifice of Christ that the believers in Corinth were sanctified; they were delivered from the
world system, and set apart to God, as a new creation - just as the children of Israel had been delivered
from Egypt. And it would be in keeping that fixed in their minds that they would be able to follow Pauls
exhortation, in verse 8. Well read it again.
v. 8 You can see that Paul is speaking of the feast of Unleavened Bread here, with his references to leaven.
He says, they were not to keep that feast with old leaven. The terms Paul uses to qualify this - malice and
wickedness - which usually mean evil in motive and conduct - are set in juxtaposition to sincerity and truth.
The Corinthian believers had been led by their strong desires for self. Self-love is an evil motivation - and
its what led to their sinful conduct. Pauls point is thats old leaven - the thinking of their former manner
of life - as men in the flesh. They are no longer in the flesh - so they must no longer think that way.
Instead, they are to keep the feast with the unleavened, of sincerity and truth. Sincerity speaks of pure,
selfless motivation - what else could we call that? Love for - others. And the truth? Not merely knowing
it; but living it. As a new creation in Christ Jesus, this was to be their thought and their way.
But this was not something that they had ever known, in their former manner of life; how would they come
to know it? They had a Teacher residing within them, to lead them every step of the way.
And as they chose to follow the Spirits lead, they would no longer be conformed to this world, which is a
lie; they would be transformed, by the renewing of their minds, with the pure thinking of God (Rm 12:2) the truth, that set them free. And in this way, the way of sanctification, they would keep the feast.
Remember we had learned in Exodus chapter 12 that the feast of Unleavened Bread began with a holy
convocation, or gathering of the people - no work was to be done - and on that day, they together partook of
the Lamb and the unleavened bread.
Then the feast continued for seven days - no leaven was to be found in any of their houses, and they were
not to eat any leaven. And then the feast ended with another holy convocation - no manner of work, on
their part, as they gathered together once again.

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The new people of God, the church, have come forth out of the death of Christ. We have been sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all (Heb 10:10) - He did all of the work, and we
just rest in it, by faith. There is the first holy convocation, or gathering of the people - as the Body of
Christ.
The seven days represents the completion of our earthly course - which is in progress. We are learning to
be what we truly are - unleavened - a sanctified people.
And when our course is complete, Jesus will return for us, and receive us to Himself (Jn 14:3). Then we
will be gathered together with one another, and gathered up into the arms of our Bridegroom - for the final
holy convocation, in fulfillment of this feast - in the New Jerusalem, the place He has prepared for us;
resting in His finished work of sanctification; holy as God is holy.
Paul was exhorting the Corinthians - and the Spirit bears witness to us - let us keep the feast. Let us
choose, in the here and now, moment by moment, day by day, to be the sanctified people that Christ has
made us.
Reading: 2 Cor 6:14-18; Rev 20:11-15; 2 Th 3:6-15; 2 Cor 2:4-11.