Yeast - What's the deal?

July 15, 2013 Monday Message:

“Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1 NLT)

When God rescued his people from Egypt, He gave them special instructions through Moses. The Hebrews were to sacrifice a male lamb or goat and put some of its blood above their doors. Death would then “pass over” that house, the first “Passover.”

The meat from this sacrifice was to be part of their Passover meal, and the meal also came with specific instructions, as God put the rescue into play: be fully dressed, ready-to-go; tuck your shirt into your belt, so you can run quickly; wear shoes, so that you can get going; keep your walking stick in your hand; and eat quickly - we’ll be leaving soon!

And one more thing – don’t eat any bread made with yeast. In fact, get all the yeast out of the house for the entire week. What? In fact, Passover has come to be known as the Festival of Unleavened Bread. But why? The Bible doesn’t always tell us why. Sometimes it’s, “God says, so just do it!” My private theory is that yeast takes time to rise. It would take too long to make yeast-bread, and God wanted them ready-to-go at a moment’s notice. But that’s my commentary, not from the Bible, so don’t quote that part.

The Hebrew people were told that God’s rescue, the Passover, was a special day to remember, something to be celebrated from generation to generation, year after year. And so it was taught annually. That’s why Jesus could refer to getting the “yeast of the Pharisees hypocrisy” out of their lives, and people would know what he meant. All Jews knew about getting yeast out of the house, so they would understand the yeast “analogy” about getting the Pharisee hypocrisy out of their lives.

Jesus was just speaking their language! He’ll also meet YOU where you are.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, July 21, Jesus deals with Pharisee hypocrisy, and honoring God and the Holy Spirit, Luke 12:1-12. See you at church!

NL