BE WISE

 

 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 

1.      Paul reveals in vs 1-5, that there is man in the church who is doing something that even pagans, who he means are Romans and Greeks would not do.  He was sleeping with his Father’s wife.  Most likely his mother. 

2.      The church was proud and tolerating it.  They should instead be mourning and unhappy about it.  Most scholars believe the reason they did this is because he was a church leader a wealthy aristocrat and a high ranking official in the city.  They cared more about his position, wealth, and status than what was right. 

3.      That is why Paul said even though he was not with them he had already passed judgment because Paul knew him.  

4.      Paul was rebuking the church because they had failed followed the proper protocols for church discipline.  You talk to the person once something is known, if unresolved you bring someone you both respect and trust, if still not resolved you bring if before the church leadership and the last recourse is you ask them to leave.  Jesus taught this in Matt 18. 

5.      Paul says that when thy are assembled he is with them in spirit and the power of the Lord Jesus is present.  Paul is making it known that he feels responsible and that the influence and reputation has been severely damaged.

6.      It is also clear from verse 5, this man has not repented so they need to leave him to his own devices.  There is a natural progression and this man needed to be let go so that he would become like the prodigal he would come to himself.  This also alludes to a very important truth.  We protect each other.

 

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?

 

1.      They were boasting about this person being in their church.  That is what is happening today the church has compromised on lifestyle choices, doctrine, motivational or self-centred therapy.  The Bible is the only book that can reform society and meet head on with truth the cultural standards of this progressive and politically correct world. 

2.      Paul uses a baking analogy a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.  He forms this thought in a question?  A little sin tolerated with lead eventually to total breakdown in morality.  Remember we are the enlightening and restraining force in this world.  We are the ones who are holding back evil in our marriages, families, churches, communities, provinces, and country.  The enemy cannot take this country because we are still here.  When the enemy comes in like a flood, we are the one who are the standard raised up to stop him. 

 

7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

 

1.      Paul says that this old yeast, which is worldly, earthly, sensual, demonic, and rooted in idolatry must be rid from our lives.  He says you are a new batch of yeast.  You have a new Savior, Lord, and Master.  You have a new nature, character, and essence.  You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Your past has been forgiven, and your future is secure and exciting.  The old has gone and new has come.  Forget those things in the past and press onward and upward to your future.   

2.      Jesus Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.  This is an exodus analogy familiar with his Jewish audience.  Jesus broken body, shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection was about salvation, redemption, and new life.  It cost God everything .

 

8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 

1.      He then tells them to keep the celebration of our life not with the old leaven of malice which is the intention or desire to do evil; and wickedness which is the quality of being evil or morally wrong.  Remember that is not who we are any longer. Our faith is shown by our actions. 

2.      We have a new nature like unleavened bread.  We have sincerity which is the quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy. Our beliefs are unquestionable.  We are honest, truthful, genuine and walk with integrity. 

3.      We walk in truth because we have the truth in the person of Jesus Christ.  Our belief is based in the person of Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life.  The Bible is reliable in is authenticity.  It has been verified in the lives of billions over the centuries.  Jesus’ resurrection proved beyond a shadow of a doubt Jesus was who said He was. 

 

Conclusion

 

1.       Paul would close this chapter on two points.  One who lists what type of people we should be careful with who we associate or hang out. 

2.      He then says he will not judge or condemn the world or those who live in it because that is God’s role and responsibility.  He says however when it comes to those in the church, family of God or fellow believers we have a responsibility to inspect fruit.  We should be quick to exhort, clarify, correct, and comfort one another.  Love does allow dangerous behavior to continue without am attempted intervention.