Clean Out the Old Leaven
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (NASB)
It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
SUMMARY
Paul recommends removing a man who committed sexual immorality with his stepmother from the church. The city of Corinth is known for sin and Paul compares the sin to yeast because just a small amount of leaven can grow really quickly just like sin. Paul emphasizes that the members of the church must be aware of their sins and to rid themselves of their sins right away.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
I can easily relate to this passage because I know first-hand how a small lump of sin can grow and grow. I would even justify why my sins were okay and kept doing them. The man who committed sexual immorality reminded me of myself in the past. I was addicted to pornography in high school and college. As the saying “hindsight is 20/20” goes, I realize why Paul emphasizes the removal of the smallest sin right away because it can grow very rapidly. My sins contaminated me and I lost sight of what was right and what was wrong. Also looking back on the days when I wasn’t a believer, I realized how lost I was and I wasn’t able to let go of my old lifestyle because I was selfish.
The verse that stood out to me was verse 7: “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” This verse resonated with me because sometimes when I am about to commit a sin, I would ask the Holy Spirit to help my flesh to overcome. I know I am sinful and that I am not able to tackle sin alone. Galatians 5:16 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
APPLICATION
In order to remind myself of my sins, I will repent of my sins in prayer. Also, sometimes I would worship other worldly idols rather than God. In order to keep God at the center of my life, I plan on praying every morning and reading a passage from the Bible. I plan on sharing what I read to my wife and what my reflection is on the passage.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your wisdom on how to steer away from sin. Thank You for always loving us even though we are sinful creatures and for sacrificing Your only Son to forgive us for all our sins. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide my flesh and help me to discern what is right and wrong in Your eyes. Help me rid myself of the leaven lump and help me to grow as a disciple of Christ. Help me become humble before You, Lord, and not worship other idols before You. Help take away my pride and selfishness.
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