A Little Leaven Affect the Whole 1 Corinthians 5:6

The report of “fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife” was in the church of Corinth, and some in the church were “puffed up” and had “not rather mourned” because of it. Though Paul was “absent in the body” he was “present in the spirit” and “had judged already concerning him that has so done this deed”. He told the church when they were “gathered” in “name and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ” they should “deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh”, and in chapter five and verse six of First Corinthians, Paul told the church members in Corinth, “your glorying is not good” where we read:

Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

The verse begins, “Your glorying is not good. ” Paul began with the words, “Your glorying” which means “the church members' boasting” “is not good” or “is not honest and better”. Paul declared the “boasting” from the church members in Corinth as not a “good” thing.

The verse goes on to say, “... Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” Paul continued with the words, “know you not” which means “don't you see, perceive, notice, discern and discover” “that a little leaven” or “because and since a small number of inveterate mental and moral corruption is viewed in its tendency to infect others” “leavens” which means “mixes to cause fermentation and infection to” “the whole lump” which refers to “all and complete any substance mixed with water and kneaded”. Paul used the example of “leaven” in bread to describe what a small amount fermentation causes in a whole lump of bread.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we understand why he was concerned to “remove” this “sinful” person from the church. He used “leaven” in bread to describe how unaddressed “sin” would spread to the entire church which is why he was so concerned. The church members were “boasting” or “glorying” in their ability to “tolerate” the “fornication” that was among them, and Paul said this is not “good”. Jesus Christ knew “sin” must be removed from our lives, and “sin”, like “leaven”, must be taken away from the church. Should we discover any “leaven” let us be quick to remove it, and do so with a diligent, merciful and gracious heart like our Lord Jesus'.

Next time Paul instructs the church members to “purge out therefore the old leaven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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