The Days of the Unleavened Bread is one of the Holy Days that Christians should observe today (Leviticus 23; 1 Corinthians 5:8). It is filled with deep meaning that we all should understand and take note of. In this post, let me share with you the 5 symbols of the Days of Unleavened Bread that come with profound meaning.

Introduction to Days of Unleavened Bread

Did you know that in 2022, 80% of the world’s population consumed bread? Now, in the Philippines, we know that our staple food is rice. However, that doesn’t mean that Filipinos don’t eat bread. In fact, about 88% of Filipinos eat bread at any time of the day. That’s equivalent to 88 million Filipinos.

Now, it’s quite interesting how God uses the most common type of physical food to teach powerful spiritual lessons. That’s why, I want to share with you the 5 symbols of the Days of Unleavened Bread to help us better understand the significance of this Holy Day.

1. Yeast (leaven)

Part of keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread is to remove leaven out of our dwelling place. The most commonly used leavening agent both in the old and modern times is the yeast and it is this type of leavening that is removed from the dwelling places of the Israelites. To better understand how yeast works, we must know its properties. 

We read in the Bible about removing yeast or leaven starting in Exodus 12:15:

¹⁵ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 

¹⁹ For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. ²⁰ You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’ ” Exodus 12:19-20

⁶ Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. ⁷ Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. Exodus 13:6-7

So, we have clear instructions here, which include:

• Remove leaven in your dwelling place
• Eating leavening products is prohibited
• You shall eat unleavened bread

At the center of this instruction, we must remove leaven in our lives. So, what is so special about leaven that it is specifically identified as something that we must avoid? To answer this question, we must understand its different properties.

What is yeast?

Yeast is a microscopic fungus commonly used in baking to leaven bread and other baked goods. When yeast is added to the dough, it consumes sugars and produces carbon dioxide gas through fermentation. This gas gets trapped in the dough, causing it to rise and create a light and airy texture in the finished product.

In the Bible, we learn that yeast or leaven is often used to symbolize sins. Later, we will go through those Bible verses. But for now, I invite you to read Galatians 5:9:

A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 

Physically speaking, yeast has three characteristics that perfectly embody how sin works.

1. Yeast is difficult to remove.

Once you have added yeast to a dough, you will have a hard time removing the small tidbits of yeast. Especially when you have already mixed yeast into the dough, you won’t be able to remove the yeast anymore.

The same is true with our spiritual life. Like yeast, sin is difficult to remove in our lives. We all have struggled with sin. Even the Apostle Paul, who is already considered to be a truly converted man wrote this in Romans 7:14-20:

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

2. Yeast corrupts.

Yeast is a type of fungus that can contribute to food spoilage. You may have encountered food with a greenish or grayish surface, often resembling a foamy layer of small hairs. This shows you that yeast, although can make your bread tasty and delicious, can cause your bread to spoil.

Like yeast, sin can and will surely corrupt us. James 1:15 tells us:

¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 

3. Yeast puffs up.

As I mentioned earlier, yeast eats sugar and as a byproduct, they produce carbon dioxide gas. This gas gets trapped inside the dough, which causes the dough to rise. In effect, it puffs the dough.

Now, there are different ways we may get puffed up. These are the following:

• We are puffed up by pride:

In the Bible, sin also puffs us up in the form of pride. 1 Corinthians 8:1 tells us:

¹ Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 

• We are puffed up by following a false leader:

⁶ Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 1 Corinthians 4:6

The phrase “that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other” highlights the danger of pride and division. Paul is cautioning against the Corinthians elevating one leader or teacher over another, which could lead to arrogance and conflict within the church. Instead, he encourages them to maintain humility and unity, recognizing that all wisdom and authority ultimately come from God’s Word.

• We are puffed up by false humility:

¹⁸ Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Colossians 2:18

Sometimes, false humility is a subtle form of seeking attention or praise from others. We may downplay our achievements or virtues in an attempt to elicit compliments or admiration, which ultimately feeds our ego.

2. Leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians

In the BIble, we read about a certain type of leaven that we must all take note of. We read in Matthew 16:6:

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

So, we see here that there’s leaven peculiar to the Pharisees and the Sadducees. However, we also read another type of leaven in Mark 8:15:

¹⁵ Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

We have here three groups of people that Jesus (properly known as Yahshua) refer to as having leaven. Who are these people? Let me give you a quick overview:

Who are the Sadducees?

The Sadducees, a group largely composed of aristocrats, priests, and the elite, were deeply entrenched in Jewish religious and political life. They adhered strictly to the written Torah, rejecting the oral traditions embraced by the Pharisees. Their theological stance included skepticism about the resurrection of the dead, angels, and an afterlife. Sadducees wielded considerable influence within the Temple hierarchy, focusing on Temple cult rituals and sacrifices. Politically, they leaned towards accommodation with Roman rule, prioritizing stability in their governance approach.

Who are the Pharisees?

In contrast, the Pharisees represented a broader spectrum of society, including teachers, scholars, and common folk. They valued both the written Torah and oral traditions, emphasizing personal piety and moral purity. Unlike the Sadducees, Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, angels, and the afterlife. Their critical stance towards Roman influence aimed at preserving Jewish identity and independence.

Who are the Herodians?

The Herodians, mentioned in the New Testament, were primarily a political faction during Jesus’ time. They aligned themselves with Herodian rule, benefiting from the political and economic stability it offered. Some viewed Herod as a potential savior figure, envisioning prosperity through Roman alignment. Despite their disparate interests, these groups found common ground in opposing Jesus, perceiving Him as a threat to their authority and influence over the Jewish people.

The Leaven of the Pharisees, which is their doctrine

we read in Matthew 16:12:

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

What is the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees? 

The problem with the Sadducees and Pharisees is that they put more importance on their understanding and tradition than the true teachings of the Torah. Thus, we read Christ’s admonition in Mark 7:5-9:

⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

⁶ He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

⁷ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

⁹ He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 

The Pharisees and Scribes sitting on the Moses’ Seat

Now, here’s what we need to understand. The Pharisees were actually seen by the Jewish people as the highest authority in the religious order. Yahshua confirmed this in Matthew 23:1-3:

¹ Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, ² saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.

For us to better understand this verse, we must understand what Moses’ seat is all about. Moses’ seat actually represents the rabbinical authority. Some scholars point out that the rabbinical Jews see Moses’ seat like the way Catholics would look at the Pope today. Just like the Pope who has the power to overturn biblical commandments, the Pharisees have the power to overturn God’s command by their oral law and traditions.

So, when Yahshua said that the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, His audience understood the level of authority these people wielded during that time. Now, here’s where things get more interesting, verse 3 of Matthew 23 is telling us to observe and do whatever the Pharisees say but just not follow their works.

This creates a huge problem. Why? Because the Pharisees don’t simply teach the Torah, but also their oral traditions that often contradict the very word of God. Not only that but if you read through Matthew 23 and even the entirety of the Gospels, you would rarely read anything positive about these people. In fact, Yahshua would often correct them for their wrong beliefs.

So, why would Yahshua command us to follow the Pharisees’ teaching or doctrine when in fact, He calls those same doctrines as leaven?

The answer lies in the wrong copying of the manuscript. This is also proof that the Gospel of Matthew is actually written originally in Hebrew. According to Shem Tob’s Hebrew Gospel of Matthew, which is the oldest extant Hebrew version of the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew 23:3 should have been translated as, “Therefore whatever he tells you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”

So, we have here a clearer and more correct rendition of Matthew 23:3. Yahshua was saying that you do and follow what Moses teaches but don’t follow what the Pharisees and Scribes do.

How the doctrine of the Pharisees could still affect us today

Now, you might think, that’s good to know. However, it is not that important anymore since we don’t have the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees telling us what to do. However, we can commit the same error as the Jews on Christ’s Day.

How is this possible? This is possible when we make the teachings of men the basis of our doctrines today. For example, we don’t keep the Sabbath because this has been kept by the church for a long time. We don’t eat unclean food since the church has not been eating pork and shellfish for decades and even centuries.

The fact of the matter is that we keep the Sabbath because it is commanded by God as we read in His word. We don’t create a doctrine out of the teachings of others. We create a doctrine based on the infallible word of God.

That’s why, we must be careful when talking about doctrine and quoting church history or quoting teachers, elders, ministers and pastors. In truth, Matthew 23:1-3 is used by some people to support why they follow the Jewish Calendar. Oh, we must follow the Pharisees or the Sadducees because to them the law was committed. Sometimes, they will tell you, oh, this is what Mr. Armstrong taught, so we don’t need to change the church doctrine. Oh, this has been the tradition of the church for a long time, so, let’s not rock the boat anymore.

Brethren, that is actually the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Refusing to change long-held doctrines simply because it was the doctrine taught by the church leader or simply because of tradition is equivalent to the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

I hope you are now getting a deeper understanding of the danger of this leaven. Leaven isn’t just about sin. It can also include false teachings, doctrines, and beliefs.

The Leaven of Hypocrisy

Aside from the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Christ also warned another type of leaven of these groups of people, and I would say, it would also include the Herodians. We read in Luke 12:1:

1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Hypocrisy is one of the most difficult sins to detect and even see in our lives. In fact, all of us have a certain degree of hypocrisy, whether you know it or not!

What is hypocrisy?

Hypocrisy—it’s like wearing a mask, pretending to be someone we’re not. It’s when we care more about impressing others than staying true to who we really are. A hypocrite is all about seeking validation from people rather than seeking guidance and approval from God. They’re focused on putting on a performance of good deeds, craving the applause of others instead of finding fulfillment in serving and honoring God. It’s all about looking good on the outside while neglecting the heart within.

Notice what Yahshua mentioned in Matthew 23 and count how many times He said, “hypocrites.”

¹ Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, ² saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. ⁴ For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. ⁵ But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. ⁶ They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ Matthew 23:1-7

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Matthew 23:13-14

¹⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23:15

²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. ²⁴ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Matthew 23:23-24

²⁵ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:25

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous Matthew 23:27-29

I counted 7 times that Christ called the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites. 

Hypocrisy is a serious problem for many people today. It is so destructive that Yahshua said, “BEWARE.” The problem with being a hypocrite is that you become so good at deceiving others that you have also learned to deceive yourself.

Self-reflection to identify hypocrisy in our lives

To help you identify the leaven of hypocrisy in your life, let me share with you questions that you can ask yourself:

• Double Standards: Do I hold myself to the same moral standards that I expect from others?
• False Appearance: Am I genuinely portraying myself as I am, or am I projecting a false image to others?
• Judgmental Attitude: Do I tend to criticize or condemn others for behaviors that I myself engage in?
• Selective Obedience: Am I consistent in following moral principles, or do I conveniently ignore some when it suits me?
• Insincerity: Are my words and actions aligned, or do I often say one thing and do another?
• Self-Righteousness: Do I believe I am morally superior to others, and does this belief affect how I treat them?
• Religious Performance: Do I engage in religious practices genuinely out of faith, or am I just going through the motions for appearance’s sake?
• Lack of Integrity: Are my actions consistent with my stated values and principles, or do I act inconsistently?
• Hiding Mistakes: Do I acknowledge and address my faults and mistakes, or do I try to cover them up?
• Hypocritical Social Media Presence: Is my online persona an accurate reflection of who I am in real life, or am I projecting a false image for others to see?

I want you to honestly answer these questions. Once you find this leaven of hypocrisy, ask Yahweh to help you remove it from your life. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worth it as you grow in the knowledge and grace of our Master Yahshua. 

3. Old Leaven

We read in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7:

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? ⁷ Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 

Now, this is an important point that I want to make. The Days of Unleavened Bread pictures the removal of the old leaven, which symbolizes sin. Notice that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. This tells us that like leavening, it will start to corrupt us to the tiniest degree.

First, sin starts as a temptation, thought, and evil desire. If we entertain these temptations, we will act on them and eventually, it becomes a sin. Now, it doesn’t stop there. Little sins, when repeatedly done, will corrupt us. Like cancer, sin will spread in all aspects of our lives.

When Paul said that a little leaven or sin leavens the whole lump, it doesn’t just refer to the individual effects of sin. The truth is that your sin can also affect others. It can affect your spouse, your children, your family, your community, your country, the whole world, and even the church.

When the Apostle Paul was writing I Corinthians 5, he was dealing with a problem in the Corinthian church. They are actually tolerating sexual immorality committed by one of their members. Paul was telling them that even if it is a sin of a person, it will soon affect the whole body of Christ!

So, what should we do? We need to purge out the old leaven. In order for us to become a new lump, we must put out the old leaven. Now, remember, once you are leaven, it is impossible for you to remove sin. It takes supernatural help to separate the leaven from the lump and that’s exactly what we got.

It says that since you truly are unleavened. What made us unleavened? For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. You see, you can never become unleavened by ourselves. We are all corrupt. We have all been infected by the sting of death. It takes the sacrifice of Yahshua to wash us from our sins, meaning, it takes His sacrifice to remove sin from our lives!

So, don’t ever commit the mistake of thinking you can overcome sin by yourself. You need to get supernatural help from God.

4. Leaven of Malice and Wickedness

Now, one specific aspect of the old leaven that we need to get rid of is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:8:

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

Malice and wickedness are actually closely related. The main difference is that malice is more specific than wickedness. Not only that, but malice refers more to the intention or desire to cause harm to other people. On the other hand, wickedness also involves the act of causing harm and other immoral actions.

In short, we need to clean ourselves in our thoughts, words, and actions. It’s a complete cleansing. It’s like doing spring cleaning. You don’t simply sweep the floor, but rather, you go to every corner of your home and places you don’t frequently use and clean them.

²⁰ Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 1 Corinthians 14:20

Babes or children, by nature, are innocent. When they get into a fight or argument with other children, they easily forgive and forget. They would then just play again. There’s no ill will. There’s no planning of how they can get even or how they can get revenge.

So, what else do we need to remove from our lives? We read in Ephesians 4:31:

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 

Aside from those, Yahshua listed some of the important leaven that we should remove. We read in Mark 7:20-23:

²⁰ And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” 

5. Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 5:8:

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

We talked about yeast. We talked about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. We talked about the Old Leaven as well as the leaven of malice and wickedness. So far, we talked about what we must remove from our lives.

We need to understand that putting out leaven in our lives is not enough. We need to take in unleavened bread. It is like if we want to be healthy, we don’t simply stop eating junk food, drinking soft drinks, and unclean food. We must replace those with healthy food.

Sincerity comes from the eilikrineia, which means sincerity or purity. 

The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament described this as “sincere, pure, unsullied, free from spot or blemish to such a degree as to bear examination in the full splendor of the sun.”

This is the complete opposite of the old leaven. With sincerity, you don’t hide anything. 

On the other hand, truth came from the Greek word alētheia, which means true, pure, real, and genuine. You see, brethren, you need to couple sincerity with truth. Why? Because it is possible for you to be sincere about something that is false.

As you look at the world of Christianity today, a lot of Christians are actually sincere in their beliefs. Many of them study the word of God, do outreach programs, share the Gospel, and build a community of believers. Yet, when we look at the doctrines they teach, they are not of the truth. Thus, we can see that they are sincerely wrong.

What’s amazing about the Days of Unleavened Bread is that it makes these interesting connections that sometimes we tend to overlook and perhaps, haven’t noticed before. There’s actually a relation between malice and wickedness and sincerity and truth.

Here’s the important question we need to ask and understand, “How can we go from malice and wickedness to sincerity and truth?” It is through the living Word of God. The scripture is actually a bridge that will bring you from malice to sincerity, from wickedness to truth. The Bible is the primary tool to remove malice and wickedness from our lives.

We read in James 1:21:

²¹ Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Also in 1 Peter 2:1-3:

​¹ Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

John 17:17

¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Matthew 4:4

⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

As you can see, if we want to move from malice and wickedness to sincerity and truth, we need to read the Scripture, Study the Scripture, and live by the Scripture.

Final words

Brethren, those are the 5 symbols of the Days of Unleavened Bread that teach us valuable lessons about the deeper meaning of these days. Remember, we don’t simply focus on the physical bread. We don’t simply focus on avoiding leavening products.

We don’t simply remove leaven from our dwelling places. All these are simply physical analogies that teach us deeper spiritual lessons. These should remind us of the important message of the Days of the Unleavened Bread, which is to remove sin, in all its shapes and forms.

We must do our best in living an unleavened life because truly you are unleavened through the life, death, and sacrifice of our master and Savior Yahshua.

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