The Hebrews were forbidden by the law to eat leavened bread, or
a food with leaven in it, during the seven days of the passover, Exod.
xii, 15–19; Lev. ii, 11. They were very careful in purifying their
houses from all leaven before this feast began. God forbad either leaven
or honey to be offered to him in his temple; that is, in cakes or in any
baked meats. But on other occasions they might offer leavened bread or
honey. St. Paul, 1 Cor. v, 7, 8, expresses his desire that the faithful
should celebrate the Christian passover with unleavened bread; which,
figuratively, signifies sincerity and truth. In this he teaches us two
things; first, that the law which obliged the Jews to a literal
observance of the passover is no longer in force; and, secondly, that by
unleavened bread, truth and purity of heart were denoted. The same
Apostle alludes to the ceremony used at the passover, when he says, A
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump;” that is, a small portion of
leaven, in a quantity of bread or paste, corrupts the whole, and renders
it unclean. Our Saviour, in the Gospel, Matthew xvi, 11, warns his
Apostles to beware of the leaven of the Herodians and Pharisees; meaning
their doctrines.
a food with leaven in it, during the seven days of the passover, Exod.
xii, 15–19; Lev. ii, 11. They were very careful in purifying their
houses from all leaven before this feast began. God forbad either leaven
or honey to be offered to him in his temple; that is, in cakes or in any
baked meats. But on other occasions they might offer leavened bread or
honey. St. Paul, 1 Cor. v, 7, 8, expresses his desire that the faithful
should celebrate the Christian passover with unleavened bread; which,
figuratively, signifies sincerity and truth. In this he teaches us two
things; first, that the law which obliged the Jews to a literal
observance of the passover is no longer in force; and, secondly, that by
unleavened bread, truth and purity of heart were denoted. The same
Apostle alludes to the ceremony used at the passover, when he says, A
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump;” that is, a small portion of
leaven, in a quantity of bread or paste, corrupts the whole, and renders
it unclean. Our Saviour, in the Gospel, Matthew xvi, 11, warns his
Apostles to beware of the leaven of the Herodians and Pharisees; meaning
their doctrines.