LEAVEN in Scripture is what is generally called “yeast” in this country. When it is put into dough, it works all through it.
God sees fit to use leaven in Scripture as a symbol of evil, so in 1 Cor. 5:77Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7), God tells the Christians there, through the apostle Paul, to “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened” That is, that sin had been practiced by one among them and they had to put that person away from among them as being leaven, or they all would be marked with the same sin.
So it is, dear children, if we keep company with those who are evil—those who have bad ways—we become just like them. We may seek to do good to all, and seek to point to those who are going on in sin, the awful result of it, and also to point them to Jesus as the Saviour for poor sinners. But if we keep company with them, we will soon be like them and do as they do, for the Scripture again says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33). Again, “ABHOR THAT WHICH IS EVIL; CLEAVE TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD.” Rom. 12:99Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Romans 12:9). Yet one more, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thess. 5:2222Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The first of these three Scriptures shows us that if we go on with evil communications we will be corrupted by them. The second is, that we are to dislike evil, but good, we should cleave to. The third, that we must keep away even from the appearance of evil. That is, not to have anything with us that would look like having to do with it, even when we were not connected with it.
May this little lesson in connection with the leaven be of blessing to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
ML 06/24/1906