1 Corinthians 5:7, Purge Out the Old Leaven

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge 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:

Barnes observed well, “The apostle here takes occasion, from the mention of leaven, to exhort the Corinthians to put away vice and sin. The figure is derived from the custom of the Jews in putting away leaven at the celebration of the passover. By the old leaven he means vice and sin; and also here the person who had committed the sin in their church. As the Jews, at the celebration of the passover, gave all diligence in removing leaven from their houses–searching every part of their dwellings with candles, that they might remove every particle of leavened bread from their habitations–so the apostle exhorts them to use all diligence to search out and remove all sin.”

Let the psalmist’s prayer be echoed in the hearts of God’s people “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).

May God’s people be willing to forsake sin and live in holiness before Him. Amen.