Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 2/21/2011

Question
Hi Pastor Don,

I am reading the Bible from start to finish for the first time & I just have a couple minor questions, out of curiosity. They may even sound silly.

Why was it so important to eat bread without yeast during Passover? The Lord was so detailed in the way He wanted things to go and I was just wondering the importance of these details.

Why was circumcision so important? What is the relevance of that?

I really appreciate your time!

Blessings,
Shannon

Answer
Hi Shannon,

Thank you for this great question.  Actually, yeast was a picture of how sin works... a little of in infects the entire lump of dough.  

1 Corinthians 5:7 (AV)
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:

Matthew 16:6–12 (AV)
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Galatians 5:7–9 (AV)
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.


Circumcision was also a symbol of being different than all the other nations.  The people of Israel were to bear a physical trait that reminded them that they were unique as God's people.  This also symbolized spiritual holiness.

Jeremiah 4:1–4 (AV)
1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. 2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. 3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.


I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don