A Little Leaven

…Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

1Cor:5:6b

I would like, for just a moment, for us to focus our attention on the above portion of Scripture. In fact it is from this portion of Scripture that this sermon’s title finds its name. Throughout the Holy Word of God, leaven is used most often in a symbolic fashion. Repeatedly in Scriptures we find it to symbolize something negative, however it is as our Lord uses it that I want to pay particular attention.

Mt:16:11,12:

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?

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.

Our Lord once again showing those with ears to hear and eyes to see what to watch out for. Once again I feel it important that we look to His admonition and pay heed to what He said regarding leaven of the Pharisees.

Notice in the portion of Scripture I’ve chosen for my text the Bible says, “a little leaven.” We have to remember that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. A little bit, not a lot. You see, it always starts out small. In a group or congregation it often starts out with one person. Perhaps they espouse the New Age (which really isn’t) nonsense of the idea of the universal Fatherhood of God. We may be tempted to say “oh, it’s ok, it’s no big deal, that's just so and so.” If left unchecked, it won’t be long before the entire congregation starts spouting similar nonsense or worse. Why? It is because a little leaven affects the whole.

The little leaven that we most definitely need to be on the lookout for is hypocrisy.    

Lk:12:1:

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 

Christ taught us that the leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy. Taking this one step further, the “little leaven” that leavens the whole lump then, is hypocrisy. A little hypocrisy, therefore, leavens the whole lump (congregation). In the twenty-third chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus Christ openly reproved the Scribes and Pharisees calling them by their rightful title. He called them hypocrites.

Mt:23:27:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

The above verse essentially gives us the definition of hypocrisy, that is, being more concerned about outward appearance as opposed to truth on the inward parts. See if the following doesn’t agree.

Mt:23:25:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

A hypocrite is concerned with the outward appearances. That’s their priority, their agenda. The idea is “to make it look good” rather than get it right on the inside. Truth,

therefore, is of secondary importance to a hypocrite. It is not of primary importance.

2 Tim 4:3,4:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

Though written to Timothy long ago, and speaking about not only those around Timothy, but also a future time, dare we say that time has come? As stated earlier, to a hypocrite (unless he repents of his hypocrisy and is cleansed) truth is not the most important thing. Therefore where a hypocrite will end up is already made known by the Scriptures, "they shall be turned unto fables." Moreover, hypocrites tend to have a form of godliness, but when it comes right down to the heart of the matter they deny the power of God and wallow in their hypocrisy. What are we to do with people in our midst's that are more concerned about the "form of godliness" than they are with the power of God and truth? The Scriptures are clear.

2Tm:3:5:

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This admonition may appear harsh and unloving to some, but in reality it is exactly what God commands concerning his love and our walk with Him.

Rom:12:9:

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

In our Christian walk, love is to be without dissimulation. Dissimulation, simply put, is hypocrisy. Many Christians erroneously have the idea that God's love is a wishy-washy, namby-pamby, lovey-dovey type of love. It isn't. Sometimes, particularly in the exposure of hypocrisy, the love of God can seem harsh. In the verse above, we are instructed to abhor that which is evil and to cleave to that which is good. Abhor is a great word, so descriptive and strong. We are to abhor hypocrisy. Our Lord gave instruction as to what a hypocrite is to do if he has ears to hear and eyes to see.

Mt:23:26:

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

A hypocrite requires a change of agenda. They need to go from caring about the outward appearance to the cleansing of that which is on the inside. In reality, it means going from caring more about what God thinks of us, than we do about what people think of us. This seems to be a difficult decision for some as they are truly more concerned with appearances than truth. Moreover, our Lord tells us what is on the inside of a hypocrite.

Lk:11:39:

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Accordingly, we read the following spoken from the lips of Jesus.

Mt:23:28:

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

These are the trademarks of a hypocrite. They outwardly appear righteous unto men but as our Lord taught they have a problem on the inside that needs to be dealt with. Throughout the Scriptures there are many instances of hypocrites being exposed in their sin and folly. After all, people may be able to be fooled with appearances, but God isn't.

Heb:4:13:

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

This is the premise we must start from if hypocrisy is to be exposed and eradicated. Remember that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The fact is that hypocrites tend to think that their sin is hidden and their hypocrisy won't be found out or exposed. As is repeatedly demonstrated throughout the Scriptures, however, sooner or later hypocrisy will be exposed.