The Rising of Bread

Lore & Background

In the Old Testament law, leaven (which causes bread to rise) is explicitly prohibited in grain offerings made by fire to the Lord (Leviticus 2:11). This prohibition is tied to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, where for seven days only unleavened bread is to be eaten, and any leaven must be removed from houses; eating leavened bread during this time results in being cut off from Israel (Exodus 12:15). These passages establish leaven as something set apart from holy offerings and associated with a period of purification and remembrance. In the New Testament, leaven takes on metaphorical meanings. Jesus tells a parable that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened (Matthew 13:33), suggesting a pervasive, transformative growth. Conversely, Paul uses leaven negatively, rebuking the Corinthians for boasting and reminding them that 'a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump' (1 Corinthians 5:6), implying that a small amount of sin or corruption can affect the entire community. The word 'rising' also appears in the context of physical ailments, particularly in Leviticus, where a 'rising' (a swelling or bump) on the skin is examined by a priest to determine if it is leprosy (Leviticus 13:2, 10, 19, 28, 43; 14:56). Additionally, many passages command individuals to 'rise up'—for example, Pharaoh tells Moses and Aaron to 'rise up' and leave Egypt (Exodus 12:31), and Moses calls on the Lord to 'rise up' and scatter enemies (Numbers 10:35). These uses are unrelated to bread but share the same root word in English translations.

Reader's Guide

The passages portray 'the rising of bread' primarily through the concept of leaven, which is treated with strict regulations in the Old Testament and as a potent symbol in the New Testament. In Leviticus 2:11 and Exodus 12:15, leaven is forbidden in offerings and must be removed during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing purity and separation from sin or corruption. The command to eat unleavened bread for seven days (Exodus 12:15) reinforces this theme of a holy, set-apart time. In the New Testament, leaven's rising action is used in contrasting ways. Matthew 13:33 presents leaven positively, as a hidden force that gradually transforms the whole batch of meal, symbolizing the expansive, quiet growth of God's kingdom. In contrast, 1 Corinthians 5:6 uses leaven negatively, warning that a small amount can corrupt the entire 'lump' of the church, urging believers to purge sin. These passages together show leaven as a dual symbol: it can represent either beneficial influence or corrupting sin, depending on context. The term 'rising' also appears in Leviticus for physical swellings (e.g., Leviticus 13:2, 10), which are symptoms of leprosy and require priestly examination. This medical use is distinct from bread but shares the word. Other passages use 'rise up' as a command for action (e.g., Exodus 12:31; Numbers 10:35), unrelated to bread. Thus, the subject of 'the rising of bread' is best understood through the leaven passages, which consistently link it to themes of purity, transformation, and communal integrity.

Did You Know?

• Leaven is forbidden in offerings made by fire to the Lord (Leviticus 2:11).
• During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, eating leavened bread results in being cut off from Israel (Exodus 12:15).
• Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to leaven that a woman hid in meal until the whole was leavened (Matthew 13:33).
• Paul warned that 'a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump' in the context of church discipline (1 Corinthians 5:6).