LEAVEN

BY: PASTOR ELISHEVA BEZUIDENHOUT

A Symbol of Influence

What’s Rising in Your Life?

Leaven is a substance that causes dough to ferment and rise, and though it may seem like a very small ingredient that is added to the rest of the substance, it has a powerful and by far expanding influence.

In the Scripture, leaven carries layered meanings which is often a warning sign. Leaven has the power to rise not only in a physical sense but spiritually that can spread into corruption.

Understanding Leaven in Scriptural Context, we will discover how it expand silently, yet its effect becomes visible as the dough begins to rise and change. In the same way, spiritual leaven can work silently within our hearts, shaping or changing our attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors. And whether that leaven is righteous or unrighteous, its effect will soon be evident.

The Passover and the Urgency to Be Unleavened
During the Feast of Passover, YHVH commanded the Yisraelites to remove all leaven from their homes (Exodus 13:7). This was not just a dietary rule; it was a spiritual connection which symbolized their Egypt bondage, sin, and the former life. By removing leaven, they were physically and spiritually separating themselves from the past to walk in holiness and freedom into new beginnings.

Deuteronomy 16:3
“You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste.”

This is a call for us too, to be quick to leave behind the things that enslave us spiritually and be ready for the journey of transformation.


The Power of Leaven is that it does not just stay in one corner of the dough but spreads until the entire lump is leavened. Likewise, one person’s compromise can open the door for others to be influenced and fall into similar sin.

One seed of gossip, bitterness, or pride in a group can spoil the spirit of a entire unity. Just as one leader’s hypocrisy can mislead and spiritually harm generations.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7
“Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened.”


Just as leaven changes the nature of the dough, sin changes the nature of the heart and spirit, by slowly, subtly, but surely turn all into rising that impacts all around it. It ripples outward to families, friendships, and communities.

There are several types of negative leaven in our lives, some of the common "leavens" which we must guard ourselves against and remove from our midst.

The Leaven of Hypocrisy in (Luke 12:1), Yeshua warned us against the leaven of the Pharisees, which was hypocrisy, the performance of holiness without the inward heart change. Hypocrisy hardens the heart and makes it difficult to receive the truth.

A Question to be asked is:- Are we living two lives, one for others to see and one in secret?

There are also the Leaven of False Doctrine (Matthew 16:11-12) False teachings distort the truth of YHVH’s Word and can lead many astray. Even a little twist in doctrine, if accepted, spreads like yeast in dough.


Are we testing teachings against Scripture, or simply accepting what pleases our ears? People follow people not because the speak the truth, but because of what they say pleases them.

The Leaven of Pride and Self-Righteousness puffs up, just like leaven. When we think too highly of ourselves, we become blind to our own need for repentance. Are we more focused on appearing holy than actually being transformed?

The Leaven of bitterness and offense often starts small, small comment or a misunderstanding can permeates our whole spirit and defiles many (Hebrews 12:15).

Is there a hidden grudge in our hearts that’s spreading like leaven?
This brings us to the leaven of complacency. Sometimes, leaven is simply the slow rot of apathy. When we stop praying, seeking, and growing, spiritual decay sets in silently. Are we rising in the Spirit, or have we settled for spiritual flatness?

Positive Leaven is known as "The Kingdom’s Hidden Power". Yeshua also used leaven positively in His parables.

In Matthew 13:33, He said:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

This time, leaven is the transforming, spreading power of the Kingdom of YHVH. When we carry His Spirit within us, His righteousness, love, and truth spread naturally, touching homes, workplaces, and even society.Your quiet forgiveness in a toxic family might be the spark of healing.

Your hidden prayers might shift destinies. While your faithfulness in hardship might encourage others to keep believing.

How will we clean out the leaven?

First step is to start examine yourself, asking the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) to reveal any hidden leaven within, unconfessed sin, wrong motives, secret struggles.

Dont resist to quickly repent. Just as Yisrael had to remove leaven in haste before Passover, don’t delay in cleansing your heart.

We have to at all times guard ourselves from being Influenced easily. We all can be influenced, whether by loved ones, our children, friends, or followers. Ask yourself:- "What kind of leaven are we sowing into others?"

YHVH desire us to be a "Leaven of Light" where we allow the leaven of the Kingdom to rise in us. Let His presence work through you to transform others.

Leaven Is Always avtive. The lesson of leaven is this: Whatever is inside you will eventually rise. If you feed the flesh, sin will rise. If you feed the Spirit, holiness will rise.

You are not isolated. Your choices affect others. Your words carry weight. Your heart condition matters.

Let us therefore become the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8), a people set apart for YHVH, ready to reflect His light in a world that desperately needs it.

Our Heavenly Father and Great I Am. We come to You sinfully and full of leaven, asking that You will cleanse us from every hidden leaven that corrupts us physically and spiritually. Please remove the leaven of pride, hypocrisy, falsehood, hatred and bitterness from our lives. Fill us instead with the leaven of Your Kingdom. Let Your righteousness rise in us and overflow into the lives of those around us. Help us to be Your light, walking in the footsteps of Yeshua HaMashiach. May we be found sincere, truthful, and full of light especially in these dark times we are

living. Please give us Your spirit to recognize the truth and walk in it. Let Your kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Please give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from all evil. Amein