1 Corinthians 5:7
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Notice how Paul doesn't just tell them to get rid of the bad stuff, but reminds them they already are unleavened in Christ. This means the "cleansing" isn't about earning their status, but about living out the reality of who God has already made them to be through the sacrifice of Jesus.
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man in a relationship with his father's wife. He's telling them to expel this unrepentant person from their community, likening the spread of sin to leaven corrupting dough, and urging them to live according to their new identity in Christ, who has been sacrificed for them. This call for purity is directly linked to the ongoing celebration of Passover, a festival symbolizing liberation and new beginnings.
Paul uses a powerful image of baking to talk about sin. What does 'leaven' represent, and why does it need to be removed?
The Danger of Old Leaven
Leaven, or yeast, in baking causes dough to rise and expand. In the ancient Jewish context, leaven was often associated with something that could corrupt or spread. It represented anything that would cause spiritual corruption or moral decay.
Paul is telling the Corinthian church to actively remove this 'old leaven' – meaning the unrepentant sin and corrupting influences within their community. Just like old leaven can spoil a whole batch of dough, sin can ruin the spiritual health of the church. They needed to deal with it decisively.
Becoming a New Lump
Paul contrasts this 'old leaven' with a 'new lump.' This transformation is possible because of who they are in Christ. They 'really are unleavened' – meaning, in their identity in Christ, they are meant to be pure and free from sin's corruption. The command to cleanse is about living out this new identity.
The verse pivots from baking to a profound theological truth about Christ. Why is Jesus called our 'Passover lamb'?
The Sacrifice of the Lamb
In the Old Testament, the Passover lamb was sacrificed to protect the Israelites from judgment and secure their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Its blood, applied to the doorposts, was a sign of redemption and freedom.
Paul declares that 'Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.' This means Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice. His blood doesn't just protect us from physical death; it delivers us from the slavery of sin and reconciles us to God, averting eternal judgment. This sacrifice is the foundation for our cleansing and new life.
Understand the original words
pascha · Greek Noun
The annual Jewish feast commemorating the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery, centered on the sacrifice of a lamb; in the New Testament, it points to Jesus Christ as the final sacrificial Lamb whose death secures the redemption of His people.
Paul powerfully connects the ancient Passover ritual, centered on the sacrifice of a lamb and the removal of leaven, to the death of Christ and the need for the church to live in purity.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses. This event establishes the Passover as a central feast commemorating God's deliverance and judgment on Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
Institution of the Passover Feast
God institutes the Passover feast, commanding the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and eat unleavened bread for seven days to remember their liberation.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Following the Exodus, the Israelites under Joshua conquer the Promised Land, establishing their presence there and continuing their religious practices, including Passover.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling many Judeans. This marks a period of spiritual crisis and reevaluation for the people of God.
This passage describes the original institution of the Passover feast, where unleavened bread was commanded to be eaten for seven days, directly linking to Paul's metaphor of cleansing out leaven.
Leviticus 23:42This verse reiterates the command to dwell in booths for seven days during the Feast of Tabernacles, which also involved eating unleavened bread, highlighting the theme of setting apart and remembrance in Israel's festivals.
John 1:29John the Baptist declares Jesus as the 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,' directly connecting to Paul's identification of Christ as our Passover lamb and the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
1 Peter 1:18-19Peter reminds believers they were redeemed with precious blood, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot, reinforcing the concept of Christ's sacrificial purity as our Passover offering.
Notice how Paul doesn't just tell them to get rid of the bad stuff, but reminds them they already are unleavened in Christ. This means the "cleansing" isn't about earning their status, but about living out the reality of who God has already made them to be through the sacrifice of Jesus.
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man in a relationship with his father's wife. He's telling them to expel this unrepentant person from their community, likening the spread of sin to leaven corrupting dough, and urging them to live according to their new identity in Christ, who has been sacrificed for them. This call for purity is directly linked to the ongoing celebration of Passover, a festival symbolizing liberation and new beginnings.
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man in a relationship with his father's wife. He's telling them to expel this unrepentant person from their community, likening the spread of sin to leaven corrupting dough, and urging them to live according to their new identity in Christ, who has been sacrificed for them. This call for purity is directly linked to the ongoing celebration of Passover, a festival symbolizing liberation and new beginnings.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Corinthians 5:7 is available in the Sola app.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This period sees a renewed emphasis on purity and covenant faithfulness.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem during the Passover season, fulfilling the prophetic significance of the Passover lamb as a sacrifice for sin.
c. AD 55
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthian church, addressing issues of division, immorality, and theological understanding, including the meaning of Christian fellowship and purity.
"Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." — Notice how Paul doesn't just tell them to get rid of the bad stuff, but reminds them they already are unleavened in Christ. This means the "cleansing" isn't about earning their status, but about li…
