1 Corinthians 5:7-8
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The powerful truth here isn't just about getting rid of sin; it's that believers already are unleavened in Christ. The command to "cleanse out the old leaven" is an invitation to live out the new, pure identity that has been given to us because the ultimate Passover sacrifice has already been made.
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. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man living with his father's wife. He's urging them to deal with this sin decisively, using the imagery of Passover to emphasize the need for purity and a complete break from the past, just as ancient Israel was commanded to remove all leaven before the Passover feast. This cleansing is essential so the church can live out their new identity in Christ, who is the true Passover sacrifice.
The Apostle Paul uses a common household item to describe the spread of sin. What is it about 'leaven' that makes it such a powerful metaphor for corruption?
In ancient Jewish tradition, leaven (or yeast) was something that, when added to dough, would cause the whole batch to rise and ferment. It symbolized something that, even in a small amount, could permeate and corrupt the entire substance.
Paul uses this imagery to talk about the church in Corinth dealing with a grievous sin happening within their community. He's not just talking about personal sin, but how sin can spread and affect the whole body of believers if left unchecked. The command to 'cleanse out the old leaven' is a call to actively remove sinful practices that would corrupt the community's spiritual purity.
This passage hinges on a profound identification: Christ IS our Passover. What does this mean for how we understand salvation and our identity in Him?
The verse climaxes with the declaration: 'For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.' This is a massive theological statement that ties the Old Testament Passover feast directly to Jesus.
Just as the original Passover lamb's blood protected Israel from death and secured their freedom from slavery in Egypt, Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed to protect us from spiritual death and secure our freedom from the bondage of sin.
Our identity as 'unleavened' – pure and set apart – isn't something we achieve on our own. It's a reality we are because Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. Our cleansing and newness are a direct result of His finished work.
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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.
kakia · Greek Noun
A state of moral corruption characterized by a desire to harm others, bitterness, or malicious intent; it is considered contrary to the nature of a believer who has been redeemed.
eilikrineia · Greek Noun
The quality of moral purity, integrity, and transparency; it involves a heart that is free from hidden motives or deceit, characterized by a single-minded devotion to God.
Paul masterfully connects the ancient Passover ritual, a symbol of God's deliverance and the removal of impurity, to the sacrifice of Jesus. He calls the Corinthian church to embody their new identity in Christ by purging sin, just as the Israelites purged leaven during Passover.
c. 1446 BC
The First Passover in Egypt
God institutes the Passover feast during the Israelites' final night in Egypt, marking their liberation from slavery. The lamb's blood on doorposts signifies protection and redemption.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Led by Moses, the Israelites depart Egypt after Pharaoh finally relents. This event is foundational to Israel's identity as God's redeemed people.
c. 1446 BC
The Feast of Unleavened Bread Begins
Immediately following the Exodus, the Feast of Unleavened Bread commences, lasting seven days. Leaven (yeast) is forbidden, symbolizing haste and the removal of corruption.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians, and many Israelites are deported. This period of national crisis and spiritual reflection deeply impacts Jewish understanding of sin and purity.
c. AD 30— this verse
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God, is crucified in Jerusalem during Passover. His death is seen as the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the Passover lamb symbolism.
c. AD 55
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
The Apostle Paul writes this letter from Ephesus to the church in Corinth, addressing various issues including moral decay and theological misunderstandings.
This passage describes the original Passover command to remove leaven, directly tying into Paul's metaphor of 'cleansing out the old leaven' from the Old Testament Passover festival.
John 1:29John the Baptist declares Jesus as the 'Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,' which deeply resonates with Paul's identification of 'Christ, our Passover lamb.'
1 Peter 1:18-19Peter explains that believers were redeemed with the 'precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot,' echoing the sacrificial imagery of the Passover lamb.
Galatians 5:9Paul uses the same leaven metaphor, warning that 'a little leaven leavens the whole lump,' to illustrate how sin can corrupt the entire community.
The powerful truth here isn't just about getting rid of sin; it's that believers already are unleavened in Christ. The command to "cleanse out the old leaven" is an invitation to live out the new, pure identity that has been given to us because the ultimate Passover sacrifice has already been made.
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man living with his father's wife. He's urging them to deal with this sin decisively, using the imagery of Passover to emphasize the need for purity and a complete break from the past, just as ancient Israel was commanded to remove all leaven before the Passover feast. This cleansing is essential so the church can live out their new identity in Christ, who is the true Passover sacrifice.
Paul is addressing a serious issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church, specifically a man living with his father's wife. He's urging them to deal with this sin decisively, using the imagery of Passover to emphasize the need for purity and a complete break from the past, just as ancient Israel was commanded to remove all leaven before the Passover feast. This cleansing is essential so the church can live out their new identity in Christ, who is the true Passover sacrifice.
"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. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but w…" — The powerful truth here isn't just about getting rid of sin; it's that believers already are unleavened in Christ. The command to "cleanse out the old leaven" is an invitation to live out the new,…
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Last reviewed October 2026
