What does “axiom” mean, here in the “title” to today’s Lesson? ?
It is derived from the Greek adjective “axios,” anything “worthy” of consideration. Something so well accepted that it is “self-evidently” TRUE!
And today’s Galatians 5:9 verse is inerrantly (without error) true!
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
Paul is using this proverb in the context of the FALSE TEACHING of certain “Judiazers” (men trying to make Gentiles into Jews, in religious practice … in order for them to be “saved” and go to heaven) who had secreted themselves into the young (in Christ) Churches of Galatia.
You see, “leaven” in the Bible is a picture (symbol) of SIN!
The Greek noun “leaven” is “zume,” likely dependent on the verb “zeo” for its foundation. And “zeo” means “to be hot, to boil!” Leaven (which is simply “yeast” in the kitchen) spreads and infiltrates and swells a whole batch of raw dough when things gets warm, hot!
Leaven actuates a chemical reaction, a slow process of fermentation, really!
Oh yes, it typifies sin, for sure!
Listen to Jesus, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6, a Statement repeated in Mark 8:15 and Luke 12:1. In fact, Luke adds an interpretation: “He (Jesus) began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, WHICH IS HYPOCRISY.”
Pretty clear!
The old “post-millennial” preachers of a hundred and fifty years ago often wrongly interpreted “leaven” to be a picture of “good,” even of “Christianity!” They thought the Church was going to win the whole world to Jesus, in short time! They vastly underestimate the spreading power of “evil!”
Anyway, back to our Text for today: “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
Our Bible Sentence here hinges on two words, two adjectives, “little” and “whole.”
“Micros” (as in micromanaging, etc.) means to the “smallest” of details! It is translated “least” six times in the New Testament!
“Holos,” (as in the “whole” thing) means something in its “entirety.” Our King James Bible’s beautiful (yet quaint) “every whit!”
The moral of today’s Lesson: A LITTLE SIN WILL POLLUTE THE WHOLE AREA , WHEREVER IT IS INTRODUCED, WHERE IT IS ALLOWED TO INFILTRATE!
Grandma said: “One rotten apple will spoil the whole bag!”
Different words, same idea!
So?
Stay away from sin and its debilitating influence!
Here’s an example of the spreading deadliness of sin … like leaven! “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when LUST hath conceived, it bringeth forth SIN: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth DEATH.” James 1:14-15
Wow!
In fact, the last half of Romans chapter one describes this phenomenon. I call it the “downward spiral” of sin! There things devolve quickly from the sin of “unthankfulness” to the sins of utmost “sexual perversion!”
Leaven indeed leavens!
Surely today we have been warned!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Galatian Believers in Jesus, stay away from these false teachers. They are bringing leaven (falsehood, saying that Moses saves, not Jesus) into the Church. And that “malignant” doctrine will “sour,” it will “decay,” it will “spread” its putrefying influence everywhere!