Unleavened bread holds deep symbolic meaning in Scripture, particularly in the context of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He commanded them to eat the Passover meal with unleavened bread. Exodus 12:8 says, “Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”
The reason for using unleavened bread was both practical and spiritual. Exodus 12:34 notes that the Israelites left Egypt in haste, not having time to let their dough rise. Spiritually, leaven (yeast) is often associated with sin and corruption in Scripture. Therefore, unleavened bread symbolized purity, sincerity, and separation from sin.
God instituted the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a lasting ordinance. For seven days, no leaven was to be found in their homes (Exodus 12:15-20). This cleansing process reminded Israel to leave behind the old life of bondage and walk in holiness.
In the New Testament, Paul draws on this imagery. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 says, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?… Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven… but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Here, the unleavened bread represents the pure life we are called to live in Christ, having been cleansed by His sacrifice.
Jesus also used unleavened bread at the Last Supper, instituting Communion. Matthew 26:26 says, “Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’” This bread, likely unleavened as part of the Passover meal, came to symbolize His sinless body given for us.
Unleavened bread points to both deliverance from slavery and the call to holiness, purity before God, made possible through the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
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