Dave Havir - Why Do You Deleaven Your Homes Before Passover?

Dave Havir, asking us why we de-leaven our homes before Passover, suggests that our understanding of this activity has matured through the years, moving away from extreme positions (such as failing to understand the symbolic and spiritual applications of this metaphor while falling prey to the literalist application), turning to more thought-out and spiritually based positions . Removing leaven is not the “focus” of preparing for Passover. The metaphor of leaven, after all, was given after the Passover event had already taken place. The ancient Israelites were saved by the blood on the door, not by how much leavening they were able to throw out. A major symbolic significance of unleavened bread is that the Israelites had to leave in haste, responding quickly to the admonition to get out. Removing leaven was a reaction to the Passover, not a month-long preparation for the Passover. Removing leaven is the response to our deliverance or the grace bestowed upon us. Physical cleaning should not distract us from what is important—repentance and overcoming, a process that should last a lifetime. We cannot rely on ourselves for standards of righteousness, but must live up to God’s expectations, realizing that we are all condemned sinners without Christ’s sacrifice.

Authority of occupying government * Being cut off * Cheap grace * Clay and Mindy * Control of tongue * Dominic got it * Eating unleavened bread * Exception clauses * Exodus 12:14-20, 33-39; 13:3-10 * Fasting twice a week * Go and sin no more * Good works * God outlines * Grace * “I learned this all 40 years ago” * I’m a sinner * Impressing God * Inaccurate lesson * Jim Wilkins * Let the crumbs go * Luke 18:9-14 * Observing days for the right reason * Pharisee * Pieces of clay * Plagues * Power of the blood * Preparing for Passover * Publican * Rahab * Repentance * Righteous lie * Tax collector * Tongue * Vi Lehman