What is leaven and why should it not be in the church?

In biblical terms, leaven often represents sin, particularly in the context of hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Jesus warned against the leaven of the Pharisees, indicating that their works and traditions were insufficient for true worship and acceptance before God. In Exodus 12, the Israelites were commanded to remove leaven from their houses during Passover, symbolizing the need for purity and sincerity in worship. In the context of the church, the absence of leaven signifies a community that worships God with genuine hearts, free from the pretense and self-deception that can plague human efforts. Therefore, the true church operates with sincerity and truth, recognizing its absolute dependence on God's mercy and the blood of Christ for salvation.