Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Chametz

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Chametz - this is a Hebrew word that doesn't have an exact English translation in one word. Often translated as 'yeast' or 'leaven' (an old-fashioned word for yeast) this matches many of the verses where it is found, but more strictly, it also refers to the products of fermentation, encouraged by a little damp.

Imagine one of the corners at the back of your kitchen worktop; you wipe round on a regular basis, of course, and the main worktop area is perfectly clean, but in that corner, unless you are very careful, a small area of dust - particularly flour dust - can accumulate. You need a knife or a sharp point to scrape it out and although it may be difficult to see, left unattended it will attract mould spores or air-borne yeast particles and start a flourishing little organic garden.

The biblical writers frequently use chametz as a type or symbol for sin; nothing containing or prepared with chametz may be offered to Adonai on the altar. Yeshua warns the disciples to beware of the chametz of the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Matthew 16:6, for example) and Rav Sha'ul reminds the Galatians that "A little chametz leavens the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). He exhorts the Corinthians to celebrate the festival of Passover, "not with old chametz of malice and wickedness", but with the "matza (unleavened bread) of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8). We can do this in Yeshua, because He is our Pesach offering, who has been sacrificed so that we may free of chametz in our lives and have a clean, fresh relationship with Father G-d in Him.

So don't get caught with a tube of chametz-containing toothpaste in your bathroom this year; check all the labels and clean out the chametz in your house. In the same way, don't get caught with bitterness of unforgiveness over broken relationships or hurts - bring them to the cross and get them resolved today so that you can be clean for the feast!