WORD OF THE WEEK: LEAVEN

A study of old and/or unique words from the Bible that are worth knowing

leaven (levən) from Greek word ‘zume’ (Strong’s G2219) meaning to ferment (as if boiling up). A persuasive influence that modifies something or transforms it.

    Although we don’t use this word much anymore, women often have the advantage of understanding what it means. We can grasp Jesus’ parables pertaining to it because of our own culinary experiences or from those gathered from our mothers or grandmothers.

    Leaven, as used in the Bible, refers to yeast. Many of us are familiar with the commercially produced yeast that comes in jars or packets; tiny round capsules of activity ready to transform our baked goods into pillowy clouds of deliciousness. Stop and think of that for moment. These granules of yeast are as small as this punctuation mark à . ß yet a few of them can modify an entire mound of dough!

    Jesus refers to this when He describes the kingdom of heaven in both Mathew 13:33 and Luke 13:20-21. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” (NKJV) The granules of yeast are the small beginning of the church: 12 apostles teaching and preaching the gospel of Christ in Jerusalem (Acts 2) where 3000+ souls were added to the church (Acts 2:41-47), then it continued to grow as the gospel was preached in all Judea and Samaria (Acts 8), and to the ends of the earth (Colossians 1:23, just as Jesus said it would in Acts 1:8). The three measures of meal is the world and the church, though small at first, grew and developed throughout it.

    Jesus used leaven to describe something else, something His disciples needed to be aware of and something Christians today need to be very aware of – bad/evil influences. Jesus warned His followers of the influence of the Pharisees and Sadducees (the religious leaders in the Jewish synagogues) and their corrupt doctrine (Matthew 16:6-12, Mark 8:13-21), we find out in Luke 12:1 that their doctrine is hypocrisy – commanding others to do one thing while they did something different (consider Matthew 23:3 – the whole of chapter 23 shows the depth of their hypocrisy).

    We see this warning issued again by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, where he instructs Christians to rid themselves of the old leaven (our old ways: malice and wickedness) so it can no longer influence nor modify us; it only then that we can be truly unleavened (without evil influence of any kind) and living a life that is true and sincere!

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. …  Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 101:3-4; 119:11 NKJV)  

    Beware of the leavening of the world (Ephesians 5:15-17, 1 Corinthians 15:33-34). Consider your companions, are they helping you seek God or are they hindering your efforts to follow Him? Are you doing all you can to keep yourself from bad influence? Take time each day to examine your heart so you can identify and remove the granules of bad influence before they begin to ferment and modify your thoughts and behaviours. Throw away that book, turn off the TV, shut off the computer, put down your phone, shred or compost that newspaper/magazine, and instead fill your heart with God’s word, put on His armour, and continue to do whatever is necessary to live a life that is sincere and true, and influences others to turn to God!

You can do it! So can I!! 

 

 

WORD OF THE WEEK: PECULIAR

A study of old and/or unique words from the Bible that are worth knowing.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:13-14 KJV)

peculiar In Hebrew (Strong’s #H5459 ‘cegullah’) it means jewel, treasure, proper good, special, to save/protect as with wealth. In Greek (Strong’s #G4041 ‘periousios’) it means beyond usual, special. This Greek word comes from ‘peripoiesis’ (Strong’s G4047) which means acquisition (the act or the thing) and by extension, preservation – obtain purchased possession, saving.

    Do you know how special you are?

    To God, you are beyond special! You are a precious jewel, a treasure worth saving!!        

    ‘Peculiar’ appears only seven times in the Bible (5x in OT/2x in NT). With the exception of one usage (Ecclesiastes 2:8, in which Solomon describes his acquired wealth as king of Israel) this word is used to describe God’s people (in the King James Version); and is often translated in newer versions as “special.”

    We are special! Beyond usual or common – we are peculiar! We are loved beyond measure, and therefore treasured!!

    With this status comes responsibility. In the two New Testament verses in which we find this word, we also find instruction for those described as “peculiar”:

    In the Titus passage (at top of this post), we see that we are to be “zealous for good works.” God loves us SO much that He goes above and beyond to provide all that we need so that we can be zealous for good works  - see 2 Corinthians 9:7-11, particularly verse 8, take note of the words: “all,” “always,” and “every”!  

    In 1 Peter 2:9 we find that we are “His own peculiar people,” that we may proclaim His praises because He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! We are to declare God’s greatness, speak of His goodness, behave in such a way to bring glory to His throne (consider Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12, 2 Corinthians 9:12)!

    Doing these things will definitely make us appear peculiar to the world, but now we know the true meaning of the word! So let’s continue to do these things, because to God we are peculiar - His own beloved treasure, that is beyond special! And knowing that He acquired us through Jesus’ sacrifice (purchased us with His blood, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 9:11-15) let’s joy in being peculiar, and make use of every opportunity to do good works with zeal and proclaim God’s praise to all!!

You can do it! So can I!!   

 

WORD OF THE WEEK: HEARKEN

A study of old and/or unique words from the Bible that are worth knowing

“And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, “Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand…”” (Mark 7:14 KJV)

hearken (härkən) verb: to hear, give audience to, come to the ears, understand, give self wholly to listening

    The now archaic word, “hearken” is used five times in the King James Version of the New Testament, six times if you include the alternate use of hearken that is ‘listening as a subordinate, be obedient, and obey’ as found in Acts 12:13 when Rhoda hearkened to the door when Peter knocked.

    N.T. uses of the word ‘hearken’: Mark 4:3, Mark 7:14-23, Acts 4:19, Acts 7:2, Acts 15:13, and James 2:5, translated as “listen.”

    When we read/hear the word hearken it should alert us to pay attention to what is about to be said. It is an instruction telling us to give our full attention to the words, to not only hear them, but listen to them so that we may understand what is being said.

    Do we hearken unto Jesus’ words as we should? Do we try our best to listen as we read the Bible so that we may comprehend His Truth? Do we truly hear the words spoken by His apostles, those sent out by Him to teach people to observe all things that He commanded them (Matthew 28:20), to preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)? Do we hear attentively so that we can obey the instruction?

    Let us hearken unto Jesus, and let us hearken unto the apostles – every word in the Bible is important! Let’s determine to listen in such a way that we may properly understand and wholly obey God’s instructions and commands (Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-17)! It is a worthwhile endeavour to make every effort to truly hearken unto God’s word and will!

You can do it! So can I!!