Beware Of The Leaven Of False Teaching

Paul warned the Galatian believers not to be “entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (v. 1). A “yoke” is a symbol of servitude and bondage (1 Tim 6:1). They were being distracted by various false teachers and legalists who were telling them that they still need to keep the law (Gal 3:1). These teachers were merely causing trouble and confusion among them (v. 10). Paul used the picture of “a little leaven” or yeast, which is an agent of fermentation, that can cause a “whole lump” or dough to rise about 3 times its size.

 If they are not careful to heed these warnings, the false teaching that have risen from the influence of a small number can spread extensively among them! Leaven is a type of false doctrine per the context of our passage. It was also used as a symbol for sin (1 Cor 5:7); when Paul rebuked the Corinthian believers for allowing a particular sin to ruin the testimony of their local church – he compared the leaven of malice and wickedness, with “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor 5:8).

 Leaven was also kept out of the meal offering (Num 5:15), because this type of offering pictures our Lord Jesus, “Who did no sin” (1 Pet 2:22). Sadly, we can see the damaging effects of this leaven of false teaching in today’s modern churches. It has its roots from the Protestant churches that broke away from Roman Catholicism during the Reformation period. They carried with them the false doctrines of baptismal regeneration, clergy over laity, denial of the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus, etc. Such false teachings have morphed in today’s ecumenical philosophy, which has spread widely within Christianity! The Bible states that we are to “teach no other doctrine” (1 Tim 1:3); and we are to avoid anyone that teaches anything that is “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned” (Rom 16:17). The Holy Spirit convicts us (Jn 16:8), so we can “discern both good and evil” (Heb 5:14), and adhere to the one true faith! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera