Friday, October 16, 2026

Scripture

“A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.” Galatians 5:9

Reflections

Yeast is a single-celled fungi that reproduces by fission or budding.  When added to flour and other ingredients, it causes a foaming action with gas bubbles that lightens and softens the mixture.  It only takes a small amount of yeast to leaven a whole batch of dough.

The Apostle Paul warned the people of Galatia to beware of those who tried to persuade them to go back to the ways of circumcision.  They were becoming like yeast, affecting everyone’s thinking.  He felt so strongly about this that he even wished the perpetrators would castrate themselves! (Gal. 5:12)  Circumcision and the law will never save a person.  Only faith in Jesus Christ, crucified on our behalf, will save.

This should have been nothing new to the followers of Jesus.  Jesus also warned his disciples to “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Mt. 16:6)  The Pharisees and Sadducees were adding their dangerous demands to the teachings of the scriptures.  It was affecting the entire community of faith.

Circumcision may not be the topic of debate today.  Nonetheless, there are those who add demands to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Most of their preaching and teaching is framed with the words “should”, “need”, and “ought to”.  Although those words have their place, they are not the final word.  The freeing gospel of Jesus Christ is the final word.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the freeing gospel of Jesus Christ.  Keep me from being enslaved by the demands of the law.  Help me to live as a freed person.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Galatians 5:7-12