Being Puffed Up
Why were the Israelites instructed in the book of Exodus not to eat leavened bread and to put leavening out of their houses.
Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (eat unleavened bread for 8 days)
Exo 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
Deu 16:3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
They were commanded to eat unleavened bread and the circumstances of their exit caused them to leave without leavened bread. This, in all of the Old Testament, is given as to why they ate unleavened bread during that eight day period and it was called "the bread of affliction". Unleavened bread was used in other ceremonies but I found no distinct reason given for it being used. There were only instruction that it should be used.
This is not the case in the New Testament. One of the most direct instructions relating to keeping God's Holy Days is given in the fifth chapter of first Corinthians. It speaks of keeping the days of "unleavened bread". And the reason that it is done the way it's done is fully explained. Those who keep the Holy Days understand the concept that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". What part then does that leavening actually have during the days of unleavened bread? It "puffs up" the dough that is used for baking.
As I see it 1Corinthians 5:2 thru 5:8 is dealing with the idea of a person thinking of oneself as more than one should. That is a state of being "puffed up".
1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up 5448, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
G5448 phusioō From G5449 in the primary sense of blowing; to inflate, that is, (figuratively) make proud (haughty): - puff up.
1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Being puffed up, as described in verse 2, is referencing the leaven in verse 7. And we see the instruction for Christians to keep the feast in verse 8. This is a time when those who want to grow in sincerity and truth and humility have seven days when those things can be especially considered and appreciated.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
That reinforcement comes to us by eating "flat" bread for seven days. With the thought of eating any products that are puffed up, one way or another, would work against the spirit of seven day feast.
During the time that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians baking powder or baking soda had not been invented. . These are more of a chemical means of puffing up a baking material but nevertheless it does puff up. And the consumption of raised baked goods does not reflect the spirit of the seven day period of the days of unleavened bread. Puffed pastry contains zero leavening. It is produced by what could be considered a "mechanical process". Yet, could refraining from eating goods made from "puffed pastry" also be a good thing to consider?
We should do all that we can, during this period of time, to value the opportunity to focus on our need to grow in the spirit of humility. Our growth in humility helps pave the way for our growth in the love of God and the love of others.