Vain Ritual Has No Value

There are people who observe the Passover thinking that there is a spiritual high that comes from the attempt to remove from their homes all the leaven in the cupboards.

What is so interesting about this is that it is impossible to remove all the leaven without throwing out ALL the food. Nearly all food these days has leaven in it in one form or another.

The cupboards would be bare and the thing it really proves is that no one can remove the leaven from their own lives completely, that's why Christ had to die to be our sacrifice.

There are those who will work to remove the leaven from their cupboards at the season of Passover, but make no attempt to remove the leaven from their own hearts the years long.

It is far more important for believers to pray for cleansing of their hearts, confessing sin on a regular basis, than it is for them to demonstrate the futility of removing it from their cupboards.

Joel 2:13 " 13 And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. "

Matthew 15:17-19 "…17“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.…"

Appearances are far more important in the modern church than authenticity of heart. There is a lot of phony play acting going on, we know because as soon as someone is corrected or rebuked about their walk with Christ, vile anger emerges from them as though it were an explosion waiting to happen at the slightest challenge.

Authentic believers are ashamed when they have been discovered to be sinning even if only in attitude. Fakers are enraged when shown their sinfulness, even becoming more belligerent than before, covertly and even overtly demonstrating their anger and contempt at the very idea that anyone would call them to account.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"