1 Corinthians 5:8

1 Corinthians 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.

a. NLT: So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. YLT: so that we may keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of evil and wickedness, but with unleavened food of sincerity and truth. [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Worrell Translation: Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [Copyright 1904 by A.S. Worrell. Copyright assigned to the Assemblies of God, Springfield, MO. This edition was published 1980 by the Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802. Printed in the U.S.A.] 

f. Wuest Translation: Wherefore, let us be keeping the feast, not with the yeast of which has been relegated to a time that is past when we lived a life not for us today, neither with the yeast of malice and perniciousness, but with cakes permeated and affected by the yeast of an unadulterated life, having no admixture of evil in them, and having in them the yeast of truth. [The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest. Ⓒ Copyright Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1961. All rights reserved.]

1. “Therefore let us keep the feast…”

a. Therefore [Strong: 5620. hoste hoce'-teh from 5613 and 5037; so too, i.e. thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow):--(insomuch) as, so that (then), (insomuch) that, therefore, to, wherefore.]

b. [let us] keep the feast [Strong: 1858. heortazo heh-or-tad'-zo from 1859; to observe a festival:--keep the feast.] [Zodhiates: To keep a festival, celebrate a holiday.]

1). Though Paul is encouraging believers to “keep the feast”. as will be shown he switches to a metaphorical meaning. Is it wrong that Messianic believers or other believers celebrate Passover? Absolutely not. I have participated in Passover meals two or three times. I encourage all believers to not only study thoroughly the events of Passover but to participate in in one. They are very faith building and a blessing. I just council against any form of legalism. I personally believe that Passover as well as probably all the Jewish Feasts will be reinstituted during the Millennial Reign of Christ, at least for a national born again Israel. 

2. “…not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness…”

a. not [Strong: 3361. me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

b. with [Strong: 1722. en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

c. old [Strong: 3820. palaios pal-ah-yos' from 3819; antique, i.e. not recent, worn out:--old.]  

d. leaven [Strong: 2219. zume dzoo'-may probably from 2204; ferment (as if boiling up):--leaven.]

e. neither [Strong: 3366. mede may-deh' from 3361 and 1161; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor:--neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as).]

f. with [Strong: 1722. en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

g. the leaven [Strong: 2219. zume dzoo'-may probably from 2204; ferment (as if boiling up):--leaven.]

h. of malice [Strong: 2549. kakia kak-ee'-ah from 2556; badness, i.e. (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble:--evil, malice(-iousness), naughtiness, wickedness.]

i. and [Strong: 2532. kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

j. wickedness [Strong: 4189. poneria pon-ay-ree'-ah from 4190; depravity, i.e. (specially), malice; plural (concretely) plots, sins:--iniquity, wickedness.]

1). Again, I do believe that in the Millennial reign of Christ, many of the Feasts will be reinstituted, but for now in the New Covenant they are done away. Can a Messianic Christian or any Christian celebrate them now, during this dispensation? of course, but only on a volunteer basis.

1). Romans 14:1-6 Him that is weak in thefaith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another who is weak, eateth herbs.

14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another:

another esteemeth every day alike.  Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

2). Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: 

3. “…but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

a. but [Strong: 235. alla al-lah' neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.

b. with [Strong: 1722. en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

c. [the] unleavened [bread] [Strong: 106. azumos ad'-zoo-mos from 1 (as a negative particle) and 2219; unleavened, i.e. (figuratively) uncorrupted; (in the neutral plural) specially (by implication) the Passover week:--unleavened (bread).

d. [of] sincerity [Strong: 1505. eilikrineia i-lik-ree'-ni-ah from 1506; clearness, i.e. (by implication) purity (figuratively):--sincerity.]

e. and [Strong: 2532. kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. truth [Strong: 225. aletheia al-ay'-thi-a from 227; truth:--true, X truly, truth, verity.]

1). Here the leaven is clearly metaphorical therefore the keeping of the feast is also. If that is true, is it wrong to celebrate Jewish feasts? Certainly not, my family and I have gone to Dayton Ohio more than a few times and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with Messianic Jewish Christians. It is not wrong as long I know I am not adding to what Jesus did and I know it is purely voluntary for me and everyone else. It is quite a blessing.