Bible and Science-Yeast, All Bad?
Leviticus 23: 17 Bring two loaves of bread baked with yeast as a wave offering.
Mark 8:15 “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
Most of the time when yeast is mentioned in the Bible it is connected with sin. The references to the loaves of bread at Pentecost (see Happy Birthday Church of Jesus) and the kingdom of heaven (God) is said to be LIKE yeast (Matthew 13:33) are the only positive references. Scripture does not tell us why yeast has gotten this labeling. The Israelites could have it for baking their regular bread but it could not be used for bread connected with any offering or feast (except Pentecost).
Yeast lives by breaking down sugars. Carbon dioxide, which causes bread to rise, is one product and the other is alcohol. Yeast may be found on all kinds of surfaces but they will live on the outside of fruit and grains; this is why they will naturally spoil and ferment. God knew/knows this He made them. But these facts should not have them be connected to sin (my reasoning here). Some yeast is considered “good” and some are termed “wild.” The wrong yeast in a batch of beer or wine and you do not get the specific taste you are wanting. So bread makers and brewers are particular about what they put in their wares.
After reading a lot of literature on the subject here are some ideas as to why yeast may be connected with “bad.”
- It works unseen and affects everything it is in.
- The smell could be associated with something dead.
- It may give a sour taste to the bread.
- Egypt had cult worship related to bread and beer.
I am leaning to #4 as the reason because Father God did not want anything Egyptian imported into His worship. The Israelites had enough problems with this so why add another thing like yeast in bread.
∞ Father, let me spread good in Your Kingdom.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/bread.htm
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/get-know-nutritional-yeast?sf28652915=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast
pic from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast#mediaviewer/File:S_cerevisiae_under_DIC_microscopy.jpg
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