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Scripture • World English Bible
1 Corinthians 5:1–8
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
2You are arrogant, and didn’t mourn instead, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.
3For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.
4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together with my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
7Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
8Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
Paul confronts a church that has become complacent about a grave sin. Instead of grieving and removing the offense, they were arrogant—almost proud—allowing behavior that was corrosive to their witness and fellowship. Paul refuses to minimize the problem. His tone is firm because the health of the whole community is at stake.
Two vivid images shape his correction. First, church discipline is not mere punishment but a painful, redemptive measure: to hand someone over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit may be saved on the Lord’s day. That sounds severe because it is meant to wake a person to the seriousness of sin. The goal is restoration, not retaliation: the discipline aims to bring repentance, healing, and ultimately salvation for the one who has fallen.
Second, Paul uses yeast to illustrate how a little tolerated sin spreads and spoils the whole community. A tiny pocket of unchecked sin will leaven an entire congregation if left alone. So he calls the Corinthians to purge out the old yeast and to be a new lump—unleavened. In Christian imagery, this purification is only possible because Christ has already fulfilled our Passover. His sacrifice cleanses us and frees us from the power of sin so we can celebrate with sincerity and truth, not with malice.
Notice the balance: uncompromising holiness and steadfast hope. The church must act against sin to protect its witness and its people, but the motive must be restorative love rooted in the gospel. Because Christ has died for sin, we can expect change—both in individuals and in the life of the church. Discipline without hope becomes cruelty; mercy without truth becomes enabling. The gospel requires both.
For those in the congregation, this passage calls for honest self-examination and humility. For leaders and members responsible for confronting sin, it calls for courage wrapped in pastoral care. For every believer it offers hope: Christ’s sacrifice makes our cleansing possible and calls us to live together in sincerity and truth.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Examine your life honestly this week: identify attitudes or actions that could be the ‘old yeast.’ Confess them, ask a trusted brother to hold you accountable, and take one concrete step toward change.
- If you lead or care for a brother struggling in sin, follow gospel-shaped steps: confront in humility, pursue restoration through accountability and prayer, and involve the church when private correction fails—always aiming for repentance and reconciliation.
- Prepare for corporate worship and the Lord’s Supper with intentional repentance. Practice sincerity and truth by seeking reconciliation with others before you partake, and serve the congregation sacrificially rather than tolerating malice.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for being our Passover and for the cleansing your sacrifice brings. Give us courage to hate sin and gentleness to restore sinners. Help our community to purge what corrupts and to celebrate you with sincerity and truth. Amen.
Memory Verse
1 Corinthians 5:7 — Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place. (WEB)
“Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.”
Bible Context
Read all of 1 Corinthians 5
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Bible Context
Read all of 1 Corinthians 5
1 Corinthians 5
World English Bible • WEB
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father’s wife.
2You are arrogant, and didn’t mourn instead, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you.
3For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing.
4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together with my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5you are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
7Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
8Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners;
10yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners of this world, or with the covetous and extortionists, or with idolaters, for then you would have to leave the world.
11But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.
12For what do I have to do with also judging those who are outside? Don’t you judge those who are within?
13But those who are outside, God judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.”
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
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