SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:9
Un poco de levadura leuda toda la masa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:9
Verse 9. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.] A proverbial expression, see 1 Cor. v. 6, very aptly applied to those who receive the smallest tincture of false doctrine, relative to the things essential to salvation, which soon influences the whole conduct, so that the man becomes totally perverted. They might have argued, "It is a small thing, and should not be made a subject of serious controversy, whether we be circumcised or not." Granted, that in itself it is a small matter; but, as every man who is circumcised is a debtor to do the whole law, ver. 3, then your circumcision leads necessarily to your total perversion; as the little portion of leaven, mixed with the batch, soon leavens the whole lump.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump .] A proverbial expression pretty much in use with the Jews; (see 1 Corinthians 5:6), respecting either persons or things; and is in answer to, or prevents an objection that might be made, or something that might be said, in favour of these churches; that their case was not so bad, or the danger they were in so great, as was represented by the apostle; since they were only a few persons that propagated this notion, and but few that received it, at least thoroughly gave into it; and that, if it was an error, it was but a small one, and only regarded a single ritual, or a few rituals of the law; to which the apostle replies, by supposing, but not granting this to be the case, since they were pretty generally declined, and the error was not a slight one, that as a little sour leaven influences and ferments a large mass, or lump of dough, and makes it of the same nature with it, so a small error in doctrine, as it may be thought to be, increases to more ungodliness, and eats as doth a canker; and though a few hands may be first concerned in propagating it, and but few be infected with it, yet these may soon spread the contagion through the whole society: wherefore errors and false teachers should be nipped in the bud, and stopped in their beginnings, how inconsiderable soever they and their tenets may be judged to be.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-12 - The life of a Christian is a race, wherein he must run, and hold on, i he would obtain the prize. It is not enough that we profes Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to that profession Many who set out fairly in religion, are hindered in their progress, or turn out of the way. It concerns those who begin to turn out of the way, or to tire in it, seriously to inquire what hinders them. The opinion or persuasion, ver. #(8), was, no doubt, that of mixing the works of the law with faith in Christ in justification. The apostl leaves them to judge whence it must arise, but sufficiently shows tha it could be owing to none but Satan. It is dangerous for Christia churches to encourage those who follow, but especially who spread destructive errors. And in reproving sin and error, we should alway distinguish between the leaders and the led. The Jews were offended because Christ was preached as the only salvation for sinners. If Pau and others would have admitted that the observance of the law of Mose was to be joined with faith in Christ, as necessary to salvation, the believers might have avoided many of the sufferings they underwent. The first beginnings of such leaven should be opposed. And assuredly thos who persist in disturbing the church of Christ must bear their judgment.
Greek Textus Receptus
μικρα 3398 ζυμη 2219 ολον 3650 το 3588 φυραμα 5445 ζυμοι 2220 5719
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. A little leaven (mikra zumh). A proverbial warning, which appears also 1 Cor. v. 6. It refers, not to the doctrine of the false teachers, but to the false teachers themselves. Comp. Mark viii. 15. With the single exception of the parable, Matt. xiii. 33, leaven, in Scripture, is always a symbol of evil. Comp. Exod. xii. 15, 19; xiii. 3, 7; xxiii. 18; Lev. ii. 11; Deut. xvi. 3. This, however, is no warrant for the nonsense which has been deduced from it, as that Jesus' parable of the leaven contains a prophecy of the corruption of Christianity. Because leaven in Scripture is habitually the type of corruption, we are "none the less free to use it in a good sense as Christ did. One figure need not always stand for one and the same thing. The devil is 'a roaring lion,' but Christ is also 'the lion of the tribe of Judah'" (Trench). It is an apt figure of secret, pervading energy, whether bad or good. A new interest is given to the figure by Pasteur's discovery that fermentation is a necessary consequence of the activity and growth of living organisms. 82 A very few of these Judaising intruders are sufficient to corrupt the whole church.
Lump (furama). P o . See on Rom. ix. 21.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:9 this proverb Paul has in #1Co 5:6. It is merely the pervasive power of leaven that is involved in the proverb as in #Mt 13:33, not the use of leaven as a symbol of evil.
