LEAVEN – Leaven was used the same as yeast in baking dough. It caused fermentation, souring and corruption. Leaven was forbidden in the OT (Gen. 19:3; Ex. 12:8; Lev. 2:11). In the NT, it always represents evil and is used as a symbol of corruption (Matthew 13:33-35). Just a small thimble full of leaven can ruin fifty pounds of flour.
LOVE – The Bible teaches different types of love (agape, phileo and eros). Agape love is the love of God that is unconditional toward mankind (John 3:16). Phileo is friendly love. It is associated with the church of Philadelphia, or the church of brotherly love. Eros is a self love which is the opposite of agape. The Christian controlled by the Holy Spirit will display the love of Christ to others (Matthew 22:37-39). The Bible gives a good definition of what love is and what love is not (I Corinthians 13:1-13).
LUST – The word lust is a strong desire that can be both good and bad. It is a good desire in Luke 22:15 and Philippians 1:23. Most of the time it is referred to as wicked and evil desires and emotions of the natural man or flesh (Romans 6:12; 13:14; Galatians 5:14,16,24; Ephesians 2:3). It is called: lusts of our flesh (Ephesians 2:3); youthful lust (II Timothy 2:22); worldly lusts (Titus 2:12) and lust of the eyes (I John 2:16).
