Easter · The Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter Day)
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Expel the Immoral Brother!
April 5, 2026
Overview & Insights
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)
A major shift occurs here. The theological discussion of the first four chapters dealing with the church’s cliquish behavior, pride, and attachment to secular culture now moves to a head-on confrontation of specific community issues. The connection between chapters 1–4 and chapters 5 and 6 must not be missed, though. Because the community of the Corinthian Christians looks nothing like a true Christlike community, their vision has become so blurred that they cannot evaluate and judge even the most obvious and explicit moral issues from a “Christ perspective.” When a church looks and functions as described in the first four chapters, it invariably leads to the behavior of the next two chapters. First Corinthians 5:1–13 opens this section with the most unconscionable issue imaginable.
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Commentary
1 Corinthians 5 Commentary: Confronting Immorality Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik explains the leaven and the Passover-lamb image that make Christ our feast.
1 Corinthians 5 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin
A verse-by-verse study hub with word notes on old leaven, unleavened sincerity, and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:6 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators compared side by side on a little leaven leavening the whole lump.
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord | Loyola Press Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic Sunday Connection treats 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 as the Easter second reading, with reflection questions.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why is this an Easter reading?
Paul calls the church to cleanse out the old leaven of malice and keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
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