33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13:33 ESV)
Matthew 13:1-50 contains seven parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. These include the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-23), the Parable of the Weeds (13:24-30), the Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:31-32), the Parable of the Leaven (13:33), the Parable of the Hidden Treasure (13:44), the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value (13:13:45-46), and the Parable of the Net (13:47-50). Today’s study concerns the Parable of Leaven.
Jesus continued His parabolic teachings of the kingdom of heaven. He frequently illustrated from the daily life of the Israelites spiritual truths concerning a covenant relationship with the One, True God.
“Men typically worked in agriculture, and women performed domestic chores like the baking of bread in first-century Palestine. In telling parables related to these tasks, Jesus conveys His message in terms that are familiar to ordinary people,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“The Messiah ushered in God’s kingdom in a manner that did not meet the expectations of His contemporaries. Instead of an immediate and final entry of God’s saving presence, there was an inauguration of the kingdom that is followed by a long period of growth before the final consummation. The mustard plant’s growth and the leaven’s permeation, both of which take time, illustrate this point.
Leaven (ζύμη; zyme) is another word for yeast. It is that which makes bread rise. Correspondingly, bread without yeast was/is known as unleavened bread (Ex. 12:14-17). .
“Leaven is any substance that produces fermentation when added to dough. Leaven may signify the dough already infected by leaven, which was put into the flour so that the leaven could pass through the entire mass before baking, or it may refer to dough that had risen through the influence of the leaven. The early Hebrews apparently depended on a piece of leavened dough for transmission of the leaven; not until much later were the lees of wine used as yeast,” explains the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.
“The ancient Israelites regularly ate leavened bread (Hos 7:4), but in the commemoration of the Passover they were forbidden to eat leavened bread or even to have it in their homes during the Passover season (Ex 13:7). This annual observance ensured even though leaven that the people would not forget their hasty exodus from Egypt, when God’s command gave no time for the preparation of leavened bread.”
Even though leaven illustrates the influence of sin in the believer’s life (Matt. 16:11; I Cor. 5:6-8; Gal. 5:9), Jesus used it here as a positive object lesson. The kingdom of heaven’s initial small and quiet presence will ultimately change the world.
“The tiny bit of leaven has its effect on the entire mass of dough. Like leaven, the kingdom of God starts small, and its work is often hidden and invisible, until its full effect is realized,” explains commentator Aaron Garriott.
“Jesus showed that the manner in which He ushered in the kingdom of God need not sow any doubts concerning the power and legitimacy of His messianic office and the kingdom. The humble inauguration was no mistake—it was planned by God.”
John Calvin noted, “The Lord opens his reign with a feeble and despicable commencement, for the express purpose, that his power may be more fully illustrated by its unexpected progress.”
Take time today to observe how the kingdom of heaven continues to grow from its humble beginnings. Take note of how you have grown in your relationship with Christ from the moment of your conversion. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 