Parables of Jesus
The Leaven
Kingdom of Heaven
Read: Matthew 13:33 Luke 13:20-21
SeeThe Parable of the Leaven, (or yeast), is one of the shortest parables of Jesus. In the canonical gospels it immediately follows the Parable of the Mustard Seed, which shares this parable's theme of the Kingdom of Heaven growing from small beginnings. The final outcome is inevitable once the natural process of growth has begun.
Although leaven symbolises evil influences elsewhere in the New Testament it is not generally interpreted that way in this parable. A few commentators do, however, see the leaven as reflecting future corrupting influences in the Church. Some suggest that Jesus asks people to enter the domain of a first-century woman and household cook in order to gain perspective on the domain of God.
The large quantity of flour may hint at a planned, major festive occasion, since the bread produced from such a quantity could feed a hundred people. Three measures of meal was also the amount used by Sarah to bake bread when she and Abram were visited by the Lord and the angels in Genesis 18. Interestingly, it is also the amount used in baking the shewbread for the Temple of the Lord in Israel.
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"The Leaven"
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