Matthew 13v33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
Jesus talks about the kingdom of God being like leaven and He talked about the leaven of the Pharisees in other passages - is there a difference? Or does this verse mean that the kingdom of heaven is like sin?
I contend that it is simply a picture of something that affects things around it. The Kingdom of God should affect the world, not be hidden away. The leaven of the Pharisees is to be avoided before it affects the church.
Side note: I loved the Wycliff rendering here: sour douy (sour dough).
Yeast (leaven) = sin?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by NaasPreacher (C4K), Apr 30, 2008.
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From Dr Henry Morris' Defenders Study Bible:
leaven. Leaven is invariably symbolic of evil doctrine or practice. It produces fermentation, which is a decay process; decay and death, of course, were the precise features of God’s great curse on the earth because of sin (Genesis 3:17-19). The Levitical offerings, for this reason, could not be “made with leaven” (Leviticus 2:1,11), and the Passover memorial had to be observed with unleavened bread (Exodus 12:15). The spreading of leaven represents the corrupting influence of even a small amount of false doctrine (Galatians 5:9) or impure practice (I Corinthians 5:6) into the kingdom.
three measures of meal. The “three measures of meal” correspond to the “three tenth deals of fine flour” (Leviticus 14:10), which were specified for the offerings. The woman of the parable, evidently preparing such an offering, surreptitiously “hid” leaven in the proposed offering, contrary to the law. The meal offering was actually a type of Christ (John 6:33), bringing life to the world, as our Passover, but His work was being corrupted by the world’s leaven (I Corinthians 5:8).
whole was leavened. Both the growing mustard seed and spreading leaven indicate that, as the outward kingdom grows, both its membership and doctrine will increasingly become corrupted. The true spiritual kingdom within the outward kingdom, on the other hand, will always be a relatively “little flock” (Luke 12:32), surrounded by wolves (Matthew 10:16). Even at the future time of Christ’s return, the Lord anticipated that it will be difficult to find real “faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8). The common interpretation of these two parables (that they indicate the eventual conversion of the whole world through evangelism and development of a theocratic world government) is thus badly mistaken. -
Pure conjecture on Morris' part, IMHO. It just doesn't fit. Like most writers this is written from a pre-conceived bias.
"The Kingdom of God is like sin?" It doesn't say that "The Kingdom of God is like three measures of flour in which a little leaven was hidden."
Others please? -
Morrish Bible Dictionary
Leaven
This was early used in the fermentation of bread. As a symbol it is always used in scripture for the working of the human element, whether mind or flesh, in the things of God, and hence evil. It was strictly forbidden to be burnt in any offering made by fire (Le 2:11); but in the peace offering, besides the unleavened cakes and wafers, the offerer was to present leavened bread, which was to be eaten. Le 7:12-13; 23:17-18. Its presence here might seem to suggest an exception to the statement that leaven always signifies that form of evil; but it is not, for the peace offering typifies worship, and there, alas, the worshipper is not entirely free from indwelling sin. In the parable of 'the leaven hid in the meal,' it also represents the same evil, which in an insidious way permeates the mass with which it is mixed. The solemn words are added, "till the whole was leavened." Lu 13:20-21. It is only a too true similitude of the kingdom of God, for everywhere evil is spreading therein. In Mt 16:6-12 leaven is applied to the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. In the church, leaven when discovered must be purged out, for "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," 1Co 5:6-8 but in the kingdom it is represented as working until all is leavened. Mt 13:33. It is then that the King will purge out from His kingdom all that offend and commit iniquity, and cast them into a furnace of fire. -
We can each quote men all day Ron, I am not going to get into a battle of "you post your favourite Bible scholar and I post mine." I just read 5-6 who disagree with your guys. We solve nothing by copying and pasting other men's writings.
If Morris' view is correct the verse should have said "the kingdom of heaven is like three measures of flour, into which a women hid a little leaven."
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a corrupting influence." Does anyone else believe that rendering? -
I agree
I'm in agreement with you in this. -
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I always understood these parables to be about the same thing - The growth of the Kingdom - take the mustard seed and the leaven as examples of The Kingdom , being planted /hidden in the world.... both will grow/ expand and fill the world . Like " great oaks from little acorns grow".
This may be a very simplified view, but, that is how I see it.
Or does this verse mean that the kingdom of heaven is like sin?
I don`t think it means this,in this verse, I think that it is just "Parable-speak" for something that grows/ expands as the Kingdom is refered to as many other things in the chapter, a merchant, a net, a treasure etc.
On the other hand we are warned against the `leaven`of the Pharisees because that will also grow/expand in the world . -
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Yeast isn’t always associated with sin;
This peace offering of thanksgiving must also be accompanied by loaves of bread made with yeast.
Leviticus 7:13 NLT
Of note, there is a parallel to this verse of Matthew in the gospel of Luke.
Not much more is added though. :tonofbricks:
He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
Luke 13:20-21 NLT
The context surrounding this parable in Matthew seems to be about the spreading of the kingdom despite adversity and opposition.
IMO, a natural reading of this passage would link yeast (and its ability to permeate the loaf) with the kingdoms ability to endure and spread.
As many note, the association of leaven and sin is strengthened in Paul writings.
Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 NLT
This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!
Galatians 5:9 NLT
But Paul wouldn’t have directly heard this parable and he applied the concept of leavening in a way more associated with the traditional teaching of the Pharasees.
Rob -
The obvious interpretation would be that the kingdom of heaven (based upon the gospel) will permeate to all corners of the world.
IMO
R1 -
Context determines the meaning of leaven in Scripture. Most times it is referring to sin, but not in all.
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Why didn't I say that :) -
...because y'all have heavy fingers...I keep it short and sweet :laugh:
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I agree that context is what determines the meaning.
Interesting thought in regards to leaven. Clearly it does not signify sin in this text. -
I agree with SFIC. Leaven is used here in a bad sense.
It doesn't say: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven." That reading takes "leaven" out of context. In this simile you have to consider the complete thought. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."
Jesus was clearly using "leaven" in the bad sense in Matthew 16:6:
"Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
A.F. -
Parables are illustrations of truth; they do not teach truth.
One cannot develop a doctrine out of a parable.
The leaven in the parable simply means "leaven"
Overall leaven does mean: sin, corruption, or false doctrine.
Used in a parable it may have a different meaning. -
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