Message
Matthew 13:31-33
“The Mustard Seed and the Yeast”
Today our parable focus is on the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast.
The Mustard Seed Parable appears in Matthew Mark and Luke.
The Yeast Parable only appears in Matthew and Luke.
When you read the parables in the different Gospels you do get slightly different versions. These different versions should never lead us to the conclusion that Scripture has some sort of error. Rather what we need to realise is:-
Jesus didn’t just tell one parable at one time. As Jesus was travelling around he taught a similar parable at different locations. We know this is the case because the context where Luke places the parable is very different to the context Matthew and Mark place the parable.
We also need to remember that each Gospel writer only gives a small account of all the teaching. They don’t all record every single thing Jesus said. Indeed when John finishes writing his Gospel John says, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). The differences between the Gospels shows us that each writer has a different emphasis.
You can trust Scripture … you can always trust Scripture … to speak the very God-breathed Word. The Scripture we are going to trust today are the parables as they are recorded in Matthew 13:31-33.
31 He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’
33 He told them still another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about thirty kilograms of flour until it worked all through the dough.’
What is the kingdom of heaven like?
A very small insignificant seed, which becomes a tree.
A small amount of yeast which impacts a large amount of flour.
God’s kingdom starts small and grows in size and influence far beyond the source.
The 120 believers in the upper room who have gathered in the week after Jesus had ascended has today become a world-wide global movement which, over history, has had billions of members. An insignificant start has resulted in huge growth. We are gathered here today because of this growth.
Kingdom members can be found in all walks of life. Medical. Political. Educators. Blue Collar workers. Families. Administrators. CEO’s. Wealthy. Poor. In all these spheres of life … and many more … there are Christians who are seeking to be yeast. Seeking to impact and influence with the hope of Christ and a biblical worldview. The growth of influence of Christians is huge. Even today each one of us in our own sphere is contributing to the influence of the Kingdom on a daily basis.
That is what these parables are teaching … but that is not where they stop. The focus is not on growth but on the expectation of an abundant response.
Thinking about the mustard seed.
Scientifically speaking we know that the mustard seed is not the smallest seed. We know that because, in our day
… we have micrometres which can measure down to 0.00254mm.
… we also have scales that can measure the weight of atoms.
But we can’t put our modern interpretation onto the culture of the day.
Today we compare all seeds from all over the world – Jesus is speaking to a Jews in Judea about the seeds they know that occur in the garden.
Today we compare all modern seeds – we have many more types of seeds today than 2000 years ago.
So we need to be thinking about the parable as it was told in the context. In the days of Jesus, when you held mustard seeds in your hand, the culture recognised that theses seeds are small – almost insignificant.
This one, almost insignificant seed, is planted in a garden. It grows quickly. It grows into a large bush that can be 3 meters tall – it has grown to the size of many trees. The mustard tree produced an oil which was used for medicinal purposes. The fruit and seeds of the tree where used as a flavoursome condiment, and they were also for medicinal purposes. The tree was capable of continuing to produce seed even when initially harvested. The tree gave an abundant supply. As part of its abundance the tree also was a place where birds could nest. The size of the tree enabled birds to be in the shade away from the sun. The tree is a place of abundant welcome and protection.
An abundant outcome. An abundance of provision and an abundance of space. That is what we see in the parable of the mustard seed.
Now let’s think about the parable of the yeast – yeast an also be called leaven.
Don’t have in mind the packet of yeast in your fridge which is dried round balls. We are thinking here of a bread starter mixture that is created when water mixes with yeast spores that are in flour, this mixture is then left to sit in a warm breezeless place so it can ferment. Effectively the bread starter is decaying enzmes that produce a sour smell.
When we think about yeast we might come to the conclusion that, in terms of Scripture, yeast is bad.
After all, during the Passover the people needed to eat bread “without yeast”.
And Jesus himself says, “watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees.”
We want to make sure we have the right interpretation for the parable so let’s have a closer look at this for a moment.
Yes it is true – during Passover the people eat ate bread without yeast, just for that week. But on the 51 other weeks of the year bread with yeast was fine.
Yeast, as a product, is not a moral item – it not evil of good. It is just yeast.
The reason the Israelites ate bread without yeast at the Passover was because, in the future, God wanted them to reminder a spiritual lesson.
I’m reading from Exodus 12, at the point where the Israelites are leaving Pharaoh’s city.
39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.
Exodus 12:39
A little later Moses tells the people the lesson God wants them to remember.
3 Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast.
Exodus 13:3
Bread without yeast is a reminder of the event when God released the people out of slavery. The yeast is forsaken to specifically take time to focus on this transformation. At other feast and festivals the Israelites were instructed to have bread with yeast. At the end of the feast of weeks
17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.
Leviticus 23:17
Yeast, as a product, is not a moral item. In the parable the yeast is a pointer to godly spiritual influence. A woman takes this yeast … this bread starter … and mixes it into the flour.
I say “mixes”, because that is how many English Bibles translate this verse.
Matthew 13:33 (NIV)
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed … “
Matthew 13:33 (Holman)
"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed …”
That is how most translations write it.
However Matthew 13:33 in the ESV says
The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.
The Greek word in focus here sounds like this:- enkruptoo.
Does that sound like the English word “encryption”! When you encrypt something … what you are doing is hiding an outcome until it is time for it to be revealed. The yeast is hidden, not so that it will stay hidden, but for a revealing to happen at a later time.
Have a closer look at where the yeast is hidden … it is in 30 kilograms of flour. That is enough flour to bake bread to feed over 100 people.
That is a lot of bread.
Here we are being shown a picture of abundance. An abundant outcome which leads to an abundant provision.
Let’s stop and reflect for a moment.
An insignificant seed leads to abundance.
A small amount of yeast leads to abundance.
These parables are not just about growth … a small seed compared to a tree … a small amount of yeast influencing a large amount of flour.
These parables teach that
… when we participate in the Kingdom, as individuals together in the church,
… when we participate we should expect to see an abundant outcome.
All of us should have this expectation.
Which might be a surprise to us. Let me read a description that Paul uses to describe the believers in Corinth.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 1:26
How many of us here today resonate with that description? Most of us are simple people, living our daily life, making ends meet and seeming to serve the Lord faithfully.
Are we actually making a difference … a difference for the kingdom?
It is a question we might ask at times because we may feel that our contribution is insignificant, or even hidden.
Then Jesus comes along with this parable and reminds us that insignificant and hidden does not mean ineffective and ignored. That is because the impact of the Kingdom is not based on our capacity, or brilliance, or fame.
We don’t need these characteristics to expect abundance.
Think about the parables again.
Where do most people plant a garden? In their back yard, near their home.
Where is the woman who is making the bread? She is in her home.
This is backyard kingdom seed planting and yeast mixing.
Visiting someone who is a shut-it.
Calling a person who you know is struggling.
Offering to do the shopping or a practical chore.
Reading the Bible with your children at home.
Extending mercy.
Being a listening ear in a time of grief.
Saying a small prayer.
Having a generosity of spirit.
Helping with a move.
Speaking a word of blessing.
Being a peace-maker
Showing hospitality.
Controlling your tongue.
Having patience in affliction.
Turning the other cheek.
Caring for the widows.
Going the extra mile.
The list is endless.
Now, as you go about these acts of service, you will gently need to let people know you are a Christian, and be upfront about your love for Jesus. You don’t want people to be looking to you and praising you … you want people to be looking at Jesus and praising Him.
As 1 Peter 2:12 says:-
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the
What is the kingdom of heaven like? It expects growth … it expects abundance. But it only happens when we take the supplies.
If no seed is planted … there is no mustard tree.
If no yeast is hidden … there is just a flat heap of flour and water.
As we are strengthened through Jesus and His grace to us –
… let’s plant the seed.
… let’s fold in the yeast.
Then let’s watch for the abundance as we see what the kingdom of heaven looks like right here in our own back yard.
Prayer
