06. The Parable Of The Leaven
SERIES; The Parables Of Jesus
INTRODUCTION
Jesus presented some of His most memorable lessons as parables. One reason He used parables is for the helpful way they connected abstract spiritual truths with regular everyday activities. These stories empowered simple, uneducated people to grasp divine revelations. Acts 4:13. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Jesus used parables in so many different ways too. For instance:
1. Jesus used parables as part of a conversation in casual environments. He often used parables as “teachable moments” in such situations. For instance, Jesus told the Parable of The Two Debtors when he was a guest in a Pharisee’s home. He also offered a teachable moment in The Parable of The Fig Tree, a parable from nature.
2. Jesus used parables to answer questions. For instance, Jesus used a parable to answer a lawyer’s question in The Parable Of the Good Samaritan. Jesus also used The Parable Of The Rich Fool to answer questions about a family situation.
3. Jesus used parables to respond to situations observed around Him. He used parables as an opportunity to teach practical lessons for life, living, and pleasing God. For instance, Jesus used The Parable of The Ambitious Guest to illustrate important lessons on humility and how to be a guest.
4. Jesus very often used parables to instruct, teach, and edify his disciples and followers
5. Jesus used parables to respond to those who confronted him on different issues. For instance, Jesus used The Parable of The Two Sons and The Parable of The Wedding Feast to respond to those who challenged him.
SUMMARY
In summary, Jesus Christ used parables to teach, encourage, motivate, open spiritual eyes and help his follower to explore a wide variety of practical applications of Christianity – for instance what it actually means to serve God wholeheartedly, humility and what it means to be humble, what it means to show love, mercy and compassion, how to treat others with kindness and respect, how to avoid embarrassments, the importance of prayer, how to approach God, practical wisdom for daily living, growing in God, the importance of putting what we learn into practice, The Kingdom of God, moral lessons, and so many more.
1. Some of the parables that Jesus used were very brief, they only consist of a verse of two.
• The Parable of the Leaven is a perfect example.
• Both Luke and Matthew's Gospels share this short but profound parable. (Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20-21).
• Some believe that this parable is part of a pair, the other parable being “The Parable of the Mustard Seed.” That we studied in our previous teaching in Mt 13:31-32
• In that parable, we discovered that The kingdom is depicted as having remarkable growth, despite humble beginnings
• Perhaps the parable was told by Jesus to reassure His disciples... That their involvement in the kingdom would not be for naught Especially after hearing two parables in which we see not all would receive the Word properly, and Satan’s efforts to hinder growth of the kingdom would be noticeable
2. Let’s read Luke’s account of this parable: the parable of the leaven (Luke 13:20-21).
"Again He asked, 'What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough'" (Luke 13:20–21, New International Version).
3. we can see similarities to “The Parable Of The Mustard Seed”
• Both are quite brief, with no explanations by Jesus recorded
• Both appear to be describing the remarkable spread of the kingdom of heaven
• But some differences can also be noted, so this parable is certainly worthy of careful consideration
[Let’s begin, then, by noticing some...]
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON “LEAVEN”
A. WHAT WAS “LEAVEN”?
• Scientifically, it is a living organism, a unicellular fungi.
• Practically speaking, it is fermented dough.
• It is a small portion of fermented dough used to ferment other dough (Holman Bible Dictionary)
• Today, we more likely use the term “yeast” instead of “leaven”
B. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LEAVEN?
• It causes bread to rise.
• It makes bread spongy and soft.
• It gives bread a sweeter taste.
C. HOW DOES LEAVEN WORK?
• Leaven “converts fermentable sugars present in the dough into gas carbon dioxide.
• This causes the dough to expand or rise as gas forms pockets or bubbles.
• When the dough is baked, the yeast dies and the air pockets ‘set,’ giving the bread a soft and spongy texture.”
• Once inserted into a batch, it continues its process of fermentation until the whole batch has risen
D. WHERE DID WE LEARN ABOUT LEAVEN?
• Ancient Egypt
• Probably by accident – Flour meal mixed with water was left out too long on a warm day. When baked, the bread was lighter and tastier than normal.
• From this, experimentation began.
E. SYMBOLIC USES OF “LEAVEN”
1. In the New Testament, “leaven” is often symbolic of corrupting influence
• Jesus warned of “the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees”, which included their teaching and hypocrisy - cf. Mt 16:6-12; Lk 12:1
• Matt. 16:6, 12 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees…Then understood they how he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees
.
• Paul wrote of the danger of how “a little leaven leavens the whole lump”, as he addressed the need to withdraw from the unpenitent brother - 1 Co 5:1-13
• This has led some to conclude that “leaven” in the parable represents something evil
• But there are several reasons why this is not likely true as we are going to discover later on in this teaching.
F. LEAVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
When someone was making bread in the first century, they'd throw in a little piece of dough that was held over from the last time they made bread. By this time that dough would have fermented and become leaven. When leaven was added to a new batch of bread, it would act like yeast, causing the bread to rise.
1. During certain holy festivals, Israelites were instructed not to eat bread that contained leaven:
"These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread" (Leviticus 23:4–6, English Standard Version).
2. Because of this, leaven became a metaphor for negative influence.
• That little bit of impurity that threatened to ruin an entire loaf.
• Jesus uses leaven this way when He tells the disciples, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6, ESV).
• But in the parable of the leaven, Jesus doesn't seem to want His listeners to understand it that way.
• There are several things Jesus wants us to understand
• Leaven provided a perfect image of the kingdom of God.
3. There are several points that Jesus intends for us to take away from this parable.
• If Jesus does not mean to use “leaven” in this context as symbolical of corrupting influence, then what does He mean?
• Most scholars also believe that the leaven in this parable is not evil, but is good, so what does this parable mean?
• Jesus said: “It (the kingdom itself) is like leaven.”
If the leaven is the kingdom And, if the leaven is evil, Then, the kingdom would be evil but that’s not the case, so what is the meaning of this parable?
II. THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE
A. THE KINGDOM STARTS HUMBLY
When Jesus gives the disciples the Great Commission, He tells them that the kingdom of God will start with them. Through the power of the Spirit at Pentecost, the leaven of the gospel would begin to work its way through Jerusalem. From there, it would impact the rest of the world.
Like leaven, God’s kingdom would transform everything it touched, eventually changing the character of every culture.
B. THE KINGDOM'S WORK IS UNSEEN
1. God’s kingdom doesn't grow on account of huge fanfare.
• For most of history, the gospel has been spread through the faithful work of committed people.
• In the same way that leaven alters dough in secret, the revolution of the gospel isn't overt.
• As passionate individuals share their faith, the kingdom expands.
2. This is what Jesus was communicating when He told the Pharisees, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:20b–21, NIV).
• The leaven works in secret, transforming people from the inside.
• Bread cannot leaven itself.
• In the same way, humanity was unable to manufacture the kind of changes required to reconcile with God.
• Through Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection, the leaven of the kingdom was kneaded into humanity—and through the Holy Spirit's arrival at Pentecost, it was activated.
C. THE KINGDOM’S GROWTH WILL BE PERVASIVE...
1. That is, having the quality to permeate, to spread or flow throughout the world
• One suggestion is that the loaf represents the world, and the leaven is the kingdom
• Thus the reign of heaven (God) will gradually make its influence felt in the world
2. This “reign of heaven” could be manifested:
• In the form of the gospel (the “word” of the kingdom, Mt 13:19), as it is was proclaimed to all creation - cf. Mk 16:15-16
• In the form of the church, which spreads as people accept the gospel
• In the influence of the Word and the church, as their influence is felt in society
3. This parable may also illustrates the “invisible” growth of the kingdom
• As leaven does it work with less than noticeable effect
• So the spreading influence of the kingdom is often unnoticeable, but real nonetheless!
D. THE KINGDOM’S INFLUENCE WILL BE COMPLETE...
1. Speaking of the loaf, Jesus said “till it was all leavened”
• No part of the “loaf” (world) will be untouched by the influence of the kingdom
• That the gospel did indeed spread in this way was expressed by Paul in Ro 10:17-18; 16:25-26; Co 1:6,23
2. Of course, not all have obeyed the gospel - e.g., “The Parable Of The Four Soils”
• While the “fragrance of His knowledge” is diffused in every place...
• to some it is “an aroma of death” - cf. 2 Co 2:14-16
3. Yet, we still see the leavening influence of the Word and Christ’s reign...
• In the growth of the church
• In the influence of the Word in society (cf. our judicial system, charitable organizations, etc.)
II. THE KINGDOM IS DESIGNED TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD
A. EXAMPLES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
• Leaven is designed to permeate the whole of a batch of dough.
• In like manner, the kingdom is designed to influence the world.
1. The words of the Jewish council to the apostles
Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should teach in this name? and, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
2. Paul’s influence in Ephesus and elsewhere
Acts 19:26-27.Moreover ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
3. The spread of the gospel in Rome where Paul was imprisoned
Phil. 1:12-13.But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.
4. The faith of the Thessalonians
I Thess. 1:7-8 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not speak anything.
B. GOD WANTS HIS KINGDOM TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD TODAY
Colossians 1:23 If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.
1. There are three things that we possess that can be used to influence the world.
• The gospel of Christ (Acts 12:24; 19:20)But the word of God grew and multiplied…So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
• The good works of the church
• Individual Christian lives (Matt. 5:13-16).
III. APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE
A. DON’T LOSE HEART...
1. Don’t measure the growth or success of the kingdom solely by visible standards
2. As Jesus said to the Pharisees...
• “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’” - Lk 17:20-21a
• “For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” - Lk 17:21b
3. The spread of the kingdom
• This is the rule of God.
• This rule takes place wherever the “word of the kingdom” is being sown.
• The fruit are borne as it falls on “good and noble hearts”
4. Remain confident:
• That what began as a mustard seed will become a great tree
• That what started in one small portion of the loaf will eventually spread through the whole loaf
B. DO YOUR PART TO BE A LEAVENING INFLUENCE...
1. Allow the “leaven of the kingdom” to permeate your own heart and life
• Take the Word of God into your own heart
• Study and meditate upon it, and then seek to apply it!
2. Allow that Word to produce fruit in your life, so that you become an leavening influence for the kingdom of God!
• By WORD, as you share the gospel of the kingdom with others
• By DEED, as you do good works that glorify God
3. For as leaven, we are also “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” - cf. Mt 5:13-16
• Designed to glorify God by our good works
• And so influence our world for good as well!
C. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
A. Don’t measure growth and influence solely by visible results.
• Some influence is invisible and takes time.
• Publications can be read, set aside, and picked again later.
• It may take four or five acts of service before someone really begins to notice our Christianity.
B. Do your part to be an influence.
• GIVE generously to the church.
• PARTICIPATE in the local congregation so our neighbors and non-Christians around our building know we are seriously convicted.
• PRAY regularly for the works of the OceanSide church.
• LOOK for and SUGGEST ways that we can do even more for the cause of Christ.
We need to be creative and seek every opportunity possible to spread the Word in our community and throughout the world: gospel meetings, website, House to House, newspaper, seminars for outsiders, etc.
III. LITTLE THINGS CAN BE POWERFUL
1. It only takes a pinch, a small measure, of leaven to influence an entire measure of dough.
2. God still has small things that are powerful.
• The Word of God is a relatively small book, but very powerful.
• Some congregations are small, but are doing tremendous things.
• There are individuals Christians who are accomplishing great things for the kingdom.
• Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things?
CONCLUSION
1. With an understanding of these two parables (“The Mustard Seed” and “The Leaven”), we can take heart in knowing that the work of Christ in regards to His Kingdom will not be for naught
2. As we close this lesson, let me ask “What kind of leaven are you?”
• This parable has been describing “leaven” as a positive force
• But remember, “leaven” is also used to illustrate that which is harmful
• The “leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” - Lk 12:1
• That which is a corrupting force, and needs to be purged - 1 Co 5:6-8
3. Leaven is a living organism that has a powerful influence upon dough.
• The other way to be an influence is to be living.
• The Word of God will always be alive.
• Churches can either be alive or dead? Which are we?
• Christians can either be alive or dead? Which are we?
Will you allow the grace of God to make you to be the kind of “leaven” that can be used to His glory...?
Dr. Tg Badia
