The Leaven-Yeast-Mt 13:33 Series

CONCLUSION

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 nothing. 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" - Luke 12:1 which is a corrupting force, and needs to be purged - 1 Co 5:6-8

SERMON Matthew 13:33-33 A Little Yeast

Mt 13:33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

INTRODUCTION

Sometimes I feel that I am living in two completely different, unattached worlds.

I live in God’s world or kingdom and read His word, hear His promises and see that He is at work in my life and in the lives of others. I See Him answer prayer, and offer comfort to those who are suffering. However, there is another world a world that will not even acknowledge let alone recognize God. Doing its own thing and often that thing is disgusting to the way of the Lord and what He expects from us. There are individuals who may even acknowledge God but who seem more influenced by the world than by God.

Are these two worlds or realities unattached? Is there any connection between the world or kingdom of God and the kingdom of man or the evil one? In addition, what is the use of trying to work against the evil with man’s heart and throughout our society? Moreover, what is the use of seeking to reach out to this world and those who dwell in it? To be honest, I do sometimes ask these questions myself.

NOW LET US CONSIDER THE PARABLE OF ‘THE LEVEN’

while the working of yeast is somewhat of a mystery to me, it is an amazing thing it is a substance that promotes fermentation. It makes something undergo a radical change. A chemical activity or breakdown that affects or permeates everything in which we find it.

Make some dough for pizza and leave out the yeast - nothing happens. When yeast is added, we may not see a change for a while, but soon the whole batter or dough comes to life and grows. Yeast is often used in Scripture as an image of evil or unrighteousness. In Mat 16:5-12, Jesus warns us of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees which included their teaching and hypocrisy and for this reason, only unleavened bread was to be eaten at the Passover feast.

But this is not how leaven or yeast is used here. Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into flour. [As we said leaven changed the character of the bread. Unleavened bread was like a water biscuit, hard, dry, unappetizing and uninteresting. While in contrast, leavened bread was soft, porous and spongy, tasty and good to eat.] Jesus tells us that his kingdom, His rule and His will, is like leaven that is added to this world and which works through it to change it.