The LEAVEN parable

 

JESUS asks the people:

Luke 13:20-21

King James Version

20 And again he said, 

Whereunto shall I liken 

the kingdom of God?

What is leaven*?

What does it do?

Why did JESUS mean when He declared:

Matthew 13:33

King James Version

33 Another parable spake he unto them; 

The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, 

which a woman took, 

and hid in three measures of meal, 

till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:21

King James Version

21 It is like leaven, 

which a woman took 

and hid in three measures of meal, 

till the whole was leavened.

Merriam-Webster defines "leaven" as:

: a substance (such as yeast) used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid

especially : SOURDOUGH

: a material (such as baking powder) used to produce a gas that lightens dough or batter

: something that modifies or lightens

Yeast makes dough rise, thus, our breads.

To understand what leaven has to do with the kingdom of God, we look to these verses:

1 Corinthians 5:6

King James Version

6 Your glorying is not good. 

Know ye not that a little leaven 

leaveneth the whole lump?

Galatians 5:9

King James Version

9 A little leaven 

leaveneth the whole lump.

We go back to the MAIN parable:

Mark 4:14

King James Version

14 The sower soweth the word.

Although there are many verses on "leaven" which refer to the wicked, in this instance, it refers to the sowing of the WORD of GOD, which happens to be JESUS.

In JESUS is this:

Luke 11:20

King James Version

20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, 

no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

John 14:6

King James Version

6 Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, the truth, and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, and I in him, 

the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

Dough would just sit there, a dead mass.

Like all of us, dead in sin.

Romans 6:11

King James Version

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves 

to be dead indeed unto sin, 

but alive unto God 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But with the presence of the WORD -- the LORD JESUS CHRIST -- the whole mass would be quickened.

It would rise, it would be whole.

Like in the SEED parables, we can't really see the workings of CHRIST in us.

When we come true to form, becoming whole through JESUS, as born again, then His WORD becomes alive in us

Luke 17:20-21

King James Version

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, 

when the kingdom of God should come, 

he answered them and said, 

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

21 Neither shall they say, 

Lo here! or, lo there! 

for, behold, 

the kingdom of God is within you.

.

Such are the mysteries of the kingdom of God.

Thus, the parables:

Mark 4:11

King James Version

11 And he said unto them, 

Unto you it is given to know 

the mystery of the kingdom of God: 

but unto them that are without, 

all these things are done in parables:

More parables here.

*NOTE: Just to be sure, I needed to know the pronunciation of "leaven". Click this link to find out. Sounded like "eleven", without the first "e".

Image: Clipart Library

The SEED parables

 

James 3:18

King James Version

18 And the fruit of righteousness 

is sown in peace of them that make peace.

From the previous post, we know the MAIN parable -- the Sower and the Seed.

It is to be the foundation for ALL parables.

As in these "SEED" parables from JESUS:

The parable of the WHEAT and tares:

Matthew 13:24-30

King James Version

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, 

The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man 

which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, 

his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, 

and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, 

and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came 

and said unto him, 

Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? 

from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, 

An enemy hath done this. 

The servants said unto him, 

Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; 

lest while ye gather up the tares, 

ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: 

and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 

Gather ye together first the tares, 

and bind them in bundles to burn them: 

but gather the wheat into my barn.

The parable of the SEED and HARVEST:

Mark 4:26-29

King James Version

26 And he said, 

So is the kingdom of God, 

as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, 

and the seed should spring and grow up, 

he knoweth not how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; 

first the blade, 

then the ear, 

after that the full corn in the ear.

29 But when the fruit is brought forth, 

immediately he putteth in the sickle, 

because the harvest is come.

The parable of the MUSTARD seed:

Matthew 13:31-32

King James Version

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, 

The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, 

which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: 

but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, 

and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air 

come and lodge in the branches thereof.

More parables here.

Image: Free Bible Images

The MAIN parable

 

Mark 4:10

King James Version

10 And when he was alone, 

they that were about him with the twelve 

asked of him the parable.

To a hungry heart, GOD's WORD is bread.

For JESUS is the BREAD of LIFE.

I am always hungry for GOD's WORD.

Combing Scripture for discoveries.

SPIRIT led me to what is the LORD's main parable.

But first, the backgrounder.

JESUS tells His 12 apostles:

Mark 4:11-12

King James Version

11 And he said unto them, 

Unto you it is given to know 

the mystery of the kingdom of God: 

but unto them that are without, 

all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; 

and hearing they may hear, and not understand; 

lest at any time they should be converted, 

and their sins should be forgiven them.

And He follows through with this:

Mark 4:13

King James Version

13 And he said unto them, 

Know ye not this parable? 

and how then will ye know all parables?

Wow, what a revelation!

That means, there is a MAIN parable.

The foundation for ALL parables.

From which others spring.

First, JESUS teaching the multitude:

Mark 4:1-2

King James Version

4 And he began again to teach by the sea side: 

and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, 

so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; 

and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

2 And he taught them many things by parables, 

and said unto them in his doctrine,

Second, the MAIN parable:

Mark 4:3-9

King James Version

3 Hearken; 

Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, 

some fell by the way side, 

and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5 And some fell on stony ground, 

where it had not much earth; 

and immediately it sprang up, 

because it had no depth of earth:

6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; 

and because it had no root, it withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns, 

and the thorns grew up, and choked it, 

and it yielded no fruit.

8 And other fell on good ground, 

and did yield fruit that sprang up 

and increased; 

and brought forth, 

some thirty, 

and some sixty, 

and some an hundred.

9 And he said unto them, 

He that hath ears to hear, 

let him hear.

Third, the LORD's interpretation:

Mark 4:14-20

King James Version

14 The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, 

where the word is sown; 

but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, 

and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewise 

which are sown on stony ground; 

who, when they have heard the word, 

immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, 

and so endure but for a time: 

afterward, when affliction or persecution 

ariseth for the word's sake, 

immediately they are offended.

18 And these are they 

which are sown among thorns; 

such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, 

and the deceitfulness of riches, 

and the lusts of other things entering in, 

choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they 

which are sown on good ground; 

such as hear the word, 

and receive it, 

and bring forth fruit, 

some thirtyfold, 

some sixty, 

and some an hundred.

More parables here.

Image: Free Bible Images

PURPOSE of parables

 

Psalm 78:1-3

King James Version

78 Give ear, O my people, to my law: 

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: 

I will utter dark sayings of old:

3 Which we have heard and known, 

and our fathers have told us.

This is an amazing journey.

Of creating the 101st blog, and exploring parables.

How JESUS preaching the parables had been prophesied.

And to what purpose?

Here's what Psalm 78 reveals:

Psalm 78:4-8

King James Version

4 We will not hide them from their children, 

shewing to the generation to come 

the praises of the Lord, 

and his strength, 

and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, 

and appointed a law in Israel, 

which he commanded our fathers, 

that they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, 

even the children which should be born; 

who should arise and declare them to their children:

7 That they might set their hope in God, 

and not forget the works of God, 

but keep his commandments:

8 And might not be as their fathers, 

a stubborn and rebellious generation; 

a generation that set not their heart aright, 

and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

The "rebellious" generation's iniquities can be found in the rest of the Psalm's verses.

Now we know the reason for the prophesied parables.

It's now time to turn to the parables.

Turn to the next post.

Related verses:

Matthew 13:10-17 KJV

Mark 4:10-12 KJV

Luke 8:9-10 KJV

Image: Clipart Library

The PROPHESIED parables

 

The angels tells apostle John:

Revelation 19:10

King James Version

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. 

And he said unto me, See thou do it not: 

I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren 

that have the testimony of Jesus: 

worship God: 

for the testimony of Jesus 

is the spirit of prophecy.

Ever heard of the LORD's parables?

I have, through the Catholic schools which taught me.

And for that, I'll always be grateful.

Except GOD had other plans for this workman.

The LORD made me born again.

And now, I can tell you more, through Scripture.

My Teacher, the HOLY SPIRIT, pointed something out.

JESUS, speaking in parables, has been prophesied.

We have two sets of prophecies here.

We quote from the New Testament.

Then we search for its source in the Old Testament.

How can anything be more exciting than the WORD of GOD?

Look what JESUS said here:

Matthew 13:13-15

King James Version

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: 

because they seeing see not; 

and hearing they hear not, 

neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled 

the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, 

By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; 

and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, 

and their ears are dull of hearing, 

and their eyes they have closed; 

lest at any time they should see with their eyes 

and hear with their ears, 

and should understand with their heart, 

and should be converted, 

and I should heal them.

The Old Testament source:

Isaiah 6:8-10

King James Version

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? 

Then said I, Here am I; send me.

9 And he said, 

Go, and tell this people, 

Hear ye indeed, but understand not; 

and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat, 

and make their ears heavy, 

and shut their eyes; 

lest they see with their eyes, 

and hear with their ears, 

and understand with their heart, 

and convert, and be healed.

Scripture reveals another parable prophecy:

Matthew 13:34-35

King James Version

34 All these things spake Jesus 

unto the multitude in parables; 

and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35 That it might be fulfilled 

which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 

I will open my mouth in parables; 

I will utter things which have been kept secret 

from the foundation of the world.

The Old Testament source:

Psalm 78:1-3

King James Version

78 Give ear, O my people, to my law: 

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: 

I will utter dark sayings of old:

3 Which we have heard and known, 

and our fathers have told us.

It's important we look into that Psalm 78 verse.

For it has much more to tell us.

Such as the purpose of parables.

Head over to the next post.

Image: Clipart Library

JESUS and parables

 

Matthew 13:10

King James Version

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, 

Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

What are parables?

JESUS loves teaching people about GOD.

He used parables, to simplify it for them.

Comparing everyday things, and people, to the kingdom of GOD.

For JESUS knew the heart of man.

John 2:23-25

King James Version

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, 

in the feast day, many believed in his name, 

when they saw the miracles which he did.

24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, 

because he knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: 

for he knew what was in man.

Why does the LORD speak in parables?

JESUS answers:

Matthew 13:11-12

King James Version

11 He answered and said unto them, 

Because it is given unto you to know 

the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, 

but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, 

and he shall have more abundance: 

but whosoever hath not, from him 

shall be taken away even that he hath.

Matthew 13:13

King James Version

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: 

because they seeing see not; 

and hearing they hear not, 

neither do they understand.

Matthew 13:14

King James Version

14 And in them is fulfilled 

the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, 

By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; 

and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

Matthew 13:11-15

King James Version

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, 

and their ears are dull of hearing, 

and their eyes they have closed; 

lest at any time they should see with their eyes 

and hear with their ears, 

and should understand with their heart, 

and should be converted, 

and I should heal them.

It has been prophesied.

That JESUS would speak in parables.

The next post tells us more.

Related material:

PARABLES of JESUS

Image: Clipart Library

Parables of JESUS

 

Psalm 78:1-3

King James Version

78 Give ear, O my people, to my law: 

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: 

I will utter dark sayings of old:

3 Which we have heard and known, 

and our fathers have told us.

Welcome to this 101st blog!

We will be taught parables from JESUS.

SPIRIT fed me the idea for a blog this morning.

Only because I was listening to a particular sermon.

Then, I thought to myself, people may need something simpler.

No need to intellectualize stuff.

I remembered the LORD's parable.

So, SPIRIT guided me to create this blog.

How would I go about identifying the parables?

Would I need to re-read the four gospels?

Didn't seem so.

SPIRIT had a better idea.

He led me to a "framework".

A genius of a framework, too!

From that framework, I could then develop this blog.

And just tell you about the parables, per post.

How SPIRIT makes things easy for me.

The Bible used to intimidate me -- size, breadth, and all.

But when GOD made me born again, it's become really delightful knowing GOD's WORD.

Every blog seems to lead to another, and another.

Before you know it, in the 53 months I've been born again, SPIRIT and I have created 100 blogs.

And now, this 101st you're reading.

Let JESUS tell you more about parables on the next post.

And thank you for being here!

Your curiosity will be richly-rewarded.

Image: Clipart Library

Related material:

PARABLES of JESUS

ALL Bible verses from:

biblegateway.com

kingjamesbibleonline.org

openbible.info