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