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