Parable of the Leaven

The Parable of the Leaven, also called the Parable of the Yeast, is found in Matthew 13 and Luke 13. We are going to look at this parable from two perspectives. One considers the gospel of the kingdom of heaven in a positive sense, and the other considers the effects of a false gospel.

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 (Matthew 13:33).

Meaning of the Parable of the Leaven

In this parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven, or yeast in modern terms. When used in the right amounts and under the right conditions, leaven causes dough to rise. Similarly, when the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached properly and when it is well received, there is a spiritual leavening that takes place—the resurrection from the dead.

The truth of Jesus Christ brings us a promise of a kingdom in which our God lives among us, and as such, our broken relationship with God is fully restored. Like the three measures of meal, there are three applications of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven—all of which work together to bring us to that place of complete restoration.

First, there was God incarnate through the Son, Jesus Christ. Like leaven hidden among the meal, Jesus brought life to those whose hearts could receive His teachings. His words brought life because they revealed the true nature of sin, of righteousness, and of the character of the Father, which was perfectly embodied in the Son.

Those who would follow His teachings and strive to live as He lived would participate in this same “leavening,” particularly after the Holy Spirit came and dwelled within those who would keep the commandment of Jesus Christ (See John 14). Through the Holy Spirit, who “writes the laws of the kingdom of God on the fleshly tables of the heart,” we can receive “the engrafted word that saves our souls.” This is the “kingdom of God within you.” It is through the working of the Holy Spirit that we are transformed, helping us to repent, get to know God, and by grace learn to walk with Him—which is to experience the kingdom of heaven in this present life.  

These are the first two applications. There is the leaven of Jesus living in this present world, and there is the leaven of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within the followers of Jesus Christ. The third is resurrection from the dead and life eternal in the kingdom of heaven to come, when all who are in Christ are fully joined together in Him.

There could be an opposing side to this parable as well.

In Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, he states, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” In Luke 21, Jesus states, “Beware of the leaven of the scribes, which is hypocrisy.”

Just as there is a true gospel and a true Christ that provides us with the power of resurrection, there are many false gospels and false christs that corrupt and lead to death. Even a small corruption of these truths inflates the whole. So, we must be careful to follow the true gospel and the true Christ.

There are acceptable areas of disagreement when it comes to the things of God, and there are areas in which there is no room for error.

Jesus is the Son of God incarnate who physically lived, physically died, and physically rose. He will return as the judge of all creation, and those who have put their faith in Him find mercy at this judgment. They will also live with God forever in a relationship that fully restores mankind after their fall in Eden. This is a gospel that heals and transforms inwardly, and that which proceeds outwardly is true and sincere.

On the other hand, legalistic gospels that replace the work of the Spirit with carnal rules corrupt. Gospels that use the grace of God to excuse a life of sin without repentance corrupt. Gospels that deny the divinity of Christ corrupt. Gospels that deny the cross and the resurrection corrupt. Gospels that preach worldly wisdom and prosperity corrupt. These are just some examples. The online book, These Things Saith He details my limited understanding on this subject.

Let’s put our faith in Jesus Christ our God, trusting that if we place our souls into His care and strive to know Him, then He will work in us experiential knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. Over time, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things if we commit ourselves to Christ.

To have faith in Him means to believe in what He says and to strive to live accordingly. When we fail, we ask for forgiveness, and we find mercy. The grace of God is for those who fear Him, who show mercy to others, and with humility strive to live a life that conforms to the Son. By the grace of God, we can experience the kingdom of God in some measure even now—more and more until we are fully leavened—even resurrected from the dead!