The Parable of the Leaven Matthew 13 33

The Parable of the Leaven Matthew 13: 33 -35

As I talked about briefly last week, the parables in Matthew 13 often come in pairs. The treasure and the pearl. The sower of the seeds and weeds. Today. . the mustard seed and the leaven. They both have a theme in common; something that starts very small can result in a large change.

The context of the parable of the leaven… The parable comes right after the story of the mustard seed. That parable is a story of something small producing enormous outward growth. The work of the mustard seed is outward, and visible…. unlike the work of the leaven…

SO WHAT IS LEAVEN? A little piece of dough, left over from previous baking…you probably know the term starter. While stored, it ferments, and then is kneaded into a new batch of dough

A preferment is a preparation of a portion of a bread dough that is made several hours or more in advance of mixing the final dough Two Main Types of Preferments can be sorted into two main categories. 1. Preferments made with commercial yeast, which are mixed about a day before you mix the dough and used entirely. 2. Preferments that contain wild yeasts and bacteria, which are maintained and then increased when needed for bread, and used over and over.

The second type of preferment is what we’ll refer to as a starter and what we’ll look closer at to understand some of the science of sourdough. This is what is meant by leaven.

A starter is created by mixing flour and water, and then allowing the microorganisms — wild yeasts and bacteria — that live in the flour and air to thrive and multiply. Over time, a stable population of these microorganisms develops. When used in bread, the microorganisms perform fermentation reactions, producing the gas that makes the dough rise and the molecules that give it flavor. These flavor molecules are different than those produced by commercial yeast.

Maintaining a starter is more work than opening a packet of yeast, but the flavor that develops in bread is unlike anything else. Pockets of gas percolates through that seemingly inert glob. It almost seems alive. As the microbes eat the sugars in the flour, they exhale carbon dioxide, producing the bubbles that turn a flat, dense loaf into something light and fluffy.

Most often in scripture, leaven is used as a symbol for something negative, such as beware the leaven of the Pharisses and saducees. But there are examples of leaven in scripture referring to a positive. That is the case in our parable today.

This is not the first time, nor the last, that Jesus would use leaven as an illustration of spiritual realities Often in the New Testament, leaven is often symbolic of corrupting influence Jesus warned of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, which included their teaching and hypocrisy — Matthew 16: 5 -12; Luke 12: 1

Paul wrote of the danger of how a little leavens the whole lump, as he addressed the need to withdraw fellowship from the unrepentant brother - 1 Cor. 5: 6 Now this has led some to conclude that leaven in the parable represents something evil The point is not that leaven is always inherently evil but that it is inherently pervasive and powerful in its influence

The context of the parable of the leaven… The parable comes right after the story of the mustard seed. That parable is a story of something small producing enormous outward growth. The work of the mustard seed is outward, and visible…. unlike the work of the leaven… This is what Jesus was communicating when He told the Pharisees, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, 'Here it is, ' or 'There it is, ' because the kingdom of God is in within you (Luke 17: 20 b– 21, ).

The parable of the leaven is a story of something small (like the mustard seeed) l that produces enormous inward growth. Both are pictures of the Gospel of Grace going out into the world. The gospel has an inward affect in that it changes a sinners eternal destiny, and grants a completely new perspective.

A brief outline of the meaning of this parable: 1) in the parable, Jesus says that the housewife takes a small amount of starter, and hides it in three measure of flour 2) Christ, Himself, is the One who kneads the leaven into us. 3) The small lump of leaven is the Holy Spirit. 4) The dough that is changed by the leaven is our lives

As a result of this event, our salvation, we are totally and completely transformed! Noone can discern the leaven from the dough; the dough is thoroughly transformed by the leaven is so intermingled John 15: 4 Abide in me, I in you

The unexpected but incredible result of this leavening? We can have anew personality. Not saying we spend our lives tearing apart or denigrating our personality. Leavens the WHOLE lump, the totality of our beings, thoughts, attitudes, actions, perspectives, pains and hurts from the past….

Psychologists: personality, set by age 5, experiences, molding, and learning…. sum total of our uniqueness, the outward expression of our intrinsic personhood, inner dispositions and temperament, beliefs, impulses, instincts, appetites, product We often in sarcasm agree: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks But by the working of the Holy Spirit change comes: transformation of feelings, attitudes, goals, and our sense of self worth. ALSO our sense of the importance of others? He wants to remold us into Him image, then send us into the world

New personality, don’t tell my wife, she will sign me up in a minute or less.

Questions to consider: How do I describe my personality What do I think people closest to me would suggest are my strengths and areas I need to change How would Jesus review my personality? Reflect on this: how do I need to allow the leavening work of the Holy Spirit to transform me?

Phil 1: 6…it works like this… He who began a good work in you shall perform until the day of Jesus Christ We need to allow this daily Romans 12: 12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Perhaps a few examples would be helpful: I can be convincing and persuasive…good thing When my wife wanted a new car, she went first and picked out what she wanted, then I walked in to meet with the sales manager who when he saw me, shook his head, looked down, covered his face and said, Oh, I know you…

When I had my psychological examination for ordination, the psychologist concluded: I am extremely psychologically fit for ministry…good thing So I go to work the next day wearing a sign I made around my neck: Guess, what, an actual psychologist said I am extremely psychologically fit!

DOT and my church, they were severely impacting us and our entrypoint, etc. After a 2 year back and forth the DOT and the county had to pay our church $150, 000 in punitive damages… After it was over, a reporter called me for a quote. I tried to be gracious and conciliatory. Til he pushed and said, so what was it like, really (pushing for a quote) I answered, let me tell you, I don’t start fights, I didn’t’ start this one, but I never walk away from any fight. (that became the byline at the top of the story)

1) Christianity’s roots were small and humble – an itinerant rabbi preached and did miracles for three years 2) he gathered a core of believers who numbered only 120 at the time of his crucifixion 3) but He rose again and now there are 2. 2 billion professing believers found around the world

Those telling on my self stories are to demonstrate: we need to allow the leavening work of the Holy Spirit continue to work in us… Maybe you’ve seen this… PBPWMGIFWMY Please be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet… Pray for my wife

Ephesians 4 describes the leavening process like this: 22 that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], 24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].

And it doesn’t stop there, with just each of us an individuals…. we have a leavening to do, we share the starter… God’s kingdom doesn't grow on account of huge fanfare. For most of history, the gospel has been spread through the faithful work of committed people. In the same way that leaven alters dough in secret, the revolution of the gospel isn't overt. As passionate individuals share their faith, the kingdom expands.

Leaven is observable only while it’s working, rising, impacting the dough of our lives, we share the starter by how we live, confess our short comings, share our struggles, allow victories to be demonstrated Matt 5: 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

In this simple story, Jesus teaches His disciples that a small bit of leavens the whole lump – i. e. the Kingdom of God will eventually have an extraordinary influence upon this world When yeast causes the dough to rise, the dough expands greatly, often doubling or tripling in size. The three measures of flour in the parable would amount to about sixty pounds, already a huge quantity. Once made into dough, mixed with yeast and allowed to rise, it would make enough bread to feed the entire village.

the parable would amount to about sixty pounds, already a huge quantity. Once made into dough, mixed with yeast and allowed to rise, it would make enough bread to feed the entire village. a. Jesus tells his disciples that the Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, it may seem insignificant, but its ultimate influence will be phenomenal 1) Christianity’s roots were small and humble – an itinerant rabbi preached and did miracles for three years

He gathered a core of believers who numbered only 120 at the time of his crucifixion He rose again and now there are 2. 2 billion professing believers found around the world

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