The Kingdom of Heaven Part 6 : The Parable of the Leaven Key Scriptures: Matthew 13:33, Revelation 2:18-23 The kingdom of heaven is like… - In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus prophesies that the Church would begin small and that evil, outside adversaries would try to subvert it from within. - In the Parable of the Leaven Jesus prophesies of internal doctrinal distortions that would corrupt the purity of the Word of God. Matthew 13:33 NKJV — Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." What is Leaven? Physically, leaven is a lump of old dough in a high state of fermentation, or a substance like yeast that causes dough to rise. Yeasts are single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. History of yeast It is not known when yeast was first used to bake bread; the earliest definite records come from Ancient Egypt. Researchers speculate that a mixture of flour meal and water was left longer than usual on a warm day and the yeasts that occur in natural contaminants of the flour caused it to ferment before baking. The resulting bread would have been lighter and tastier than the previous hard flatbreads. A natural reason for leaven's negative symbolism is the idea that fermentation implies a process of corruption. In the Old Testament, it is generally symbolic of sin and evil. In every instance that leaven appears in the Bible, it represents evil. Again, Jesus taught in practical terms they would understand. Knowing its Old Testament significance, He would have used this symbol of leaven in the same way. Matthew 16:6, 12 NKJV — Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." [12] Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This easily applies to later corruptions of doctrine by those who place more importance on the traditions of men than on the Word of God. "1 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 NKJV — Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? [7] Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. [8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. - We have a choice to live off the bread of this world or the Spirit. - Malice and wickedness are of our old nature. (Fermented, death, from the grave.) - Sincerity and truth are of our new nature in Christ Jesus. (Bread of Life.) Galatians 5:7-9 NKJV — You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? [8] This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. [9] A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Its diffusive quality describes the harmful effects of false doctrine. Paul calls leaven a persuasion, something that exerts a powerful and moving influence, which hinders people from obeying the truth. Such a thing, he declares, is not from Him who calls us. Leaven is symbolic of things that disintegrate, break up, and corrupt. Who is this Woman? Whenever we find the symbol of a woman in the Bible, she represents a system of beliefs and practices that influence other people. Wisdom Proverbs 1:20-21 NKJV — Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. [21] She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words. But look at the actions of the woman in the parable: “a woman took and hid” - This woman is surreptitiously placing the leaven of false doctrine in the church. She is an opponent of Christ and infuses His church with corrupting ideas. - She is called "Wickedness" (Zechariah 5:7-8), "Jezebel" (Revelation 2:20), and the "great harlot" (Revelation 17:1). - The woman took what was dead and concealed it among the living. The Three Measures of Meal - Three measures of meal would be a huge amount even for a large family—perhaps as much as is needed to make about a dozen loaves of bread. "2 - More importantly, most of the Jews listening to Jesus would have recognized the three measures of meal (an ephah) as the meal or grain offering (Leviticus 2). The meal offering represents the offerer's service and loyalty to his fellowman and is exemplified in how Jesus offered himself in service to mankind. - Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV — But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. # # [26] Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. [27] And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—# # [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." This portrays the second great commandment of Matthew 22:36-39. - Matthew 22:37-49 NKJV — Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Looking at these, we see that the three measures of meal represent love, service, and loyalty to others. Jesus gives warning of leaven Luke 12:1-2 NKJV — "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known." Whatever is hidden and unseen within, will be exposed for all to see. - Leaven is corrupt doctrine (Matthew 16:11-12) - Leaven is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1) - Leaven is malice and wickedness (1 Corinthians 5:8) - Unleavened bread is sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8) Revelation 2:18-23 NKJV — "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: [19] "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. [20] Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. "3 [21] And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. [22] Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. [23] I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works." Look at the contrast of these two scriptures: - Matthew 13:33 NKJV — "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."# - Luke 12:1-2 NKJV — "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.” God’s Word of Truth will reveal the hearts and minds of all people. - Leaven is corrupt doctrine (Matthew 16:11-12) - Leaven is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1) - Leaven is malice and wickedness (1 Corinthians 5:8) - Unleavened bread is sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8) "4.