The Parable of the Yeast is found in Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20-21. This short parable is sometimes called the Parable of the Leaven.
He [Jesus] told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a
large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." (Matthew 13:33, New International Version).
Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a
large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." (Luke 13:20-21, New International Version).
Again, Jesus took a familiar phenomenon of everyday life and taught a spiritual truth. A woman was making bread.
She took some yeast and kneaded it into three SATAS (about 1/2 bushel or 22 liters) of flour. The yeast grew until it
permeated the mixture.
Bakers' yeast is a microscopic one-celled plant that is nearly colorless. It has no chlorophyll and it is classified
as a fungus. It is dependent on green plant starch or sugar for food. It reproduces by developing a bud, which separates
and grows into another yeast cell. Yeast produces two enzymes, invertase and zymase, which help to convert starch
to sugar, and sugar to alcohol, carbon dioxide and energy. This process is called fermentation. Breadmakers add yeast
(and sometimes sugar) to dough and place the dough in a warm place. The carbon dioxide that is produced forms
bubbles in the dough and causes the dough to rise. Baking causes the gas to expand even more, and most of the alcohol
is driven off.
The yeast at first represents the Word of God, which becomes believers (the Word incarnate). The woman represents
Christ. The flour is the world population. As yeast spreads throughout dough, so the kingdom of God spreads throughout
the world. By interpreting this parable in scriptural context, the whole world will not be saved, although society
will be affected positively. This parable does not teach universal salvation even though the salvation of everyone is
a noble thought.
AS THE HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, MANY WILL BE CONVERTED,
AND THEIR NEW CHRISTLIKE NATURE WILL INFLUENCE THE WORLD.
Let us constantly sow the Word of God, which will penetrate the hearts of people who receive the Truth. Their Christlike lives, in turn, will permeate and influence society.
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