He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Matthew 13:33)
Before this parable, Lord Jesus talked about the parable of the mustard seed, about the development of the kingdom of heaven, which has grown from very small to very large. Does this parable talks about the same thing? We will see in a moment that it is not.
When the Israelites eat the Passover lamb, it is forbidden to eat the bread with yeast (Exodus 12:15). Immediately after the Passover, the Israelites must observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. “Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. “(Ex 13:7). Yeast here represents bad thing. This is the requirement of the Old Testament to the Israelites, in the New Testament, there is no need to keep the rules of the Old Testament.
“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6)
Yeast here represents the wrong teachings. Here Lord Jesus told the disciples to guard against the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, that is, the wrong teachings.
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?(1 Corinthians 5:6)
Here yeast represents sins (1 Corinthians 5:1-8). Paul says that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough, this means that sin will affect the whole church. There is adultery in the church, Paul wants the church to drive him out. We see that the church may be affected by sins and wrong teachings. Those who have sins must confess their sins and repent, always seek after the Lord, hold to His teaching, then we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.”
May God bless you and your family. 🙏😀
Recently, we study the parables in Gospel Matthew. Last Saturday I shared the parable of the yeast, mentioned about Lord Jesus told his disciples to guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, that is their teaching. I post this parable and English translation on this website on Monday. Recently, I listened and read Gospel Luke in sequential order every morning. On Tuesday morning, it so happened that I heard the parable of yeast in Gospel Luke and also the verse about Lord Jesus told His disciples to guard against the yeast of the Pharisee: Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1), thank the Lord.
