Luke 13:20 - “Another parable spoke 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.'”
The popular interpretation of
this parable is that the Kingdom of God or the church, will permeate and change
the world as yeast does in bread. This interpretation may be valid. It is
certainly God’s intention for the church to do this. And, the parable starts
out with “The Kingdom of God ( or the church ) is like yeast”… But, I believe,
along with some biblical scholars, this parable means just the opposite; the church
will be permeated by sin and influenced by evil until the Lord returns. There
are a few principles of biblical inter-pretation we need to know that help
explain why I believe this.
A. Scripture must not be made to contradict itself. Every place yeast is mentioned in Scripture it indicates an evil influence.
B. Scripture must be understood in its context: The mustard seed story previous to this shows perverse and unnatural growth. Mustard is an herb, not a tree. The Church has often been huge and powerful in the eyes of men, but not what God intended it to be. Like the mustard seed that grows to be a tree…when it is not meant to be a tree.
C. Scripture must be interpreted consistent with historical events:
1. The Gospel has not completely changed the world as yeast changes dough.
2. Even in the Church, the mixture of good and evil is evident.
3. The Church has never completely permeated the world, but the world has always
permeated the Church.
4. The witness of the Church is corrupted and crippled by the presence of "yeast."
A. Scripture must not be made to contradict itself. Every place yeast is mentioned in Scripture it indicates an evil influence.
B. Scripture must be understood in its context: The mustard seed story previous to this shows perverse and unnatural growth. Mustard is an herb, not a tree. The Church has often been huge and powerful in the eyes of men, but not what God intended it to be. Like the mustard seed that grows to be a tree…when it is not meant to be a tree.
C. Scripture must be interpreted consistent with historical events:
1. The Gospel has not completely changed the world as yeast changes dough.
2. Even in the Church, the mixture of good and evil is evident.
3. The Church has never completely permeated the world, but the world has always
permeated the Church.
4. The witness of the Church is corrupted and crippled by the presence of "yeast."
One of the key “hints” as to
interpretation is the meal. If you were a Jew in those days you would have
caught the phrase “3 measures of meal.” This is what they would take to the
Temple as an act of worship. There were two things you could not put into the
meal – honey or leaven. When they heard that a woman brought 3 measures of meal
and “hid” leaven in it, they knew it was an act of sabotage.
The first time we find 3 measures of meal
mentioned in scripture is Genesis 18 where the Lord and two angels appear to
Abraham, who quickly tells Sarah to get 3 measures of meal, bake cakes and
bring them to the divine guests. It was about worship and communion.The fact that the woman deliberately “hid” the leaven and put it in the meal…is a tactic of Satan, who deliberately tries to destroy the church by all kinds of ways.
There are different kinds of things represented by the word “Yeast” in this parable;
* Matthew 16:5-12 – Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees – the Pharisees (legalism) – You are a Christian because of what you do or “don’t” do… “I don’t drink or smoke and I don’t chew, and I don’t hang around with those that do!” The leaven of the Pharisees is still around today – and it is crippling our churches in my opinion. The Sadducees – Liberalism – They didn’t believe in the resurrection or angels or in evil spirits. They still exist today as well. They are the ones who deny the absolute truth of the Bible; or that it is the inerrant and inspired Word of God; or the virgin birth; or that miracles happen today, among other things.
* Mark 8:15 – the leaven of Herod – materialism. Today we have many “prosperity” gospel teaching churches and those that preach a social gospel…“Don’t worry, be happy”…Be positive…Be a good person. God wants us to be happy and positive and a good person, but according to His Word, commands, and purposes, not ours.
* What about the leaven of “negativism” or “doubt” or “malice” or a critical spirit? These things are in our churches today, and they are “leaven.” Left unchecked, they will permeate the whole dough!
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