THE WOMAN

WHO PUT LEAVEN

IN3 MEASURES

OFMEAL

By William T. Barrett

 2001

THE WOMAN WHO PUT LEAVEN IN 3 MEASURES OF MEAL

MATTHEW 13

33 Another parable spake 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.

QUESTIONS :

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THE WOMAN WHO PUT LEAVEN IN 3 MEASURES OF MEAL

MATTHEW 13

33 Another parable spake 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.

QUESTIONS :

1 What is the woman doing in this Parable ?

2 Is this a “good” woman or an “evil” woman ?

3 What does leaven represent ?

4 Why are there “3” measures of meal ?

5 What do the 3 measures of meal represent ?

6 Is there any other place in the Bible that there is a similar story that would help me to understand this text better ?

7 What is the Spiritual meaning of this Parable ?

What are the real objects and what do they represent spiritually ?

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MATTHEW 13

33 Another parable spake 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.

1 What is the woman doing in this Parable ?

(Preparing to make bread)

2 Is this a “good” woman or an “evil” woman ?

(Good woman – kingdom of heaven)

3 What does leaven represent ?

4 Why are there “3” measures of meal ?

5 What do the 3 measures of meal represent ?

6 Is there any other place in the Bible that there is a similar story that would help me to understand this text better ?

(YES GEN 18 : 1-6)

7 What is the Spiritual meaning of this Parable ?

8 What are the real objects and what do they represent Spiritually ?

(LEAVEN, WOMAN, MEAL, 3 MEASURES OF MEAL)

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DISCOVERING THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THE REAL OBJECTS

“Leaven” normally represents sin ! (1 Cor 5 : 8) “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness ;…”

However, since this parable is about the “good woman”

and the kingdom of heaven it cannot represent sin !

Therefore, there must be another Spiritual meaning for LEAVEN !

In Matthew 16 : 6,12 we find the other Spiritual meaning

(SPIRITUAL) LEAVEN = DOCTRINE (which can be good or bad)

We also know that the WOMAN = CHURCH

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In Gen 18 : 5,6, we find a “similar story” where a woman is using 3 measures of MEAL to make BREAD or “cakes”.

SIMILAR “STORY”

GENESIS 18

And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre : and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day ; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him : and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant : 4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree : 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts ; after that ye shall pass on : for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

3 men

Bread is to be given to the 3 men

Woman takes 3 measures of meal

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS :

1 Each of the 3 men received a “cake” of Bread. (Gen 18 : 6-8)

2 Who are the 3 men ? (Gen 18 : 16,17, 22,32,33)

(3 angels) (Gen 19 : 1)

3 Thus each of the 3 angels received one of the 3 loaves of Bread.

Now we need to discover what “meal” or “bread” represents Spiritually.

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In Gen 18 : 5,6 we find a “similar story” where a woman is using 3 measures of MEAL to make BREAD or “cakes”.

So the 3 measures of MEAL represent

3 measures of SPIRITUAL BREAD

So theMEALorBREADrepresentsGOD’S WORD

3 measures of MEAL = 3 LOAVES of BREAD

= 3 PARTS of GOD’S WORD

= 3 MESSAGES from GOD’S WORD

Thus each of the 3 angels received one of the 3 MESSAGES from GOD’S WORD.

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Now, the question is What are the 3 MESSAGES from GOD’S WORD ?

Since we discovered that “LEAVEN” represents DOCTRINE, then the key to discovering the 3 MESSAGES must be connected to the “LEAVEN”.

Lets examine the places in the Bible that

the word LEAVEN is used.

LEAVEN

p ut away l out of your houses Ex 12 : 15 7603

All texts tell you to take

LEAVEN OUT

e no l found in your houses Ex 12 : 19 ”

neither shall there be l seen Ex 13 : 7 ”

the blood of my sacrifice with l Ex 34 : 25 2557

the LORD, shall be made with l Lev 2 : 11 ”

for ye shall burn no l, nor any Lev 2 : 11 7603

It shall not be baken with l Lev 6 : 17 2557

eat it without l beside the altar Lev 10 : 12 4682

This text alone besides

the parable

texts, tells us to put

LEAVEN IN

hey shall be baken with l Lev 23 : 17 2557 

sacrifice of thanksgiving with l Amos 4 : 5 2557 *

kingdom of heaven is like unto l Mt 13 : 33 2219

beware of the l of the Pharisees Mt 16 : 6 ”

beware of the l of the Pharisees Mt 16 : 11 ”

them not beware of the l of bread Mt 16 : 12 ”

beware of the l of the Pharisees Mk 8 : 15 ”

and of the beware l of Herod Mk 8 : 15 ”

ye of the l of the Pharises Lk 12 : 1 ”

It is like l, which a woman took Lk 13 : 21 ”

little l leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor 5 : 6 ”

Purge out therefore the old l 1 Cor 5 : 7 ”

us keep the feast, not with old l 1 Cor 5 : 8 ”

neither with the l of malice 1 Cor 5 : 8 ”

A little l leaveneth the whole Gal 5 : ”

Thus obviously we need to carefully examine the only other Bible text that tells us to put LEAVEN IN the Bread, (Lev 23 : 17) so that we can discover the Spiritual significance.

*NOTE :

Amos 4 : 5 looks like it is a “leaven in” text but the context shows disobedience to God by putting “leaven in” (see texts to leave “leaven out”).

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LEVITICUS 23

17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals : they shall be of fine flour ; they shall be baken with leaven ; they are the first fruits unto the LORD.

The above text clearly tells us to put leaven IN the bread. (“Shall be baken with leaven”).

The text also tells us the Spiritual Significance.

(“They are the FIRST FRUITS unto the Lord”).

Now, all we have to do is use the Concordance and look up “FIRST FRUITS” to see the connection between the “First Fruits” and putting leaven IN the 3 measures of meal. (3 messages of God’s Word).

We need to look for the Spiritual meaning not just the Physical “first ripe fruit”.

FIRSTFRUITS

The f of thy labours, which thou Ex 23 : 16 1061

The first of the f of thy land Ex 23 : 19 1061

of the f of wheat harvest, and the Ex 34 : 22 1061

The first of the f of thy land Ex 34 : 26 1061

As for the oblation of the f Lev 2 : 12 7225

offering of thy f unto the LORD Lev 2 : 14 1061

for the meat offering of thy f Lev 2 : 14 1061

ye shall bring a sheaf of the f Lev 23 : 10 7225

they are the f unto the LORD Lev 23 : 17 1061

the f of them which they shall Num 18 : 12 7225

Also in the day of the f, when ye Num 28 : 26 1061

I have brought the f of the land Deut 26 : 10 7225

the man of God bread of the f 2 Kin 4 : 42 1061

in abundance the f of corn 2 Chr 31 : 5 7225

to bring the f of our ground, and Neh 10 : 35 1061

the f of all fruit of all trees Neh 10 : 35 1061

should bring the f of our dough Neh 10 : 37 7225

for the offering, for the f Neh 12 : 44 7225

at times appointed, and for the f Neh 13 : 31 1061

with the f of all thine increase Prov 3 : 9 7225

LORD and the f of his increase Jer 2 : 3 7225

the f of your oblations, with all Eze 20 : 40 7225

first of all the f of all things Eze 44 : 30 1061

nor alienate the f of the land Eze 48 : 14 7225

which have the f of the Spirit Rom 8 : 23 536

who is the f of Achaia unto Rom 16 : 5 536

become the f of them that slept 1 Cor 15 : 20 536

Christ the f 1 Cor 15 : 23 536

That it is the f of Achaia 1 Cor 16 : 15 536

be a kind of f of his creatures Jas 1 : 18 536

among men, being the f unto God Rev 14 : 4 536

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REVELATION 14

4 These are they which were not defiled with woman ; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile : for they are without fault before the throne of God.

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwel on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him ; for the hour of his judgment is come : and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

(1^st ANGEL)

FIRST MESSAGE

(2^nd ANGEL)

SECOND MESSAGE

(3^rd ANGEL)

THIRD MESSAGE

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Thus, putting leaven in 3 measures of meal is connected by the scriptures to the FIRSTFRUITS and a 3 PART MESSAGE of 3 ANGELS

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CONCLUSION

Now, lets go back to the Parable and Paraphrase it using the Spiritual meaning of the Real Objects to see what it says.

PHYSICAL

SPIRITUAL

eaven = Doctrine

Woman = God’s Church

Meal (bread) = God’s Word

3 Measures of meal = Bread in 3 parts

(God’s Word in 3 parts)

(3 messages from God’s Word)

MATTHEW 13

33 Another parable spake he unto them ; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, (DOCTRINE) which a woman (CHURCH) took, and hid in three measures of meal, (3 MESSAGES FROM GOD’S WORD) till the whole was leavened (DOCTRINIZED).

Paraphrase :

The kingdom of heaven is like Doctrine (leaven) which Gods Church (woman) took, and presented (hid) in 3 messages from Gods Word, (3 measures of meal) until everyone (whole) had heard those Doctrines (leavened).

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THE LAST DAY MESSAGE TO ALL THE WORLD

(3 ANGELS MESSAGE)

FIRST ANGEL’S MESSAGE

REV 14 : 6 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

(EVERLASTING GOSPEL) Same means of Salvation for all :

REV 14 : 7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him ; for the hour of his judgement is come ; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

(GIVE GLORY TO GOD) Christian Living

(HOUR OF HIS JUDGEMENT IS COME) Judgement is NOW in session

(WORSHIP THE CREATOR) The Sabbath of the Lord

honors Him as the Creator

(Exodus 20 : 10)

SECOND ANGEL’S MESSAGE

REV 14 : 8 “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

(BABYLON IS FALLEN) Warning against the religious confusion and doctrine of the Churches

THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE

REV 14 : 9 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

REV 14 : 10 “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.

(WARNING NOT TO WORSHIP THE BEAST

OR TO RECEIVE HIS MARK) Warning against a specific religious power not to worship as it does nor receive its mark.

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