The Parable of:
“The Woman Who Put Leaven
In Three Measures of Meal”
(Matthew 13:33-35)
Matthew 13:33-35
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.
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Comments:
In the parable Jesus has used a woman baking bread to illustrate some hidden Truth that He wants us to discover. Let us “search as for hid treasure” (Prov. 2:4) so that we can understand and find the knowledge of God.
(Prov. 2:5)
Comparing the Scripture:
We will begin our study by “searching” the Bible to find out if there are any similar stories or Bible verses.
Using Strong’s Concordance and the word “meal” we find that in Genesis 18:1-6 there is a similar story.
138
Genesis 18:1-6
1 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 favor 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.
The “story” in Gen. 18 has confirmed our thought that the woman in the parable of Matthew 13:33 is baking bread. Notice the similarities in the two examples:
Matt 13:33
Woman hid leaven in three measures of meal.
Gen. 18:1-6
Woman (Sarah) took three measures of fine meal and made three loaves or cakes of bread for three men.
139
Now we need to identify the Real Objects in the parable so that we can discover their Spiritual meanings. Then we can substitute those Spiritual meanings back into the parable to discover the hidden Spiritual meaning of the parable.
The Real Objects are:
woman, leaven,
three measures of meal or (three loaves of bread).
What does the “woman” represent?
Isaiah 54:5, 6 “Thy maker is thy husband, the Lord of hosts is His name.…the Lord hath called thee as a woman.…and a wife...”
The “woman” represents the church.
What does “bread” represent?
Matthew 4:4 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.
“Bread” represents the Word of God.
If there was only “one measure of meal” or one loaf of bread, then we would conclude that one loaf of bread represents the Bible. In this parable there are three loaves of bread and we know that there are not three Bibles, so the three loaves must represent:
God’s Word in three parts
or
Three Messages from God’s Word
140
Now we need to discover the Spiritual meaning of “leaven”. Using the Concordance we discover that Paul gives one Spiritual meaning for “leaven”.
I Cor. 5:8 “Therefore let us keep the feast, not with
old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; .….,”
Thus, one Spiritual meaning for “leaven” is malice and wickedness. Let’s see if this Spiritual meaning fits the context of the parable by substituting the meaning into the parable.
Matt. 13:33 “The Kingdom of heaven is like: malice and wickedness (leaven)...
The context of the parable clearly shows us that this Spiritual meaning for “leaven” cannot be the right one! (The kingdom of heaven is not like malice and wickedness!)
We will use the Concordance again to see if we can discover another Spiritual meaning for the word “leaven”.
Matt. 16:6 “Then Jesus said unto them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
12 Then understood they, how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
141
We have just discovered a second Spiritual meaning for the word “leaven”. Leaven can represent doctrine.
Let’s see if this meaning fits the context of the parable.
Matt. 13:33 “The kingdom of heaven is like doctrine (leaven)...”
This Spiritual meaning for “leaven” fits perfectly into the context of the verse. Before we substitute the Spiritual meaning of the real objects back into the parable, let’s think about it Spiritually.
The kingdom of heaven is like (Spiritual) leaven which a (Spiritual) woman took and hid in
Three measures of (Spiritual) meal
until the whole world was (Spiritually) leavened.
Now we are ready to substitute the Spiritual meanings of the real objects back into the Bible verse.
Paraphrase:
The kingdom of heaven is like doctrine (leaven) which a Church (woman) took and hid in three messages from God’s Word (three measures of meal) until everyone
(“the whole”) had heard them (leavened).
142
Summary:
In this parable of a “Woman baking bread” Jesus has hidden valuable Truth! He has told us that the Church has a three part message from the Bible that must be heard by everyone!
Now the question is what is that three part message?
To find the answer we will again use the Concordance and compare the Scriptures. When we look up the word “leaven” and compare the texts, we discover that for normal sacrifices and offerings the bread used was to be without leaven. We have already discovered why; because “leaven” represented malice and wickedness or sin.
The twelfth chapter of Exodus describes how the children of Israel were to eat “unleavened” bread for the Passover, as an example:
Exodus 12:8 “And they shall eat the flesh (lamb) in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
There are at least 25 Bible texts that tell us to remove the leaven or make the bread “unleavened”. This parable is an exception to the majority of texts telling us to remove the leaven. The parable tells us to put leaven in the bread! In order to find out why, we will have to find other texts that tell us to put leaven in the bread.
143
Lev. 23:17 “Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be baken with leaven; they are the first fruits unto the Lord.” This text tells us why the leaven is put in the bread. It is because the loaves of bread with leaven in them represent the “first fruits.” Once more we will use the Concordance in order to discover the significance of the “first fruits”.
(Rev. 14:4-10)
The “First Fruits”
Revelation 14:4-10, 12
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits 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 dwell 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 foundations 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 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,
144
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:
12 Here is the patience of the Saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
In Revelation 14:4-12
The Bible tells us that the “first fruits” represents a group of people who are the “redeemed”. (Rev. 14:4)
It further tells us that “in their mouth is no guile.”
(Rev. 14:5)
(Greek)
Guile #1388 – trick, deceit
Thus, the Bible tells us that this group of people will tell us the Truth! (no guile or deceit)
Immediately after telling us this, there are three distinct messages given. (Rev. 14:6-10).
(The first angels message, the second angels message, and the third angels message.)
The word “angel” used in the text means;
(Greek)
Angel #32 – To bring tidings, a messenger
Thus, this group of people are “messengers” who have a three part message which is described in the Bible. Furthermore, the three messages are to be “preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people” or in other words to the whole world.
145
Summary:
Our paraphrase of the parable was this:
The kingdom of heaven is like doctrine (leaven) which a Church (woman) took and hid in three messages from God’s Word (three measures of meal) until everyone (the whole) had heard them (leavened).
It is clear that we have found the three messages from God’s Word that are to be given to everyone. Those three messages are described in the 14th chapter of Revelation. We have also found a description of the group of people or “Church” that the parable said would be giving those three messages. We need to look closely at the Bibles description of the “Church” giving the three messages so that we will be able to find it!
At least six characteristics of the Church have been identified while studying this parable. Briefly they are:
It will “preach” the three messages to all the world.
It will “preach” the truth.
It will consist of Christians “redeemed” by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus).
It will follow all of the teachings of Jesus and do whatever He says to do.
It will not join together with other Churches teaching false doctrine.
It will keep the Commandments of God, and will have faith in Jesus.
146
The Three Messages to be given to all the World (Rev. 14:6-10)
First Angel’s Message:
Rev. 14:6,7 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, 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.
Everlasting Gospel – Same means of Salvation for all
Give Glory to God – Christian Living
Hour of Judgment is come – Judgment is NOW in session!
Worship the Creator
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, 10 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, 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
147
Doctrinal Truth (Taught by Jesus in the Parable of “The woman who put leaven in three measures of meal”)
There are hidden truths in the Parables which have been kept secret since the foundation of the world.
In order to discover these “truths” we must “search as for hid treasure” by comparing the Scriptures and then we will find the “knowledge of God”.
The main truth that the parable teaches us is that the True Church of God will present doctrinal truths in three messages from God’s Word, until every nation, kindred, tongue, and people have heard them!
The doctrinal truths contained in the three messages concern the following topics:
The Everlasting Gospel
Giving glory to God
The Hour of God’s Judgment
Worshipping the Creator
Babylon is Fallen
Warning against the Beast and his mark
- The Doctrinal truths contained in each of the six topics of the three messages are too lengthy to be covered in detail in this parable. They are covered in detail in “Bible Parables Made Simple”, Vol. 3.
148
The Parable of:
The Friend
At
Midnight
(The End of Time for the World )
149