Scripture Queries and Answers

• 2 min. read • grade level: 8

T. S., Crewe. —In reply to your question on Matt. 13:33³³Another 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. (Matthew 13:33):—

You will find it a rule in Scripture, that leaven is generally used as typical of evil, whether in doctrine or practice. For instance, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees Then understood they how that He bade them, not to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (Matt. 16:6,11,12⁶Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew 16:6)
¹¹How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? ¹²Then 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. (Matthew 16:11‑12)) See also Mark 8:15¹⁵And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. (Mark 8:15); Luke 12:1¹In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1). In the last verse we read, “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Paul writes to the Corinthians, with regard to evil practice, “know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Cor. 5:6⁶Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1 Corinthians 5:6)) And to the Galatians, with regard to evil doctrine, subversive of Christianity, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” (Gal. 5:9⁹A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9).)

In Matt. 13:33³³Another 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. (Matthew 13:33), we are taught in one of six parables, which follow that of the sower, a similitude of the kingdom of heaven, in its new mysterious form, which was about to be brought into the world on the rejection of the King. For one peculiar and striking characteristic of the kingdom of heaven in mystery is that the King is not here. This was some of the “things new” which a scribe, instructed in the matter, would now bring out of his treasures, added to the “things old” which the prophets had aforetime written about the kingdom of heaven. (vs. 52) When it was said that it would be “as the days of heaven upon earth.” (Deut. 11:21²¹That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:21)) And of the throne of the King, “His throne (should be) as the days of heaven.” (Psa. 89:29²⁹His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (Psalm 89:29)) And again, the Gentiles should knew that “the heavens do rule.” (Dan. 4:26²⁶And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. (Daniel 4:26).)

Now all this state of things was entirely set aside for the time, because of the rejection of the King—of Christ. And, instead of all the blessings consequent upon his reception, a state of things far different would be introduced. The enemy would come and sow tares amongst the wheat in the world, or, as it is called, “the field.” (vs. 38) The outward appearance the kingdom of heaven would then assume would be that of a vast sheltering power, under the figure of a tree, which would shelter the birds of the air, or as they are interpreted to be the emissaries of the wicked one, (see verses 4, 19, 32) And again as our parable tells us, doctrine or profession would spread through the three measures of meal, or the sphere of the nominal profession of Christianity, till the whole should be leavened. One has only to lift up their eyes, with but a small amount of spiritual intelligence, on the state of things in Christendom around them, and see what has come to pass.

F.G.P.

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