The Parable of the Mustard Seed & the Leaven
Parables are a unique way of conveying a moral truth, and was used by Jesus to reveal characteristics of the Kingdom of God to those who would hear. Last Sunday, we learned about the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven, in relation to sin, corruption and the power of God.
The Pungent Seed (v.31)
This parable begins in a similar fashion to previous parables in Matthew (13:1-9, 24-30) with Jesus using a “grain of mustard seed” to represent a small beginning, which is uncannily similar to the gospel. Jesus started in a small place, Israel, with a small group of followers, the 12 disciples. The gospel started in small ways, with small things and like the parable continues to convey, the gospel also grew to become much bigger than anyone had anticipated. A mustard seed is very small and in fact “it is the smallest of all seeds" but when it has grown, it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree (v.31). Mustard seeds are indeed tiny in size, but they are also potent in taste and smell. This teaches us that even from small beginnings, God’s power like the mustard seed, and has the potential to exponentially grow beyond what we imagine.
The Dangerous Bird (v.32)
The illustration of a large tree grown from a miniscule mustard seed is continued where Jesus talks about the “birds of the air” who “come and make nests in its branches”. We must not forget that parables are fictional stories shared to convey a truth, in this context, about the kingdom of God. The birds of the air refers to false teachers, heresy, false doctrine and the like that hovers within and around the church, aiming to disillusion believers from the truth. This verse should serve to remind us that we must always be on guard (1 Peter 5:8), for the devil is crouching at the door of our hearts ready to deceive and corrupt.
The Corrupting Leaven (v. 33)
Leaven is historically a type of fermenting substance, like Yeast, that allows dough to rise. Despite being a seemingly commonplace and insignificant material to use for metaphor’s illustration, leaven is mentioned 98 times total in the Old Testament (Leviticus 23:4-8, Exodus 12: 14-20) and in the New Testament (Matthew 13; 16:6; Mark 8:15; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8) to convey disobedience and sin. More specifically, leaven is used to imply God’s desire for us to live lives “unleavened” or free from sin.
In Matthew 13:33, Jesus talks about leaven being hidden in flour but given the characteristics of leaven, the entire three measures of flour becomes completely saturated with leaven. Like sin, leaven silently continues to fester potently where it is placed, causing corruption and fearful separation from God. The simple solution would be to deal with sin daily, however while that is something all Christians need and should desire, it is simply difficult to confront ourselves with. In context of Matthew 13, leaven is seen in the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who live legalistically, and of the Sadducees who live liberally - both opposing the gift of grace that allows true unity with God. Ultimately the Satan (or enemy) wants us to believe that Christianity is all about rules and regulations, but Jesus clearly teaches that true Christianity is about a devoted relationship with the Trinity. This relationship cannot afforded to be tainted by leaven (or sin), but at the cost of Christ we have been offered redemption and forgiveness of our sin, because God is faithful.
“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened” (v. 33)
To learn more about parables, read our previous blog post about the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds, or listen to the Parables Podcast Series by the Bible Project below.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sacrificing your beloved Son for the sake of relationship with us. I pray that the pursuit of the kingdom of God would become a fore-running reason for the way I live my life. I thank you that Jesus revealed truths about the kingdom, and that I can read and learn those truths from your Holy Word today.
In your name,
Amen