• The Leaven
• Some considerations
• What is the parable about?
• What is Leaven ?
• Hiding the Leaven
• Is Leaven something negative?
• Meaning of the parable
• The Treasure & The Pearl
• Comparing both parables
• The differences between both parables
• Meaning of the parables

The Leaven

He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Matthew 13:33

And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Luke 13: 20-21

Some considerations

What is the parable about?

Since Matthew & Luke directly connect this parable to the kingdom of God, we have to take the parable holistically as describing the reality of the present and near Kingdom that formed the center of Jesus’ ministry. This parable is not about how we should act, it is about how the kingdom operates.

What is Leaven ?

Leaven was essentially fermenting dough. It was used in baking because gives bread its unique flavor and texture, and causes the dough to rise.

Hiding the Leaven

The language of hiding seems a little odd. It is there to emphasize the “hidden” nature of the kingdom of God.

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17: 20-21

Is Leaven something negative?

Leaven is usually viewed negatively because of the instruction regarding leaven when celebrating Passover.

Too long, please open your Bible Exodus 12: 15-20

In the new testament, it is also used in various negative connotations

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5: 7-9

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16: 5-6, 12

However, we must pay attention to the context, and let the context give meaning to the symbols which are used. Leaven was not inherently bad. For example, it was used in well-being offerings and thanksgiving offerings.

With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the LORD. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. Leviticus 7: 13-14

Meaning of the parable

The key to understanding the parable is in the nature of how leaven affects dough it which it comes in contact with.

Leaven is usually not equal in quantity to the dough; in fact, it is many times smaller than the dough itself. Also, even though not immediately apparent, as soon as it is introduced, it sets in motion a process that isn’t reversible.

The point is that what we see in Jesus’ ministry is the beginning of what we hope for in the Kingdom of God, and it will surely lead to it.

The Treasure & The Pearl

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13: 44-46

Comparing both parables

The differences between both parables

Even though it seems both parables make the same point, the differences highlight to us the emphasis of each parable, and add more nuance to the eventual meaning of the parables.

Even though joy is not mentioned in the second parable, it does not mean that it is entirely absent.The merchant selling all he had after finding something he arduously searched for would definitely have been done in joy.

The first parable highlights the blessedness and worth of finding the treasure, while the second emphasizes that the kingdom should be sought after.

Meaning of the parables

Some say that the parables teach the value of the kingdom, while others say that they teach the cost of discipleship. However, we must think of both concepts as two sides of a coin; the value of something is always reflected in the cost of getting it.

The point of the parables is in the reaction of the finder; he found something, and judged it to be worth “selling all he had” to obtain it. It is probably safe to not take “sold all that he had” as literal, but as a literary device to emphasize the fact that what was found was of ultimate vale..

The parables help us recall certain narratives:

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 10: 37-39

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 19: 16-30

Too long, please open your Bible Luke 9: 23-26, 57-62

In summary, the kingdom is hidden, and is waiting to not only be found, but for its value to be recognized, and for us to respond accordingly.

The entirety of our lives is a value-seeking and value-estimation venture. Our sense of value is often skewed. May God help us to seek & value the kingdom above all else.