Matthew 13:33

Thursday, 9 October 2025

 

Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” Matthew 13:33

 

“Another parable He presented them, ‘The kingdom of the heavens, it is like leaven which a woman, having taken, she concealed in flour – three measures – until it all, it leavened’” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus finished the parable of the mustard seed. With it complete, Matthew records, “Another parable He presented them.”

 

As noted previously. It is unknown if these parables were all stated at the same time or if Matthew is recording them in a categorical fashion. Either way, however, Jesus begins the Parable, saying, “The kingdom of the heavens, it is like leaven.”

 

Here is a new word, zumé, ferment, as in boiling up. Thus, it refers to leaven, which causes a change, usually through rising (as in bread) or some other type of reaction, such as in the process of making beer.

 

The meaning of the parable is highly debated. However, yeast is consistently given as a type of spreading evil, and thus sin. This is true in both testaments, either typologically or figuratively –

 

“Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep 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

 

Many commentators feel that this parable must be an exception to that. If so, it would be an extremely unusual outlier. As for Jesus’ words, He continues, saying, “which a woman, having taken, she concealed in flour.”

 

Here is another new word, egkruptó, to conceal. The idea is concealing through incorporation. The woman takes the leaven and incorporates it into the dough. When looking at it, no one would even know that it was leavened. Only when the effects are realized after the reaction would it be known that it was in there.

 

Putting yeast into flour will inevitably result in the dough being affected. Yeast was never to be presented to the Lord in the sacrifices and offerings of Israel, with but two exceptions (Leviticus 7:13 & Leviticus 23:17).

 

Those exceptions were specifically given in typology, indicating that because of Jesus, the redeemed are considered acceptable to God even though they are sinful people. As for the leavened dough, Jesus continues, saying, “three measures – until it all, it leavened.”

 

In Scripture, the number three “...stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire” (Bullinger). It is the number of divine perfection. Thus, there is the notion of divine perfection in what Jesus is stating concerning this picture of the kingdom of the heavens.

 

Concerning the parable, as noted above, the meaning continues to be debated. Most commentators agree that the words are the only exception to the spiritual meaning of leaven. Rather than it being a negative thing, it is taken as a positive thing, as if the leaven itself is an instrument for good.

 

But this seems contrary. Leaven consistently signifies sin throughout the Old Testament, including the two times it is presented to the Lord. It is then used in this manner by Jesus in the gospels, such as Matthew 16:6. It is later used this way by Paul in 1 Corinthians and Galatians.

 

Despite this, commentators waffle on the meaning here because of the association that is made with the kingdom of the heavens. “How could the influence of sin be seen in the kingdom of the heavens?” But for the sake of consistency and evaluating it from that perspective, meaning taking it as a picture of sin, what is going on that could allow this?

 

 What seems a suitable explanation is that the woman is a picture of the wisdom of God, something particularly highlighted in Proverbs 1. Jesus uses that idea of the feminine wisdom in Luke 7 –

 

“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7:33-35

 

Jesus came to save sinners. He specifically notes them in these words as those He associated with. The three measures indicate the entire course of the kingdom of the heavens, where everything is substantial, complete, entire, etc. There is the notion of divine perfection having been attained.

 

How is sin realized? Through law. Without law, there is no imp