Parable of Leaven

He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." Matt. 13:33
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Many think this is a negative parable of the Kingdom. That is, that leaven is always evil in the Bible. So it represents corruption in the church. We should note that the Kingdom and the Church are not synonymous. The church is part of the Kingdom, but it is not all there is of the Kingdom. I think we should view the parable in a positive light, as I think it is a natural reading of the text.
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Also note two verses in Leviticus, which allow for leaven (yeast) sacrifices. Yeast isn't always bad in the Bible! It's only to be purified of at certain times; but the rest of the year it can be eaten. It can even be offered to God as a sacrifice! Note:
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"Along with his fellowship offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of bread made with yeast. 14 He is to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the LORD; it belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the fellowship offerings" Lev. 7:13-14 (Also see 23:17)
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Note some positive uses of leaven:
1. Works its way through dough. World is a loaf bread. Kingdom work through it.
2. Small, just a pinch.
3. Unstoppable.
4. Good, sweetens.
5. Represents flesh. The flesh is redeemed in th Kingdom.
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Point of the parable: that which is very small will: Fill the earth, sweeten the earth. Change the world!
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Where the Gospel is lived out, the culture around is cahnged. For instance, the vikings were fierce plunderers. They erroized coastlands of Europe. In fact, the word Berserk comes from their fighting men who were called berserkers. In 120 A.D. Christianity came under Kin Olav. Blood sacrifices, black magic, setting out of infants, slavery and polygamy were outlawed. This is a direct result of Christianity!
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Christians would make contributions to: Medicine, Science, Law, Government, Art, Music.
Science: Louis Pasture, Conpericus, Galileo, I.Newton.
Phil: Soren Kirkregard, Karl Barth. Dercertes.
Writers: J.R.R. Tolken. C.S Lewis
Musicians: Johann Bach.
Cartoons, Charlie Brown, Shultz.
Even fast food has been touched by Christianity! Take a look at the bottom of an In N Out cup sometime. Their wrappers and cups all have Bible verses hidden on them. (Is there a better example of leaven? !)