Luke 13:21

It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

It is {G2076} like {G3664} leaven {G2219}, which {G3739} a woman {G1135} took {G2983} and hid {G1470} in {G1519} three {G5140} measures {G4568} of meal {G224}, till {G2193}{G3739} the whole {G3650} was leavened {G2220}.

It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour, then waited until the whole batch of dough rose.”

It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

The parable of the leaven, found in Luke 13:21, is a concise yet profound teaching by Jesus about the nature and growth of the Kingdom of God. It immediately follows the Parable of the Mustard Seed, forming a pair that illustrates different facets of the Kingdom's expansion.

Context

Jesus often taught using parables, drawing on common experiences to illustrate spiritual truths. In this instance, He uses a domestic scene familiar to His audience: a woman baking bread. This parable is part of a larger discourse in Luke 13 where Jesus addresses the urgency of repentance and the characteristics of God's Kingdom, emphasizing its humble beginnings and eventual, pervasive influence.

Key Themes

  • Pervasive, Transformative Growth: The central message is how a small, seemingly insignificant amount of leaven can profoundly affect and transform a large mass of dough. This illustrates that the Kingdom of God, though starting small (with Jesus and His early disciples), possesses an inherent, powerful capacity to expand and transform the world from within.
  • Hidden Influence: The leaven is "hid" (Greek: enkrypto), suggesting that the Kingdom's work often begins subtly, out of public view, rather than through overt displays of power or immediate revolution. Its influence is gradual, internal, and pervasive, much like fermentation in dough.
  • Divine Power at Work: The process of leavening is natural but unstoppable once initiated. Similarly, the spread and impact of the Gospel are not solely dependent on human effort but on God's power working through His people and His message.
  • Everyday Manifestation: By depicting a woman in a common domestic setting, Jesus highlights that the Kingdom's influence is not confined to grand religious acts but permeates everyday life and ordinary circumstances.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "leaven" is zymē. While leaven sometimes carries a negative connotation in the Bible, symbolizing corruption or sin (as seen in 1 Corinthians 5:6 or the Old Testament's unleavened bread for Passover), in this parable, its function clearly points to a positive, transformative, and expansive influence. The "three measures of meal" (Greek: sata tria) was a substantial amount, roughly equivalent to 50 pounds of flour, enough to feed a large crowd, emphasizing the vast scope of the Kingdom's reach.

Practical Application

The Parable of the Leaven offers several applications for believers today:

  • Individual Transformation: Just as leaven changes dough, the Gospel has the power to transform individual lives from the inside out. A small seed of faith or understanding can grow to influence every aspect of one's being.
  • Societal Impact: Believers are called to be "leaven" in society, permeating their communities and cultures with the values, truth, and love of the Kingdom of God. This influence may start small, perhaps with one person or a small group, but it can eventually impact entire systems and institutions.
  • Patience and Faith: The parable encourages patience, reminding us that significant spiritual and societal change often takes time. We are to faithfully sow the "leaven" of the Gospel, trusting God for the ultimate, pervasive outcome. It teaches that even small acts of faithfulness can contribute to a much larger, divine work.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 13:33

    Another 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:6

    Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23

    ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:24

    Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].

  • John 15:2

    Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

  • Philippians 1:6

    Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

  • James 1:21

    Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

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