Matthew 13:33

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Another {G243} parable {G3850} spake he {G2980} unto them {G846}; The kingdom {G932} of heaven {G3772} is {G2076} like {G3664} unto leaven {G2219}, which {G3739} a woman {G1135} took {G2983}, and hid {G1470} in {G1519} three {G5140} measures {G4568} of meal {G224}, till {G2193} the whole {G3650} was {G3739} leavened {G2220}.

Complete Jewish Bible

And he told them yet another parable. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour, then waited until the whole batch of dough rose."

Berean Standard Bible

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

American Standard Version

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 it was all leavened.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The Parable of the Leaven, found in Matthew 13:33, is a concise yet profound illustration offered by Jesus to describe the internal, pervasive, and transformative nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. Following the Parable of the Mustard Seed, this short narrative emphasizes that God's spiritual reign, though starting subtly and operating often unseen, possesses an irresistible power to permeate and transform everything it touches, much like a small amount of leaven quietly but thoroughly works its way through a large quantity of dough until the entire batch is changed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This parable is strategically placed within Matthew's "Parable Discourse" in [Matthew 13](/matthew/13 "Matthew 13 - The Parables of the Kingdom"), where Jesus delivers seven parables designed to unveil various facets of the Kingdom of Heaven. It immediately follows the [Parable of the Mustard Seed](/matthew/13-31-32 "Matthew 13:31-32 - The Parable of the Mustard Seed"), which highlights the Kingdom's humble beginnings and visible, outward growth. The Parable of the Leaven serves as a complementary teaching, focusing on the Kingdom's internal, unseen, and pervasive influence. Together, these parables provide a comprehensive picture of the Kingdom's development from its inception to its ultimate consummation, spoken to a crowd seeking understanding of God's sovereign plan.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Leaven (yeast) was a common household staple in ancient Israel, essential for baking bread. Its properties were well understood: a small amount, when mixed with flour and water, would cause the entire dough to rise and ferment. The "three measures of meal" (Greek: _sata tria_) refers to a significant quantity, approximately three seahs, which is about 50 pounds (22-23 kg) of flour. This amount would yield a very large batch of bread, enough to feed a substantial number of people or a large family for an extended period, thus emphasizing the vast scope of the leaven's influence. The act of a "woman" taking and hiding the leaven was a typical domestic chore, making the parable relatable to Jesus' audience. While leaven often carries negative connotations in other biblical contexts, symbolizing sin or corruption (e.g., the "leaven of the Pharisees" in [Matthew 16:6](/matthew/16-6 "Matthew 16:6 - Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees")), here it is used neutrally to illustrate its physical property of pervasive transformation.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme of the Parable of the Leaven is the **pervasive and transformative growth of the Kingdom of Heaven**. Like the leaven, the Kingdom's influence, though starting small and operating quietly, is destined to permeate and change everything it encounters, whether in individual lives or broader society. This highlights the **hidden nature of the Kingdom's work**, as the leaven is "hid" within the meal, signifying that God's spiritual reign often operates subtly and internally, rather than through overt displays of power. Despite its unseen process, the parable underscores the **completeness of the transformation**, indicated by the phrase "till the whole was leavened." This points to the ultimate effectiveness and thoroughness of the Kingdom's work, which will culminate in a complete renewal. The "woman" can be interpreted as an agent of the Kingdom, perhaps representing God's active work or the Church's role in spreading the Gospel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **leaven (Greek, _zýmē'_):** G2219. This term refers to ferment or yeast. In this parable, its significance lies not in its common negative symbolic association with sin or corruption in other biblical texts (e.g., [1 Corinthians 5:6](/1_corinthians/5-6 "1 Corinthians 5:6 - A Little Leaven Leavens the Whole Lump")), but purely in its physical property: its ability to spread, permeate, and transform a large mass of dough from within. Jesus uses this everyday phenomenon to illustrate the pervasive and transformative power of the Kingdom of Heaven.
* **hid (Greek, _enkrýptō'_):** G1470. Meaning "to conceal in" or "incorporate with." This word highlights the subtle, often unseen, and internal nature of the Kingdom's work. The leaven is not placed on top of the meal but is thoroughly mixed in, suggesting that the Kingdom's influence works from the inside out, gradually permeating and changing the whole. This contrasts with the visible, external growth described in the Parable of the Mustard Seed.
* **whole (Greek, _hólos'_):** G3650. This word signifies "complete" in extent, amount, time, or degree. Its use here emphasizes the ultimate and comprehensive reach of the leavening process. The transformation is not partial or superficial but thorough and complete, indicating the eventual triumph and all-encompassing influence of the Kingdom of Heaven. It assures that the work initiated will be brought to full completion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Another parable spake he unto them;":** This introductory phrase signals that Jesus is continuing his discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven, offering another illustrative story to clarify its nature to his disciples and the listening crowd. It reinforces the didactic purpose of the parables.
* **"The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven,":** This is the central simile of the parable, directly comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven. It immediately sets the stage for understanding the Kingdom's characteristics through the familiar action of yeast in dough, focusing on its pervasive and transformative power rather than its moral quality.
* **"which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal,":** This clause introduces the agent and the scope of the leavening process. The "woman" represents the active agent through whom the Kingdom's influence is introduced and integrated. "Three measures of meal" (a vast quantity) underscores the immense scale of what is to be transformed, implying the world or humanity at large. The act of "hiding" emphasizes the internal, often unnoticed, method of the Kingdom's operation.
* **"till the whole was leavened.":** This concluding phrase highlights the inevitable and complete outcome. The leavening process, though gradual and hidden, is depicted as entirely effective, resulting in the full transformation of the entire mass. This points to the ultimate and comprehensive triumph of God's Kingdom, which will thoroughly permeate and renew all that it touches.

#### Literary Devices
The Parable of the Leaven is a prime example of a **Parable**, a short, illustrative story that uses familiar earthly scenarios to convey profound spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God. Jesus frequently employed parables to teach, allowing listeners to grasp complex concepts through relatable imagery. The core of this parable is a **Simile**, explicitly stating that "The kingdom of heaven is *like unto* leaven," drawing a direct comparison between the abstract concept of the Kingdom and the concrete, observable action of leaven. Furthermore, the parable is rich in **Symbolism**. The **leaven** symbolizes the pervasive, transformative, and often hidden influence of the Kingdom of Heaven. The **woman** represents the active agent, whether God Himself, the Church, or individual believers, who introduce and integrate the Kingdom's principles into the world. The **three measures of meal** symbolize the vastness of humanity or the world that is to be permeated and transformed by the Kingdom's influence, indicating its universal scope.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The Parable of the Leaven offers profound theological insights into the nature of God's Kingdom. It teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven is not primarily an external, political, or overtly forceful movement, but rather an internal, spiritual reality that works from within. Its growth is organic, often unseen, and yet irresistibly pervasive. This internal transformation, initiated by divine agency (represented by the woman), is destined to permeate every aspect of existence, leading to a complete and thorough renewal. This speaks to the quiet power of the Gospel to transform individual hearts, families, communities, and ultimately, the entire world, demonstrating God's sovereign plan to establish His reign fully and comprehensively. The parable encourages faith in God's subtle yet powerful work, reminding us that even small beginnings can lead to vast, complete transformation.

* [Mark 4:26-29](/mark/4-26-29 "Mark 4:26-29 - The Parable of the Growing Seed")
* [Romans 12:2](/romans/12-2 "Romans 12:2 - Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind")
* [Isaiah 55:10-11](/isaiah/55-10-11 "Isaiah 55:10-11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Parable of the Leaven offers immense encouragement and a clear call to action for believers today. It reminds us that the Kingdom of God, though often operating in ways unseen and uncelebrated by the world, possesses an inherent, unstoppable power to transform. Our individual acts of faithfulness, compassion, and justice, no matter how small they may seem, are like the hidden leaven—they contribute to a larger, pervasive influence that can bring about profound change in hearts, homes, and communities. This parable encourages patience and perseverance in the quiet, consistent work of living out the Gospel, trusting that God's Spirit is actively at work, permeating and transforming the "meal" of the world. It challenges us to consider how we are allowing the Kingdom to "leaven" our own lives, and subsequently, how we are serving as agents of that leavening in our spheres of influence, confident that the "whole" will ultimately be transformed according to God's perfect plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this parable encourage your faith in the unseen work of God's Kingdom in your own life or in the world around you?**
* **In what specific ways can you, as an individual believer, act as "leaven" in your family, workplace, or community, contributing to the pervasive influence of God's Kingdom?**
* **What does the phrase "till the whole was leavened" imply about the ultimate victory and comprehensive scope of God's Kingdom, and how does this shape your hope for the future?**

### FAQ
**Why is leaven, which often symbolizes sin in the Bible, used positively here to represent the Kingdom of Heaven?**

Answer: The apparent paradox of leaven's symbolism is resolved by understanding that biblical symbols are often multi-faceted and derive their meaning from their immediate context. While leaven is indeed used negatively in many passages to represent corruption, sin, or false teaching (e.g., [Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Exodus 12:15 - Remove Leaven for Passover"), [1 Corinthians 5:6-8](/1_corinthians/5-6-8 "1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - The Leaven of Malice and Wickedness"), [Galatians 5:9](/galatians/5-9 "Galatians 5:9 - A Little Leaven Leavens the Whole Lump")), in the Parable of the Leaven, Jesus focuses exclusively on its physical property: its remarkable ability to permeate and transform an entire mass of dough from within. The emphasis is on the *pervasive influence* and *transformative power* of the leaven, not its moral quality. Just as a tiny bit of yeast can silently and effectively change a huge amount of flour, so too the Kingdom of Heaven, though starting small and operating subtly, will inevitably and completely permeate and transform the world. This parable highlights the Kingdom's internal, organic growth and its ultimate triumph, using a common household item as a neutral illustration of a powerful process.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Parable of the Leaven finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "kingdom of heaven" that Jesus describes is not merely an abstract concept but a present reality inaugurated by His first advent. Christ Himself is the "leaven" that was "hidden" in the "meal" of humanity through His incarnation, taking on flesh and dwelling among us ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). His life, death, and resurrection were the decisive acts that introduced the transformative power of God's reign into the world. Through His Spirit, whom He sent after His ascension, Christ continues to "leaven" the world, working silently and powerfully within individual hearts and throughout society. The Gospel, the good news of Christ's finished work, is the primary means by which this leavening occurs, spreading from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth through the witness of His followers ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Be Witnesses")). The "whole" being "leavened" points to the eschatological hope of a renewed creation, where all things will ultimately be reconciled to God through Christ ([Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19-20 "Colossians 1:19-20 - All Things Reconciled Through Christ")), and every knee will bow to Him ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow")). Thus, the parable is a powerful testament to Christ's ongoing, pervasive, and ultimately victorious work in establishing His Kingdom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 5:6

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

1 Corinthians 5:7

¶ Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Galatians 5:9

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Luke 13:21

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

Proverbs 4:18

But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Philippians 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.

Philippians 2:15

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;