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 imputation of sin. Even if sin is worked through the entire body of Christ, something that is an undeniable fact, it has been dealt with. Therefore, the picture Christ is painting is that of a body of believers, all stained with sin, and yet acceptable to God, as is clearly represented in Leviticus 23:17.
To understand that typology, one should refer to the Superior Word sermon on that passage. The wisdom of God is that even among the sinful people of the world, where sin is fully worked into those who are a part of Christ’s offering to Him, Christ’s atonement, His covering, is sufficient to make them acceptable to God once again.
This is the substance of the gospel where Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). The explicit meaning is that we are sinners, have acknowledged that fact, and are asking for forgiveness through what Jesus has done. The others in the world are just as sinful, but they lack the suitable atonement to be acceptable to God. Therefore, they cannot be presented to Him as acceptable.
Only in Christ is sin dealt with. This is the wisdom of God –
“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:8-12
Life application: Consistency in typology is an important part of understanding what is going on in the pages of Scripture. It is best not to divert from what is typologically set without a supportable purpose that can be clearly defined and explained.
It is true that one thing can have more than one meaning, such as the significance of water, but the symbolism is given by God in His word, not conjured up by us and then inserted into it.
Be careful not to manipulate what is presented in Scripture. Your time in the word will be much more fruitful and aligned with God’s intent when typology is used consistently after care and thought have been taken to ensure it aligns with the rest of Scripture.
Lord God, help us to understand Your word. It is big and at times extremely complicated. May we not force things into it that don’t belong there. Instead, open our minds to draw out from it what is present by You and then to consistently evaluate it from that point on. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.
