The Parable of the Leaven, Matthew 13:33

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

Luke 13:20-21
The Parable of the Leaven
20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like [a]leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures[b] of meal till it was all leavened.”

The central theme of Jesus's parables is about the kingdom of heaven (Gospel).

What is leaven?
1. Typically used to raise the dough, such as yeast.
2. A pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it for the better.

Yeast are single-celled microorganisms that are classified, along with molds and mushrooms, as members of the Kingdom Fungi.

Yeast normally are use in food industries, particularly in baking bread, where it is used to raise the dough. A small amount of yeast can double the size of the dough. Depending the kind of strands the yeast have, determines the particular usage.

The usage of yeast in the bible are mostly in negative sense, we read that:

1. God commanded the Israelite's not to use yeast as leaving agent for their breads.

Deuteronomy 16:3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.

2. Jesus talks about yeast referring to false doctrine.

Matthew 16:6-12
6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the [a]leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you [b]have brought no bread? 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the [c]leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the [d]doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore [a]purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed [b]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.

But in this parable, Jesus used leaven (yeast) for a good purpose.

The gospel, the word of God is compared to a yeast, because of it's penetrating and spreading nature.

The gospel reaches the conscience, pierces the heart, enlightens the understanding, informs the judgement and over all changes the person in all aspects of life. From a single person the gospel can spread to the whole family, neighbors, cities, organizations, societies, nations, races, and the whole world.

 Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Acts 2:40-42
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [a]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [b]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [c]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

1. God has called us to be the bearer of the His gospel.
If you're a christian then it is expected for you and me to spread the gospel. We are to be the salt and light.

Matthew 5:13-16
Believers Are Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

2. God can change the heart of stone to flesh.
Therefore we should not worry if someone we shared the gospel but didn't respond as expected. Because only God can change the heart of man and when. We're only sower of the seeds (gospel) and God is the only one who can make it grow.

1 Corinthians 3:6-8
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

3. The gospel convert lives because the Holy Spirit enables it.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel [a]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.