No 9

(Leaven)

Leaven or yeast, as it is called in modern days, is actually a one-celled fungus used to ferment carbohydrates. It has been used for centuries in the making of bread, beer or other foods requiring fermentation and it usually spreads itself throughout the entire portion of food. In the Bible it is often symbolic of evil doctrine or practice. However, Jesus in His great wisdom used leaven to teach His followers two very important lessons.

The first lesson is in the Gospel of Matthew: “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” (Ch 16:11, 12). Jesus warned His followers that, as yeast, the teachings of the Pharisees would permeate their very beings and render them useless for the kingdom of God. The Pharisees were too concerned with outward appearances and not concerned enough with the matters of the heart; Jesus called them hypocrites many, many times..

The second lesson is found in the Gospel of Luke: “And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” (Ch 13:21). This lesson is also found in Matthew 13:33. Just as leaven was used negatively in the first lesson, Jesus used it positively in the second to teach that the Kingdom of Heaven multiplies quietly and permeates all that it contacts. The idea that Jesus taught in both lessons was that leaven is a substance that spreads itself throughout….