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THE PARABLES
OF JESUS, #018
A Chronological Study
"To Him
who opened His mouth in parables and
uttered things hidden since the
creation of the world."
Psalm 78:2
The Mysteries of the Kingdom
Matthew
13:33-43; Lk 13:20-21[1]
INTRODUCTION
Dr. James Boice, my pastor for 4 years at college
in Philadelphia, puts this parable in a group he calls "The Work of the
Enemy." He introduces us to this section saying, "Nothing good has ever
come into the world without opposition and that is especially true in
spiritual matters. Here we face not only the hostility and opposition of
mere people like ourselves, but satanic or demonic opposition as well."
[1]
THE LINEAR TEXT
[combining Matthew and Luke]:
In this parable we will take the verses out of
order. This will not change the understanding of the parable however it may
make it easier to follow Jesus' intension.
[Mt
13:34]
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in
parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. 35 This was to
fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will
open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation
of the world.”
[2]
[Lk 13:20-21]
“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven,
which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour
[3] until
it was all leavened.”
JESUS INTRODUCTION
[Mt
13:34-35]
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in
parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. 35 This was to
fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
I placed the last two verses of this segment first
because I want to stress the eternal love that Jesus holds in His nature
toward His believing brothers and sisters. We've seen this text concerning
Jesus' teaching through parables to a people who "have ears to hear, and
eyes to see." He places His teachings into a world of illustrations that the
clouded minds of those who refuse to bend the knee to Almighty God cannot
see through. They hear the words but miss the point.
For us, some 2000
years later, His illustrations take some study. We make the point in most
every one of these studies that… "Context is Everything." It is so easy to
place what we read in the Scriptures into our own current context - and miss
the point of Jesus' words completely. We don't have to be great theologians
to understand what Jesus has to say. He was speaking to plain, ordinary,
people and telling them truths concerning the plan of God for them and what
was going on around them in their day. While His messages are often simple
illustrations, His meaning is quite often deeply profound. Here in this
simple verse from the Psalms [Mt 13:35; Psalm 78:2],
Jesus speaks on one of the most profound truths found in the Scriptures,
“I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter
things hidden since the foundation of the world.”[5]
In looking at this simple verse we first need to
understand that the Glory of God through His amazing grace is the central
focus of this truth. Since the book of Genesis reveals that humans are "Made
in the image of God"
[Gen 1:27],
it then follows that, somewhere deep inside us, we all suffer from believing
that we are little "gods." This is the most likely reason why we all think
about ourselves all the time. Even when we find the love of our lives - we
"feel" fulfilled because that person fills a love need in our own life.
I bring this up because in my research I have
found so many writers and commentators on the Bible who think that we, as
human beings, are so very important to the plan of God - "we somehow merit
His favor." Not so! Our only importance to God… is that He has chosen to
love us. In fact the Bible reports that Our God has chosen to "Love the
whole world" through the giving of His Son for our forgiveness of the sins
piled up against us
[Jn 3:16].
This is why it is such an eternal offense to reject Jesus His Son, in Hebrew
- the Messiah, in Greek - the Christ, in English - The Anointed One.
When we look at this
simple verse, quoted from the Psalms, our first thoughts are probably, "How
wonderful, I [mankind] am, so important since these truths are revealed for
me!" Not so! You and I are absolutely not worthy of any gift or blessing. It
is only through the grace of God - His love for you, through the blood
sacrifice of His dear Son, that you acquire the forgiveness and blessings
that He alone can give.
So, first fact from
this quoted verse, "I do not merit the truths revealed in the parables of
Jesus." They have been hidden from humanity "since the foundations of the
world," and only by the grace of God are they now revealed to us in these
parabolic stories.
THE PARABLES OF JESUS
[Mt 13:33a]
"He spoke another parable to them,"
The book of Luke
reveals the largest number of parables found in the Gospels. There we find
about 34 individual parabolic stories - some labeled as parables, some not.
Matthew reveals about 30, and Mark about 18, John… one. This particular
parable is found in both Matthew and Luke. Approximately 17 parables precede
this one chronologically in the Bible.
While the temptation is to say that this one parable is only a small part of the whole… we are reminded that this is the one where it tells us that the information hidden in the parables has been hidden from men, women, and nations "Since the foundation of the world." Therefore, their hidden, and now revealed meanings, are strategic to our understanding of Almighty God and His Kingdom(s). These meanings are bigger than the lessons for the garden of Eden, the early history of fallen man, the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Nation of Israel, the Church, or the Millennium alone. These truths are for all time and eternity. They reveal the very nature of God who does not change. So, as you study all of Jesus' parables… be on the lookout for these eternal truths.
DEFINING THE KINGDOM
[Lk 13:33b]
“The kingdom of heaven"
God is the ultimate
sovereign King, and He sets up kingdoms under His domain (the universe and
where He [the Trinity] alone dwells apart from that created universe). It
may be easier to think of this as God, His created universe, and everything
else (not created but outside of creation).
Jesus is speaking to
His disciples in these - to use a modern phrase - "encoded" parables.
Messages with meanings only some can "decode."
"The Kingdom of
Heaven…" Since Jesus is speaking to His disciples using human known things
as illustrations, we can assume that the "kingdom" He is describing is the
sovereignty of God over the affairs of humans at that time in history [The
Roman dominion over the Nation of Israel leading up to the ministry of
Jesus, the Christ]. The Bible's context of the time of the Gospels includes
the last years before the "setting aside of Israel" as God's focus for the
distribution of the Gospel (the good news of God's plan for mankind through
the Messiah) through the rebellious nation of Israel.
In this particular
"Kingdom of God" the nation of Israel had repeatedly rebelled and willingly
walked away from the love and sovereignty of God. At each rebellion it had
gotten worse, and at the time of the Gospels had become so bad that the
religious leadership of the nation were openly planning the death of their
known God-promised Messiah - who would save them from their sins and lead
them into the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God promised to their ancient
"Father," Abraham. The leadership, and the people of that nation had fully
turned away from that promise and instead, were intent on a physical,
national, redemption from their Roman captivity and rule.
Delivery through a
"Spiritual" messiah was outside the political intentions of Israel's
leadership. So much so, that a "Spiritual messiah," would create problems
with the Roman oppressors and prevent an Israeli "Freedom movement" from
ever beginning. Thus, this Messiah must be "destroyed." In the background of
that story is the constant desire of the Evil One to prevent God's plan for
the delivery of God's beloved people and the eternal removal of the Evil
One, his demons, and his authority and rule over the earth.
A LITTLE LEAVEN
and A LOT OF FLOUR
Now we'll look at a
simple everyday truth concerning a handful of yeast and its effects on 60
lbs. of flour - and apply our context - and hopefully see the mind of Christ
in it.
THIS KINGDOM IS LIKE
LEAVEN
[Mt 13:33c]
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven,"
Leaven: Yeast, a microscopic fungus consisting of
single oval cells that reproduce by budding and converting sugar into
alcohol and carbon dioxide. A grayish-yellow preparation obtained chiefly
from fermented beer, used as a fermenting agent, to raise (through bubbles
of carbon dioxide) bread dough, and as a food supplement. The alcohol
evaporates through evaporation and baking. (Some
types of yeast can cause infections or disease in humans).
[6]
In Jesus' day you
could take some dried grapes or figs, place them into an earthen jar, keep
it at room temperature, stir at least once a day for 3-4 days. When bubbles
form on the top and you smell a wine-like fermentation… you have yeast! Then
you can pour out the fluid, dry it, and powder it.
Here's some data
about the amount of flour Jesus mentions and what that means in the baking
of some bread. In this data is hidden the secret of the extent of the
quantity of the final mix... keep this in mind while you contemplate the
problems of the satanic influence in the affairs of the nation of Israel at
that time. Ask yourself, "How many pounds of flour would you need to bake
some bread for your family?"
3 Pecks of wheat
flour = 60 US Lbs. = 2172 cups.
Using a standard
bread recipe, a 1lb. bread pan holds approximately 5 cups of flour per loaf.
The above yields
434.4 approx. 1lb bread loaves.
Each cup of flour
needs 0.5 teaspoon of yeast. There are 1086 needed full teaspoons, or 7.54
Lbs. of yeast in total for 60 Lbs. of flour almost exactly 8 percent of the
total.
Now, how does that
relate to our parable? First of all, that's a lot of flour for our woman to
be making into bread at one time. That, of course is not the point of the
parable - but it does indicate that the parable concerns something large -
Israel, that "Kingdom of Heaven."
Ordinarily, we could
look at this parable and see something good. A woman is making bread and she
is making sure that the bread mixture is fully "leavened" or made with yeast
and set aside before baking to let it rise - the normal product of mixing
flour with yeast and water.
However, the context of Jesus words is this time
in history when the religious leadership of Israel has turned against God
and His Messiah (Jesus). The word "leaven" is used 29 times in the NASB
Bible and most often, due to the sacramental nature of the Law of Moses - it
is not allowed in the baking of ceremonial breads with the exception of "the
sacrifice of thanksgiving of His peace offerings."
[7]
Any offering that included a blood
sacrifice was against the Law if it included leavened bread.
Now
consider that for a moment. In the symbolism of the blood sacrifices - evil
was not to be allowed in any of the elements.
Dr. James Boyce says
about this parable:
"In nearly all cases in the Old Testament (and in
Jewish life today) yeast is a symbol of evil…At the time of the feast of
unleavened bread, every faithful Jew was to search his home for any trace of
yeast and then get rid of it. That is done today by orthodox Jews and
symbolizes for them, as it did earlier, the putting away of sin. Jesus spoke
of the leaven (or yeast) of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and Herod, in each
case meaning their evil influence (Mt 16:12; Mk 8:15). Paul described
deviation from the truth of the gospel as Satan's persuasion, adding that
believers should beware since "a little yeast works through the whole batch
of dough" (Gal 5:9 NIV; cf. 1 Cor 5:6). Some have argued that yeast is
yeast. But when it has a symbolic meaning, it is nearly always used of
something evil rather than something good. It is difficult to see how an
important and thoroughly understood symbol of evil could be used by Jesus to
represent the exact opposite, namely, the blessed impact of His gospel on
the world. And finally, it is significant that two parables (the seed and
the leaven) are bracketed by that of the devil's work in sowing tares
among the wheat (Mt 13:24-30), and Christ's explanation of that parable (vv
36-43). This structure suggests that this parable should be taken not as
teaching something entirely different from the parable of the tares, but as
expanding it."[8]
(A quick explanation
- leaven and it's effects upon flour are used to demonstrate its explosive
and infiltrative qualities, not specifically its good or evil qualities.)
Jesus was, of course, speaking to His disciples
concerning the state of Israel and His eventual blood sacrifice on the
Cross. He was telling them that the nation had become fully involved "the
leaven" of total hypocrisy among the religious leadership and the people.
"As the leadership goes… so goes the nation."[9]
He was telling His disciples that, at that time in history, virtually the
entire nation of Israel was acting, "against the Law of God." A very serious
charge indeed - but a charge made by God Himself.
“Consider His Blood Sacrifice”
It's absolutely not a
pretty picture. But it is one to deeply consider. What was done to this
absolutely innocent God/man was just what you and I should have done to us
because of our sin and constant rebellion against our God and His Law of
holiness. Human beings who, from before the foundation of the world, were
given free will to choose between belonging to the God of the universe and
trusting Him, His Son, His Holy Spirit, and His Word in faith… or rejecting
Him as God with our own selfish "I will not subject myself to Him" human
will.
Take some time to
search the Scriptures for all the things He has done for you. Consider your
relationship with Almighty God. Consider your relationship with His Son
Jesus. This simple little 1-line parable is all about our Holy God and the
awful mess that the Human kingdom has become. Worship Him, Believe in His
Son, and the blood of the Cross.
FOLLOW-UP QUESIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS
1. Itemize in
Matthew Chapter 13 the parables of Jesus before and after this little
parable and summarize your findings.
2.
Why did God wait until Jesus to disclose the "hidden" meanings in the
parables?
3.
Why is this parable so important (2 reasons)?
4.
Which "Kingdom of Heaven" does this parable concern itself with?
5.
What is the "Kingdom of Heaven" on earth that is referred to in this
parable?
6.
Why was Israel's religious leadership against Jesus?
7.
Is Leaven (yeast) to be seen as good or evil in this passage?
8.
What is the "big picture" of this parable?
FOLLOW-UP QUESIONS
WITH ANSWERS
1. Itemize in
Matthew Chapter 13 the parables of Jesus before and after this little
parable and summarize your findings.
Before:
The
Parable of the Sower - God's program for who will, and who won't receive
God's Word.
The
Parable of the Tares - The Devil's placing of his minions amongst the people
of God.
The
Parable of the Mustard Seed - The expansion of Israel and the Church and the
evil which comes to roost in them.
After:
The Parable of the
Hidden Treasure
The Parable of the Costly Pearl
The Parable of the
Dragnet
We
haven't done the studies on these together yet… so you're on your own!!
2.
Why did God wait until Jesus to disclose the "hidden" meanings in the
parables?
With Jesus' appearance on the earth began the introduction of the "New
Covenant" for Israel. Unfortunately, that introduction for them was delayed
because of their rejection (and murder) of their messiah. They are currently
"set-aside" until the return of Jesus at His 2nd coming. In the meantime,
the members of the Body of Christ, the Church (both Jew and Gentile), are
benefitting from the elements of that New Covenant as we are destined to
participate in it fully in the Kingdom age to come. Jesus has given us these
parables so that we may understand both the Kingdom of Heaven at His time,
our time, and the one to come.
3.
Why is this parable so important (2 reasons)?
First, it is Jesus' announcement to His disciples (including those who
believe) that what He is teaching concerns things not told before. You might
even refer to them as "Keys to the Kingdom."
Second, it is a warning to His disciples then and now, that within the
earthly Kingdom activities of God there will be a continued growth of evil
and satanic influences - it is part of His program of bring men and women
unto Himself through His Spirit and His Word.
4.
Which "Kingdom of Heaven" does this parable concern itself with?
The
immediate context suggests that the "Kingdom of Heaven" in this parable is
concerned primarily with God's sovereignty over the last effective days of
the nation of Israel and its final rejection of Jesus as their Messiah. But
its truths extend on through His disciples, especially following Pentecost
and the coming of the Holy Spirit to begin the Church Age. While satan's
"kingdom" was destroyed at the Cross, he still exercises his hatred toward
God and believers until his ultimate delivery to the Lake of Fire for
eternity.
5.
Why was Israel's religious leadership against Jesus?
There are multiple reasons for their rejection of Jesus as their Messiah.
First, would be their rejection of Almighty God as their personal god.
Second, would be the dramatic satanic activity surrounding the presence of
the Son of God as Messiah on earth, satan's domain. Third, would be the
unchanged human hearts of Israel's leadership (Scribes, Sadducees,
Pharisees). They were concerned with themselves, their political power,
their financial wealth, and their religious power. If they allowed Jesus to
live and establish the Kingdom of God on earth, as promised to Abraham, then
all of them would be tossed out and completely replaced with righteous men
and women. Fourthly, they were afraid of the Romans as the occupiers of
their lands. If Jesus began to establish His Kingdom the Romans would
attempt a crusade to wipe out Israel, its leadership, and its people.
6.
Is Leaven (yeast) to be seen as good or evil in this passage?
Largely, there are two divisions of Christian theology that dictate where
you stand on this parable (and many of the others.) If you fall into the
Pre-Millennial theological camp, then you see the issues of this parable as
negative. This theological camp (I belong to it) reads the scriptures
according to the "Normal, literal, historical" method of interpretation -
basically, "it means what it says." When you see it that way the tribulation
and the millennium are in the future. Therefore… things are not going to get
better in the near future until Jesus returns. If you fall into the
post-Millennial theological camp, then you see the issues of this parable as
positive. This theological camp reads more symbolism into their
interpretations and sees the Roman conquest of Israel as part of tribulation
and the expansion of the Church Age as millennial. Therefore, things should
be getting better and better until Christ returns.
7.
What is the "big picture" of this parable?
From where I stand, Jesus was warning His disciples, and us, that evil is in
the world (satan's dominion) and to expect that he will attempt to
infiltrate (successfully) into the Church, the Body of Christ, in order to
counteract righteousness and God's grace in its people and in the world at
large - like leaven when you introduce it into your bread mix, and it will
expand and keep expanding until fully involved.
[1]
James Montgomery Boyce, The Parables of Jesus, Moody Publishers,
Chicago, 1983
[2]
Psalm 78:2
[3]
59.5 lbs or 47 Killograms
[4]
Psalm 78:2
[5]
Ibid.
[6]
Oxford English Dictionary
[7]
Leviticus 7:13, "with cakes of leavened bread"
[8]
James Montgomery Boice, The
Parables of Jesus, American
Reformed Christian Theologian, former pastor of the 10th
Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, PA, Moody Press, 1983, pp 29-30
[9]
Clarence B. Mason, Dean of Students, Philadelphia College of bible,
1971
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2023-08-30 updated