Understanding what the Parable of Leaven means is critical to an understanding of how the kingdom of God grows.
The Parable
The Parable of the Leaven is well known:
And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Luke 13:20–21 (NASB)
The Kingdom does not appear suddenly or dramatically
The Jewish people of Jesus’ day believed the coming of the kingdom of God would be sudden, dramatic, and happen militarily or politically. The Parable of the Leaven was a direct refutation of that worldview.
It’s easy to dismiss the 1st century Jewish view of the kingdom of God, but 21st century Evangelical Christianity’s view of the coming of Kingdom is similar. Many believe, even if not fully expressed, that the kingdom will not come until it comes suddenly and dramatically with Jesus’ second coming.
The problem with such a view–besides being contrary to Jesus’ teaching–is that it leads one to do nothing to facilitate the Kingdom’s advance. Such a belief is the poison pill of 21st century Evangelical Christianity.
Its spread is inconspicuous
Jesus said the Kingdom is like leaven which a woman hid in three pecks of flour. Perhaps the most notable characteristic of leaven is that it permeates the lump of dough in a hidden fashion.
Similarly, the leaven of the kingdom is hidden in the heart of man and spreads through hearts, homes, and communities, until its influence begins to lift society and transform culture.
Jesus had said at another point, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed but is in your midst.” Luke 17:20-21. The kingdom is not conspicuous, but it is working, spreading, lifting, and transforming.
Growth is pervasive and thorough
Three pecks of flour is about 50 lbs of flour, enough to feed 100 people. That is is a lot of flour. Jesus’ reference to the 3 pecks of flour is a reference to the world. Cf. Matthew 13:38.
Finally, Jesus says the leavening of the world will continue “until it is all leavened.” Luke 13:21. This is one of the the oft-overlooked points of this parable. The world will be fully leavened, meaning the gospel will fully permeate the world and transform it.
I hear Evangelicals say often, “I’ve read the back of the book, and we win in the end.” But that end will almost certainly be long after after anyone reading this blog post dies. The question I believe the Lord has for each of us alive today is, “What are you doing today to advance the kingdom of God?
Leaven doesn’t spontaneously appear in flour. It must be placed into the flour. The assurance we have from this parable is that if we are faithful to introduce the gospel into our own spheres of influence, it will indeed spread, lift, and transform the world around us. GS
