Week 1: Leaven in the Meal

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”  Matthew 13:33

“…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.”  Luke 13:20-21

My Summary & Reflection

This is a pretty short and direct parable.  In it a woman takes some portion of leaven, like yeast, and hides it in three portions of meal.  The yeast is now incorporated or mixed into all of the meal.

In other parables, Jesus refers to “the kingdom of heaven” as a place, but in this one he implies that it is a thing that can be added to something else.  So, Jesus, appears to be saying that the kingdom of heaven, when added to someone or something, makes that thing better.  In the case of meal used for making bread, it makes that thing rise.

There is no direct explanation of this parable in the gospels of Matthew or Luke.  So, I began my reflection with the definition of leaven.  Leaven is an ingredient that causes bread to rise.  It is the ingredient that causes yeast rolls or breads to have a fluffy texture and not stay flat like a tortilla or a cracker.  It is considered a productive ingredient because it makes what it is added to better.

I also thought about the use of the female as the one to add this leaven to the meal.  Most of the other parables have a male protagonist – a shepherd, a king, a merchant.  But this one uses a woman.  Maybe Jesus used a female in his parable, simply because during the time of his teaching, women were the ones responsible for the cooking.  However, upon reflection, he could be giving a charge to those responsible for the feeding of the family, whether spiritual or physical.  He may be directing those who feed the body, to provide also the ingredients that will make our spiritual lives better.  Bring the “kingdom of heaven” to your family or to those under your care and all will be made better.

This parable is the source of the title for this blog.  It is my sincere hope that leaven that is hidden here, will help each of us rise!

Your Reflection

• How can you add the kingdom of heaven into your own life?  What does that look like?
• How can you add the kingdom of heaven into the lives of those under your care?