Mt. 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leaven.”
The message of growth in the fourth parable is reinforced in this second illustration. Yeshua depicts a process with which everyone who has baked bread or observed the fermenting property of leaven (yeast) would be familiar with. The action of leaven entirely permeates the three measures of flour.
In this parable a woman takes leaven and puts it in three measures of meal. A woman, used symbolically in a religious sense, is a picture of one who introduces false doctrine (Rev. 2:20; 17:1-8). The woman here is a picture of a false religious system. Leaven in the Bible is used as a symbol for sin, in particular the sin of false teaching. In this parable a false religious system is introduced into the Kingdom and the result is the corruption of doctrine. Leaven is placed in three measures. Eventually Christianity divides into three main categories: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. All three will have to some degree or another corruption in their doctrines.
Source: Revelation 2:20; 17:1-8
Mt. 13:34 And these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parable; and without parables He did not speak to them.
Mk. 4:33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.
Mt. 13:35 That it might be fulfilled by the prophet, saying, “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
The supposed author of this Psalm is Asaph, a singer in the Tabernacle during the time of King David, according to the Encyclopedia Judaica. He is credited with composing Psalms 73- 83. The Bible does not call him a prophet, but the one fulfilling the prophecy. So, who is the prophet fulfilling this prophecy? Once again we refer you back to Deut. 18:15-18 where God promised the people through Moses that one day He would raise up a prophet like Moses for them. That prophet was understood to be the Messiah. Yeshua, teaching in parables, was fulfilling this prophecy.
Source: Psalm 78:2
Mk. 4:34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
Yeshua does not give a dictionary definition of the Kingdom of Heaven. But, He does tell His listeners what the Kingdom is like in simple, yet powerful parables. Although Yeshua used simple word pictures to help His listeners understand, a careful study of the decisive technical term “Kingdom of Heaven” in His teachings demonstrates that the original meaning of the Kingdom has been routinely misunderstood in modern times. The teachings of Yeshua concerning the Kingdom of Heaven are carefully portrayed in the message of His Kingdom parables. That message is being re-examined today perhaps more than ever.
The reason for Yeshua’s parabolic method of teaching is three-fold. The first reason is to illustrate the truth to His disciples, which is the simplest of the three reasons. After the Lord is crucified, resurrected, and ascended into Heaven, they will have to carry on the work that He has started. In order to be able to do this they must be trained. It is that simple.
The second reason is the most difficult for us to understand. He teaches the masses by parables so that they cannot and will not understand what He is teaching. Since most of the people had just previously rejected Him as the Messiah, He now turns His back on them, but not completely. The example of what can happen is demonstrated later by Peter when the Lord asks him at Caesarea Philippi who He is and Peter declares Him to be the Messiah through spiritual revelation. That same spiritual revelation will occur many times again in the future and those people who receive it will form the foundation of His church. Those who do not receive that revelation will die in their ignorance.
The third reason is to fulfill prophecy, so as to prove His Messiahship that has been rejected. The stage has now been set for the final act that will prove to be the most important three-day period in all of human history.
Now these first five parables were spoken publicly with the masses. The subsequent parables are spoken privately to His disciples.
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