The Kingdom Is Like Leaven?
Jesus’ parable of the woman and the leaven goes like this: “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three seahs of flour until it was all leavened” (Matthew 13:33 // Luke 13:21). In trying to understand parables, the reader’s first inclination might be to focus on the singular statement and try to uncover some allegorical or illustrative meaning in it. Yet, Yeshua expected that his listeners would hear his words against the background of Israel’s Scriptures. Approaching the parables from an ancient biblical perspective allows for the fullest understanding of God’s kingdom.
On its face, the parable of the woman and the leaven might suggest that God’s kingdom will start small and then expand to touch various facets of a community or society. Alternatively, it may mean that the arrival of God on earth starts out concealed (as leaven in flour) and then becomes visible (just as one might notice rising dough). Yet another reading might be that the kingdom will be quick to make itself known, since the dough-rising process only takes around three or four hours. All of these interpretations are possible, but they also miss a central assumption of the Gospel writers, namely, that parable readers are familiar with Israel’s Scriptures.
Jesus says that the woman hid leaven in “three seahs of flour” (ἀλεύρου σάτα τρία, aleūrou sāta trīa). This precise measurement recalls the baking preparations of another woman in Israel’s history. When three people arrive to Abraham as he sits at his tent, he tells Sarah, “Quick! Three measures of flour. Knead it, and make cakes” (Genesis 18:6). While the Greek version of Genesis refers to generic “measures” (μέτρα, mētra) of flour, the Gospels use the word σάτον (sāton), which is the Greek equivalent of the specific Hebrew measure of a “seah” (סְאָה)—the same word that the original Hebrew version of Genesis has Abraham use in addressing Sarah.
This allusion to Israel’s Scriptures recalls when Sarah worked with her own three measures of flour in response to an earthly appearance of God. Genesis states, “The Lord appeared to [Abraham] by the trees of Mamre, as he sat at the opening of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three people were standing in front of him” (Genesis 18:1-2). Sarah kneads three seahs of flour for these three “people”—beings who turn out to be God accompanied by two angels (18:22). Sarah’s cakes become part of a lavish meal for the Lord and the two heavenly messengers, “and [Abraham] stood by them under the tree while they ate” (18:8).
Thus, Jesus’ reference to “three measures of flour” hearkens back to the divine banquet that Abraham and Sarah set before God. According to Yeshua, the coming kingdom will include a heavenly feast that arrives on this earth at the end of days—with Abraham, Sarah, and all other followers of Israel’s God reclining alongside the Lord of heaven (cf. Matthew 8:11). And, for those paying close attention, all Jesus needs to invoke this grand eschatological picture is three measures of flour.
You can learn more profound insights (CLICK HERE for more)
