Parables of Jesus. Pt. 3 Leaven, a buried treasure and Christ.
Good morning...
Isaiah tells us that the Word is like the rain falling from heaven and watering the earth. Just like the rain makes things grow and produces a harvest for our benefit, so is God's word in our hearts. It brings life and feeds our inner man so that we can be fruit producing Christians.
So today let's get our nourishment from God's word!!!
Leaven is a picture of the gospel spreading in the world.
Matthew 13:33-35 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken 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.
In this brief parable Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to the action of leaven in baking. Leaven is another name for yeast. Although many times in the Bible leaven is presented as evil that is not the case in this parable.
Leaven is put into flour to make dough for baking bread in this parable. It is of interest to notice that once you mix yeast into dough the fermentation process begins and it cannot be stopped.
Yeast consumes sugars and turns it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. As the dough rises from the action of the yeast it creates gluten which strengthens the dough and makes mouth watering flavors that we enjoy.
As we think of the context of this parable the seed that was sown in the first 2 parables was the Word of God. Similarly we see the mustard seed though very small, having an exponentially great effect as it grows and matures.
Leaven or yeast has a similar impact as it is mixed in with the dough or meal. It begins spreading until it has permeated the whole lump of dough.
The permeating action of the leaven / yeast seems to parallel the spread of the gospel into the world.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This text tells us that the gospel will be preached all through and around the world. Jesus taught that the gospel would be preached throughout the world in the Olivet Discourse and when that task was finished, the end would come. By that, Jesus meant that He would return to the earth as King of kings and Judge all the nations in righteousness.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
When He gave the great commission Christ commanded His disciples to teach all nations the doctrines of Jesus Christ. The text above is the great commission in which the disciples were commanded to teach the truth to all nations so that they learn to observe or keep His commandments.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Just prior to the birth of the church, Jesus told the apostles that they would receive power from the Spirit of God. When they did receive that power, they would be witnesses of the gospel to Jerusalem, Judaea and the uttermost parts of the earth.
A parable of buying a field and securing our redemption.
Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
This parable is also brief and Jesus did not interpret it. It begins with the Lord saying "the kingdom of heaven is like..." Here the kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man finds the treasure and he hides it as he goes to sell all that he has in order to purchase that field containing the hidden treasure.
In the context of Matthew 13 it seems that this parable teaches us about redemption. The field represents the world just like it does in Matthew 13:38. The treasure would be comparable to the wheat that was sown in the field of the parable of the wheat and tares.
This parable makes no mention of evil or tares, just a hidden treasure. The man sells everything he has in order to purchase the field and the treasure. He has to give up everything in order to buy the field and secure the treasure.
This man in the parable must be Jesus Christ. Jesus gave up everything He had in order to come to this earth, live a life of obedience to the Father and the law, and to suffer and die on a cross for our sins.
Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was humbled when He made Himself of no reputation, became a servant and took on flesh as a man. He died in order to save us and redeem us and that is what the man in the parable did. He rushed off to sell all that he had in order to raise enough money to buy the field.
1 Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God
Jesus bought us and the price He paid was shedding His blood. Why did Jesus do this? Because each person who turns to Jesus in repentant faith and is born again is a priceless treasure to Him.
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Joy explodes in heaven over each sinner who comes to repentance and faith in Christ.
Points to Ponder...
Isaiah tells us that the Word is like the rain falling from heaven and watering the earth. Just like the rain makes things grow and produces a harvest for our benefit, so is God's word in our hearts. It brings life and feeds our inner man so that we can be fruit producing Christians.
So today let's get our nourishment from God's word!!!
Leaven is a picture of the gospel spreading in the world.
Matthew 13:33-35 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken 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.
In this brief parable Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to the action of leaven in baking. Leaven is another name for yeast. Although many times in the Bible leaven is presented as evil that is not the case in this parable.
Leaven is put into flour to make dough for baking bread in this parable. It is of interest to notice that once you mix yeast into dough the fermentation process begins and it cannot be stopped.
Yeast consumes sugars and turns it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. As the dough rises from the action of the yeast it creates gluten which strengthens the dough and makes mouth watering flavors that we enjoy.
As we think of the context of this parable the seed that was sown in the first 2 parables was the Word of God. Similarly we see the mustard seed though very small, having an exponentially great effect as it grows and matures.
Leaven or yeast has a similar impact as it is mixed in with the dough or meal. It begins spreading until it has permeated the whole lump of dough.
The permeating action of the leaven / yeast seems to parallel the spread of the gospel into the world.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This text tells us that the gospel will be preached all through and around the world. Jesus taught that the gospel would be preached throughout the world in the Olivet Discourse and when that task was finished, the end would come. By that, Jesus meant that He would return to the earth as King of kings and Judge all the nations in righteousness.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
When He gave the great commission Christ commanded His disciples to teach all nations the doctrines of Jesus Christ. The text above is the great commission in which the disciples were commanded to teach the truth to all nations so that they learn to observe or keep His commandments.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Just prior to the birth of the church, Jesus told the apostles that they would receive power from the Spirit of God. When they did receive that power, they would be witnesses of the gospel to Jerusalem, Judaea and the uttermost parts of the earth.
A parable of buying a field and securing our redemption.
Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
This parable is also brief and Jesus did not interpret it. It begins with the Lord saying "the kingdom of heaven is like..." Here the kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man finds the treasure and he hides it as he goes to sell all that he has in order to purchase that field containing the hidden treasure.
In the context of Matthew 13 it seems that this parable teaches us about redemption. The field represents the world just like it does in Matthew 13:38. The treasure would be comparable to the wheat that was sown in the field of the parable of the wheat and tares.
This parable makes no mention of evil or tares, just a hidden treasure. The man sells everything he has in order to purchase the field and the treasure. He has to give up everything in order to buy the field and secure the treasure.
This man in the parable must be Jesus Christ. Jesus gave up everything He had in order to come to this earth, live a life of obedience to the Father and the law, and to suffer and die on a cross for our sins.
Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was humbled when He made Himself of no reputation, became a servant and took on flesh as a man. He died in order to save us and redeem us and that is what the man in the parable did. He rushed off to sell all that he had in order to raise enough money to buy the field.
1 Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God
Jesus bought us and the price He paid was shedding His blood. Why did Jesus do this? Because each person who turns to Jesus in repentant faith and is born again is a priceless treasure to Him.
Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Joy explodes in heaven over each sinner who comes to repentance and faith in Christ.
Points to Ponder...
- The parable of the leaven teaches us that the gospel is going to penetrate the world.
- Christians today have the great privilege of helping spread the gospel.
- We can contribute to our missions fund at our churches and we can tell family, friends and neighbors about Christ.
- The parable of the treasure hid in a field reminds us of the great cost to our Lord Jesus Christ in order to redeem us from our sins.
- Jesus gave everything up and shed His blood to redeem us. We are the treasure hid in the field and Jesus joyfully redeemed us.
What wonderful truths we have seen in this post. First, we saw the importance of supporting missions at our local churches and the importance of being a missionary wherever God has placed us.
Then, we saw the joy Christ had over finding His treasure of believers that led Him to give up all His glory and come to earth to live, satisfying God's law. He died and shed His blood to pay for our sins and redeem us for eternity.
Do I stop to thank Jesus for seeing me as a treasure hid in a field? Do I stop to thank Jesus for doing all that He did in order to save me? Do I love Him more and more because of who He is and what He did for me?
Am I rejoicing that I can do my part to help spread the gospel? Am I happy when the gospel goes out?
I pray that the Lord will lead us along into really understanding these parables and that He will fill our hearts with joy and happiness. We serve a most wonderful Savior!
Bob
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