Are you like dough?
Matthew 13:33-35
33 And he told them yet another parable. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour, then waited until the whole batch of dough rose.”
34 All these things Yeshua said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without using a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet,
“I will open my mouth in parables, I will say what has been hidden since the creation of the universe.”
The bolded words above are quoted from Psalm 78:2
I will speak to you in parables
and explain mysteries from days of old.
Even the prophets of "old" knew that parables would be spoken. Actually, the Jews love to speak in stories. Their "sages" often have stories and quotes that are quite beautiful and with lots of meaning. Jesus speaking in parables was probably not something new, but at the same time, His centered around a Kingdom purpose, not just a typical daily meaning.
What could one verse, one short parable about yeast in a bunch of dough teach us?
Yeast is usually a connotation of sin. It usually represents watching a tiny sin grow into a much larger situation. We all have heard the verse, "it only takes a little leaven to grow the whole batch." In this teaching above, why would Jesus say that the Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast? Most certainly the Kingdom of Heaven is NOT like sin.
Matthew Henry's Commentary (and I will admit, he is probably not a Hebrew Roots scholar, but there are some things that can be learned), likened the dough to the heart. His take is that the heart is pliable. Just like dough can be worked and softened as the yeast moves through, the heart can be "worked" and allow for teachings of Truth to penetrate deeply. The woman probably worked hard for "her yeast" and she wants to make sure it is "good yeast" that is worked throughout the dough.
In the same way, the disciples need to make sure that they are doing what is necessary to find the good truth and work the good throughout the dough. They need to find hearts that can be "kneaded" and pliable to produce good bread.
When we make challah for Friday nights, we have found the we need to knead the dough for a good 10 minutes. It "activates" the yeast. It helps it become soft and light.
If we allow the Kingdom of Heaven to penetrate our hearts like that what difference would we make? If we fill our hearts with the GOOD Truth, knead it, and work it so our hearts become lighter, than we will see the Kingdom of Heaven rising around us.
Are you like the woman who is looking for the "good?" She is trying to make something better. Again, just like farming and sowing, it takes work. It requires kneading and more kneading. However, when we take the time to do what He requires of us, we find that our hearts are in a better, more peaceful position.
Love and blessings,
Rose
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