Leaven - Matt 13:33

The next parable is only one verse long and is found exclusively in Matthew. He tells us, “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.” This seems pretty abstract to me, especially since there is only a very brief explanation in the IM. We know of leaven as yeast, and in reference to the Feast of Unleavened Bread meaning to eat bread that had not been raised with yeast to make it bigger. The IM suggests that the Lord’s use of 3 specific loaves references “the latter-day Church will spread throughout the earth, aided by the leaven of the testimonies of the Three Witnesses and the latter-day scriptures… It must be understood that the Church of the Latter-day Saints has taken its rise from a little leaven that was put into three witnesses. Behold, how much is this like the parable! It is fast leavening the lump, and will soon leaven the whole.”

JTC gives some interesting insight while explaining that the parable of the mustard seed focused on the “the effect of vital growth in gathering the substance of value from without.” Or in other words, focuses on the outward, quantifiable aspects of the Church, such as membership numbers, nations, kindred, tongues and peoples. Whereas, the leaven or yeast “disseminates and diffuses outward its influence throughout the mass of otherwise dense and sodden dough.” This is the inward, personal change that the gospel brings to people. This is the healing of infirmities and repentance of sins that each of the individuals undertake once they accept the gospel and are baptized. A mighty mustard seed could signify the growth of the church world wide, and the leaven could signify the spiritual growth experienced by each person who undertakes a relationship with Jesus Christ. He continues, “Each of the processes represents a means whereby the Spirit of Truth is made effective… The process of leavening, or causing dough to rise, by the fermentation of the yeast placed in the mass, is a slow one, and moreover as quiet and seemingly secret as that of the planted seed growing without the sower’s further attention or concern.”

The seed grows on its own regardless of human influence or interference, and the yeast raises the dough without and need of help. The mustard plant becomes big and strong and abundant on it’s own, God can do his own work without us, so any amount of participation he allows us is a blessing.