The parable of the leaven
Mt 12:33-35 33 He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened." 34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."
Lk 13:20-21 20 And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened."
A peck is a measure of volume – about 537.6 cubic inches. So three pecks is quite a large quantity – just over 8 inches cubed.
When you add a little leaven to a large quantity of dough, the dough is raised and it becomes fluffy and easier to eat. In other words, the leaven has a good effect on the dough; it makes the hard dough soft and useful as food.
Leaven transforms the dough!
In the same way, when you are a part of the kingdom of heaven, it will transform you – for the better. The kingdom of heaven affects other areas of our life for the better. When we are a part of the kingdom of heaven we make use of time efficiently, we think more clearly, we talk more sensibly, we spend our money more wisely, and so on. The hard heart we used to have becomes softer.
If you claim to be a part of the kingdom of heaven, and no transformation is happening, then something is wrong.
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