Matthew 13:33 - What is the parable saying?

The best thing for you to do is to study the verses in question till you have a good, firm understanding of them, discuss what you think you've learned with a trusted bible teacher, such as your pastor. Then you can discuss with women what the verses really mean. And why what the author said is wrong, scripturally.
People have been reading and studying scripture for 2000 years, they aren't going to come up with something new, some previously untaught doctrines. If they do, theres something wrong.

 

That's because you won't can't get that idea from reading the scripture. Since Jesus clearly states that the leaven is what is being compared to the kingdom of God, you can be sure that the interpretation you quoted is very wrong.

I think the problem here is that too many preachers who do not study the scripture for themselves repeat what they've heard other preachers say. One of the things I've heard over and over throughout the years was that leaven in the scriptures, always represents corruption. But that's just not true. So when someone comes to this parable of Jesus, instead of carefully reading what Jesus said, they see leaven and automatically think "corruption."

And I believe they are absolutely correct, especially since that is the straightforward interpretation of that passage, and it perfectly fits the context of Jesus' teaching.

Be careful with that book. Don't accept anything she has to say until you carefully and prayerfully check it out for yourself. And if you have questions be sure to ask others you trust (or even the BaptistBoard).

 

There is nothing in the parable that implies that he is bringing in corruption. Parables are not allegories. They usually have one point. Jesus wasnt talking about corruption, but what He is doing. Jesus is advancing the kingdom and it is working like yeast does, small amounts affecting larger amounts.

If we allegorize this parable, we could make that woman stand for anything lol. And so could the yeast. We just dont read the Bible for what it s worth.

BTW, I must apologize, ANN. When I saw the OP I started getting all bowed up lol. I was so glad to see that you weren't reading this book in affirmation. I have read some of the Pearl's work and its pretty much compost. :saint:

 

Hi Ann :wavey: This may take a little while to explain but please bear with me cause you won't have heard this before though it is true.

Mt 13:33 is the 6th parable in a sequence that describe the "kingdom of heaven" which is this earth from creation to Christ's return. Mt 13:33 regards the tribulation when the "woman" (AC false religion, the harlot of Rev 17 and Rev 2:22, etal.) mixes in her false doctrine (3 measures account for false religion, false polity, false economy) into the "meal" (barley and flour mixed represent Gentiles and Jews) and it pollutes the whole world! It is really interesting to see the development of these parables but I sense that is not the issue, right?

As you can see, Mt 13:33 is a very "tricky" parable for some because there is the side that says Mt 13:33 is the church -- which is wrong too. The church does not spread "corruption" throughout the whole barrel/world either. (Perhaps I should have asked if you believe in dispensations cause that can make a lot of difference in your ability to see what I am saying.)

Briefly -- the former 5 parables are dispensations and the next 4 combined -- the parable of the gathering of wheat and tares, the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the fishes -- represent that last dispensation, the dispensation of Christ's kingdom on earth at His return!

So to a limited extent, the author was on the right track. The "woman" represents religious Babylon in whatever forms originalting way back a Babel manifested in its last form.

However, when you look at the "kingdom of heaven" parables in Matthew, always know that Christ is cryptically describing some aspect of the earthly kingdom which the "uninitiated" lost are not allowed to know (which may explain your "gut" spiritual rejection of the author's analysis. Maybe she is NOT one who knows, right? And the Spirit is telling you that.).

If you have any other questions, please ask.

skypair

 

I know lol.. By the way, I've been trying to find that on their site and cant, but theres a lot to sort thru. Can you help me find it?

 

You're not kidding are you.

john.

 

Gracious. I had already seen the stuff about not rejecting a husbands advances no matter what (whatever! But dont get me started lol) but I had not seen the other stuff. Thanks for posting the link.

So all his kids are common law "married" lol. O...k....

 

this is what I meant about allegorizing. Goodness

 

A good rule of thumb, if you have to add this line to your interpretation, you are probably WAY off! :wavey:

 

"Leaven" (both literally and symbolic) has a bad reputation in the Scripture...

Matthew 16

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.​

Mark 8:15
And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.​

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.​

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:​

1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.​

The overall point of the parables of Matthew 13 seems to be the attempt of satan to corrupt and hinder the growth of the "kingdom of heaven"...​

Matthew 13
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.​

...​

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.​

So, it is a definite possibility that the leaven of Matthew 13:33 refers to those evil elements cited in the Scripture above.​

Taking note of the spiritual state of the majority of professing Christendom so-called it would certainly seem to be the case.​

HankD​

 

Tater ---- It's a PARABLE for heaven's sake! What? You're gonna interpret it
literally?

skypair

 

Thanks for the warning but I had thought to explain the whole 11 parables until I looked at what her question was about. I believe the interpretation stands and will gladly post it if you don't have a short attention span (as many here do :laugh

skypair

 

Thanks, Hank. I think we are reading from the same "book."

skypair

 

It is impossible to say that everytime leaven is mentioned in the Bible it is referring to evil. Here it is used to symbolize expansion...

The kingdom of Heaven will expand by God using common means.
Women were considered second class citizens... to spread the kingdom by the use of women would be unusual in the wisdom of the world

Three measures of meal. The usual amount for one baking,
Look at Gen 18:6.

What Jesus is saying is God will expand his kingdom not by the wisdom of the world, but by using common people with common means.

To associate the Kingdom of God with evil is just wrong. Why would Jesus do that?

 

It oughtn't be ---- else how can we say that any symbol represents anything??

Many hold to this, Tim. But consider HankD's post again. Find us where scripture uses "leaven" in your way and we can talk about real instances rather than theory.

It would be wrong if it was describing heaven. It is not wrong if it is describing the kingdom here below. Be honest, Tim. There is sin down here.

Make a survey of the other KoH parables in Matthew. You'll see.

skypair