<p>13:33&nbsp;<em>He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast</em>- This continues the theme of the preceding parable; which was about a&nbsp;<em>man</em>, and now He tells a similar story balanced out with a&nbsp;<em>woman</em>&nbsp;as the central figure. Again the point is that from tiny beginnings, great influence comes. And as a note in how to perform Biblical exegesis, we&nbsp;should learn here that because yeast is used negatively in some Bible passages, it doesn't&nbsp;<em>always</em>&nbsp;have to require that meaning. The Gospel which we preach is likened to yeast- in itself a startling comparison- because it is through our humanity that we will influence others, by being our real, human selves. Yet the woman mixing yeast is preparing a huge amount of bread, according to the specifications in Mt. 13:33. This is perhaps to show us that whilst our influence may be quiet and unseen, the quietest witness can have a huge influence. W.D. Davies quotes Pliny and the Mishnah, giving examples of the use of yeast as a&nbsp;<em>positive</em>&nbsp;symbol (W.D.Davies,&nbsp;<em>Matthew&nbsp;</em>(<em>op cit.</em>) p. 422).</p>
<p><em>Which a woman took and hid</em>- The teaching of Jesus works quietly from within- that could be the sense. Just as the tiny seed of the Gospel produces huge results finally, so the yeast of the Gospel has disproportionate influence. But we must give full weight to the Lord's other teachings about hiddenness. We are to become a city set on a hill which&nbsp;<em>cannot</em>&nbsp;be hid (Mt. 5:14; our good works &quot;cannot be hid&quot;, 1 Tim. 5:25); it is the rejected who hide the talent of the Gospel so that nobody sees it (Mt. 25:25). Ultimately, the yeast hidden within us at the time of sowing the seed, at the time the yeast is first inserted into the dough, will become public. In the wider context of this section, the Lord is explaining to the disciples the tragedy of how the seed or yeast first sown by John the Baptist has not achieved its intended result- because people were still hiding it, as Joseph and Nicodemus did (Jn. 19:38 s.w.- Joseph was a 'secret' or 'hidden' disciple). And we find the same word just two verses later in Mt. 13:35- the Lord was now speaking forth publicly things which had been 'hidden' (AV &quot;kept secret&quot;) in the Old Testament period. The treasure was &quot;hid&quot; in the field of the world, but the Lord Jesus gave all that He had so that He could redeem / buy the world, the field, and bring the hidden treasure to light (Mt. 13:44). Perhaps we could say that the yeast was only hidden to those who did not have eyes to see; for that has been the context of the Lord's teaching here (see on 13:10).&nbsp;</p>
<p><i><em>In three measures of flour until it was all raised-</em></i>&nbsp;Until the flour was completely influenced. The hint could be that when the Gospel, the yeast, has done its complete work and the flour is finally completely leavened into a loaf- then the Lord will come. His work then will be complete. The calendar date of the Lord's return is therefore 'open' to some extent, just as the harvest is reaped only when the fruit (of the Spirit) has been brought forth.</p>
<p>It's tempting to see some connection with Paul's warning that false teachers must be removed from the church, because a little yeast leavens the whole lump (1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9). It could be that he is simply using the figure of yeast in a different sense. But his frequent allusions to the Gospels make us wonder whether he is consciously alluding to the Lord's teaching here in Mt. 13:33. It could be that he is saying 'Get rid of the&nbsp;<em>old</em>&nbsp;yeast, the yeast of false teaching and associated unspirituality- and instead, be influenced by the&nbsp;<em>true</em>&nbsp;yeast, of Christ's teachings rather than the yeast of&nbsp;<em>false</em>&nbsp;teaching'.</p>