Parable of the Leaven
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The Parable of the Leaven was given by Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew and Luke). It consists of only a few sentences, and immediately follows The Parable of the Mustard Seed in both Matthew and Luke. It compares heaven to yeast. Yeast, in the Jewish experience of the time, was a sign of corruption and ritual uncleanliness. Women were also considered to be unclean. Three measures of flour was the equivalent of 40 lbs -- not like the measures we use in our kitchens today. Hiding something suggests that it was stolen or ill-gotten. Reading this parable with this background reinforces why Jesus was so attractive to women and others on the borders of the power structures of the day.
The Complete Gospels notes for Luke 13:21, see 12:1: "Leaven was a metaphor for a pervasive evil influence. See Paul's use of it in 1 Cor 5:6-7 and Gal 5:9." The note for Matthew 13:33 reads: "The ancients viewed the process of leaven as corrupting the loaf, like a corpse, causing it to swell up. Therefore leaven is unclean, something to be avoided (16:11). Leaven is the symbol of the unholy (Exodus 12:15)." The Jesus Seminar rated this parable as one of the red sayings of Jesus.
From Matthew 13:33:
33 He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
From Luke 13:20-21:
20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Another version also appears in the Gospel of Thomas (Patterson-Meyer Translation):
96. Jesus [said], "The Father's kingdom is like [a] woman. She took a little leaven, [hid] it in dough, and made it into large loaves of bread. Anyone here with two ears had better listen!"
The Gospel of Thomas also has what appears to be a missing (or later added) second half of this parable:
97. Jesus said, "The [Father's] kingdom is like a woman who was carrying a [jar] full of meal. While she was walking along [a] distant road, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled behind her [along] the road. She didn't know it; she hadn't noticed a problem. When she reached her house, she put the jar down and discovered that it was empty." 98. Jesus said, "The Father's kingdom is like a person who wanted to kill someone powerful. While still at home he drew his sword and thrust it into the wall to find out whether his hand would go in. Then he killed the powerful one."
