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The Leavened Bread
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 10.30 am service, 2 June 2002)
Text: "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."
(Matthew 13:33)
This parable of the leaven used in baking bread
is presented by our Lord in just one short verse, but in the history
of the Church, there are two interpretations with the longest of
arguments on each side.
First, according to the Scofield Bible, the
Leavened Bread has a bad sense. For in Jesus’ use of the word
"leaven", it is associated with the doctrine of the Pharisees,
especially. Paul says, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,"
also in a bad sense, "the leaven of malice and wickedness."
The woman in this short parable is also taken in
a bad sense, e.g. the apostate church of Revelation 17. The woman
who mixes the leaven in three measures of meal, causes the flour to
be thoroughly leavened. The kingdom of heaven is therefore
thoroughly corrupted. Says Scofield, "Interpreting the parable by
these familiar symbols, it constitutes a warning that the true
doctrine, given for the nourishment of the children of the kingdom
would be mingled with corrupt and corrupting false doctrine, and
that officially, by the apostate church itself." The use of the word
"leaven" in Matthew 13:33 is fitting with its universal meaning. So
the parable of the Leavened Bread is taken in a bad sense.
Countering Scofield, we have the interpretation
of Archbishop Trench, who takes it in a good sense. Language is not
mathematics. Words used in a bad sense may in a different context
mean the opposite. For example, while Satan may be compared to a
roaring lion, Christ is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Chambers Dictionary, the best for theological terms, says of
"leaven": the ferment which makes dough rise in a spongy form:
anything that makes a general change, whether good or bad.
Now my interpretation based on Archbishop
Trench’s teaching that is still being consulted after 100 years: The
woman who is making the bread can simply mean the Church in a good
sense in as much as she is the bride of Christ. Three measures of
meal was used by Abraham to make bread to entertain his heavenly
guests, the full measure of preparing a dinner. The use of leaven in
making bread for consumption according to Chambers’ definition is
therefore good.
Archbishop Trench, in interpreting this parable
of the leaven takes into consideration the parable before this. He
refers to the parable of the mustard seed, the least of all seeds.
But it grows into a tree with branches, towering above the whole
vegetable garden. The birds of the air come and lodge in the
branches thereof. This is the outward manifestation of the growth of
God’s Kingdom.
While the parable of the mustard seed is the
outward manifestation of the growth of God’s Kingdom, the parable of
the leaven signifies the inward growth. The power of the gospel sown
by the Apostles throughout the Roman Empire was so irresistible that
it converted Constantine the Roman Emperor and multitudes of his
subjects. Christianity conquered Rome in 300 years.
Applied individually, when a good Church
preaches the pure gospel, week in and week out, the whole church is
then filled with born again Christians. Paul says, "Therefore if any
man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new" (II Cor 5:17). The meal mingled
with the leaven of the Gospel is thoroughly saturated. It becomes
soft and sweet bread for the eating, this Leavened Bread. This is
the good sense of the parable which I take.
Do we have examples of such changed lives, like
soft and sweet bread, so good to feed?
Under Jesus’ ministry, we can count dozens
recorded in the Four Gospels. We are blessed by the family of Mary,
Martha and Lazarus. Here is the home our Lord visits at Bethany on
the outskirts of Jerusalem. Jesus is at the centre of Mary’s heart.
How she encourages Him to go up the cross by anointing him with a
precious ointment worth 300 pence. Jesus declared it was for His
burial.
We have the example of Mary Magdalene, out of
whom seven devils were cast, and how she became one of those women
who took care of the needs of our Lord and his disciples. She was
president of the Ladies’ Fellowship.
Then there is Zacchaeus who was a publican and
an extortioner of a customs officer. But Jesus came to his house and
he was saved. How his life was thoroughly changed to one of
repentance and restitution. He gave half of his savings to the poor.
And so we can go on.
The changed lives of many a Lifer through the
gospel, like leaven transforming the meal into soft, sweet bread,
can also be counted. So are the lives of many FEBC students.
There are the souls converted from sin and
misery from a life of "womanising, gambling, drinking and smoking."
We have a student from Cebu, Philippines, a university student from
an eminent family. His mother is professor of English in the
University. This young man became a junkie, a slave of drugs for ten
years until he was delivered when he received Christ in a Christian
drug rehabilitation centre, the House of Hope. He was recommended to
study at FEBC. Recently he graduated and is returning to serve in
the House of Hope. His mother was so happy that she flew to
Singapore to witness his graduation.
There are the loving hearts who are mindful of
the needs of the church in every sphere as shown in the offerings
column of our Weekly.
There are the called to full-time service even
to far off lands, though highly qualified in their profession and
drawing a good pay.
There are the unsung heroes whose service is
known only of the Lord Himself.
A true Christian does not live for himself. He
is mindful of the great needs around him. He is sweet bread to
satisfy the hunger of others. In return God makes his life even
sweeter, and for his family too. He who blesses others is blessed
himself.
Is your life transformed by the leaven of the
Gospel as you hear the Word preached every Lord’s Day, so that it is
become like soft, sweet bread to bless the many hungry souls around
you?
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