Matthew 13:33
‘He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”’
This is a great passage. I needed some insight into this verse, so I looked at the commentaries for help. All that I read agreed. The Pulpit Commentary says this about this passage, “This is the only passage where leaven is spoken of with reference to its permeating qualities alone, without any trace of the notion of defilement, which the Paschal and other regulations (Exodus 12:15,18, Exodus 23:15,18 and Leviticus 2:11) so readily suggested. That’s what I was hoping for.
The yeast spreads throughout the loaf quietly without any notice. This falls right in line with the topics we’ve written about. Yesterday’s entry was in Micah 5:2, which said, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago.” I wrote about how God does things subtly and slowly, humbly and lowly. I commented on how Jesus came into the world in a humble and lowly way. He isn’t showy or seeking to impress.
So this passage is consistent with what we’ve been writing about. God works in our hearts in real quiet and humble ways. No lightning bolts or thunder. We see that Elijah heard God’s voice in a small, gentle wind (I Kings 19:11-13).
We all get still small voices. Sometimes it’s God, sometimes not. We need to pay attention to those. Check them out. They may be God. When I wasn’t a believer, I would take those impressions as suggestions. Now I entertain that they may be God. I pray and ask that.
How do we know if the small voice is God? Is it consistent with scripture? If not, discount it. If it passes that test, ask Him. Usually, the things of Him stick around, while that not of Him seems to dissipate. I’m making this sound simple, but I went through years of struggle to figure this out.
I’ll address the confusion I had with determining if something was of God. The phrase WWJD wasn’t helpful, as I had an answer to that. If I didn’t do it, I would feel guilty. I was there for years.
Then I found another test. It was II Corinthians 9:7, “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.” Much of my obedience seemed to be under compulsion. This was great news but took a while for my conscience to catch up with this verse.
In time, I became free. I still had things in which I felt God wanted me to do that I wasn’t thrilled about, but that was the exception. Usually, I was able to walk joyfully with Him.
Let’s get back to our theme in how God’s Kingdom works quietly, often without one’s notice. God’s ways are often subtle. This is a great concept. He’s not looking to come in as a bull in a china closet. He is doing a lot, without notice. Much is moving and shifting in place. If we knew what He was doing, many would jump on board. It’s like Jesus said while entering Jerusalem, ‘and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes”’, (Luke 19:42).
What’s interesting about this is they could have known. God gave the information to Daniel in the book titled with his name, it says, “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.” (9:25). This was very subtle, but it could have been known.
We should be watching and asking. He will tell us what we need to know. As I said, He is doing much. He has a part for us. He will tell us if we seek Him. We won’t know more than He wants us to. Most of what He wants us to do is to love Him and others. He will put others in front of us. We are to love them and share with them. We become part of His efforts. The leaven of His Kingdom spreads quietly, but surely.
Lord, thank You, for all You do for us. Help us to love You and obey You.