Matthew 13:33 Another parable spoke he to them; The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal… The portion of dough taken as a ferment, and inserted within the three measures of meal, makes that meal like itself, subjugates it, and impresses its own character upon it, penetrating it totally, and assimilates its nature to its own. It is not simply that it touches particle after particle of the flour, as water might do — that would only make a paste; or comes into contact with the whole meal, as a hand might do — that would simply move it without altering it; but it really puts its own life into the meal and penetrates it with its living nature from centre to circumference. It is in the nature of leaven to make all the meal like itself; so it is in the nature of the gospel to Christianize those who receive it; i.e., Christ subjugates, penetrates, and assimilates the believer to Himself. He puts His life into each part of him; (1) the life of His thoughts into his thinking, so that every thought is brought into captivity to Christ; (2) the life of His love into his heart, so that he is unselfish and beneficent; (3) the life of His righteousness into his conscience, so that the law of right is his rule; (4) the life of His obedience into his will, so that it is his meat to do the will of the Father. (J. Clifford, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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