“He told them still another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.’” Matthew 13:33 NIV
After biting into a piece of sourdough bread, my taste buds came alive as they processed the complex layers of flavors. I swallowed and exclaimed: “This is some of the best bread I’ve ever eaten!” The waitress at the farm restaurant told me that the sourdough starter – the living yeast and bacteria that leavened the bread – was 40 years old. It had been started to celebrate the birth of someone at the family farm, who was working there now as an adult. The sourdough starter, which had also been “born” in a sense when it was fermented, had produced countless loaves of bread over the years. It was still going strong, producing delicious bread with flavors that went far beyond anything I’d tasted in store-bought bread.
As I eagerly ate more of that wonderful bread, I thought of the parable of the yeast that Jesus tells in the Gospels – both in Matthew 13:33 (NIV) and in Luke 13:20-21 (NIV), where Jesus says: “Again he asked, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven being like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough. This parable may seem insignificant at first – a simple mention of a common baking ingredient. However, a profound truth about the transformative power of God’s kingdom is hidden in the parable’s humble context.
Yeast are tiny and inconspicuous microorganisms. Yet, they have the remarkable ability to permeate an entire lump of dough, causing it to rise and expand. Similarly, the kingdom of heaven may appear inconspicuous to us, but its influence is so powerful that it’s immeasurable. When we invite God’s kingdom into our lives, it begins to work within us, completely transforming us from the inside out. Just as yeast leavens the dough, the presence of God’s kingdom in our lives leavens our entire being, causing us to rise above our circumstances and grow in holiness. It works quietly but effectively, helping us gradually rise to fulfill God’s high purposes for our lives. Just as bread develops delightful flavors as yeast works within it, we develop into souls who reflect God’s delightful love when the Holy Spirit works within us.
We experience wonder in the miraculous transformation that takes place within us. We begin to see our flaws being replaced by virtues, our fears conquered by faith, and our despair replaced by hope. The mundane becomes infused with the sacred, and the ordinary moments of life take on a new significance. The darkness of sin within us is replaced by the light of holiness as we walk with Jesus, the Light of the World, day by day. Where we once struggled with fearful anxiety, we become empowered with faith to face every situation in our lives with confidence in God’s power working within us. While we still must deal with struggles and sadness in this fallen world, we discover a wellspring of hope that bubbles up, infusing every aspect of our existence with hope. Just like yeast, the kingdom of heaven offers much more than superficial change. It ushers in a profound transformation – continued growth from the inside out. That leads us to experience the wonders of God’s perfect peace and joy in any circumstances.
So, let’s embrace the yeast of God’s kingdom, allowing it to permeate every aspect of our lives. Let’s surrender our hearts to its transformative power. As we trust that God is at work within us, we can experience wondrous change. May we be like bread dough, rising and expanding under the influence of God’s kingdom every day.
Dear God, thank you for the profound truths hidden within your parables. As I reflect on the parable of the yeast, I’m reminded of your transformative power at work in my life. Help me invite your kingdom into every area of my life. I trust you to shape me into a vessel of your love and truth. May I experience the wonder of your kingdom working within me. Please keep working in wonderful ways in every part of my life. I give it all to you and look forward to all the ways you will help me grow. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/MartinPrague
Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.
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