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here.
Matthew 13:33
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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. |
Parables are not merely surface truths but their truths
must be dug out, for in them are great golden nuggets.
What is so important in
this one verse?
Our Lord Jesus is speaking to all of us about what is
happening under the banner of Christianity. He is not
talking here about the Church or of Heaven but of all who
profess to be Christians, but are not.
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Notice -: Two schools of thought
people use to interpret this Parable: |
| (1) |
Those who believe the Leaven is a good
thing and teach the world will get better and better
(II Timothy 3:13 teaches
the opposite.) -
But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. |
| (2) |
Those who believe Leaven represents
evil and the evil influence of sin.
Leviticus chapters 2 & 6 forbid leaven used in
offerings.
Leaven is spoken of 17 times in the NT.
16 times leaves no doubt it stands for evil and
sinful. The 17th time is here and though it may seem
unclear, there is no doubt it is sinful.
The word meal first appears in 3 measures in
Genesis 18 and represent Fellowship as Abraham sits
down with these 3 Heavenly guests.
Words woman hid insinuates her behavior was secretive
and deceitful. She represents the infiltration of evil
in religious system. Jude verse 4-
For there are certain
men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained
to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace
of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only
Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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Jesus warns of Three Leavens |
1. The Leaven of the
Pharisees
Matthew 16:6
- Then Jesus
said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
What is the Leaven of the
Pharisees?
Luke 12:1 -
In the mean time,
when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude
of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he
began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of
the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
A Hypocrite is an actor, a
pretender
See Matthew 23 concerning
Pharisees
They can be at every church service, sit on a deacon
board, teach Sunday School, preach in the pulpit, but they
do not know the power of the Gospel.
Romans 1:16 -
For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek.
2. The Leaven of the
Sadducees
Matthew 16:6
- Then Jesus said
unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
They tempted Jesus
Matthew 22
They desired the Resurrection of the dead and Angels.
Note : Perverted the Word of God by denial and
changes to it.
II Timothy 3:16 -
All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
| Today: |
(1) |
Deny certain scripture |
| |
(2) |
Compromise so as not to offend |
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(3) |
Accept all denominations regardless
of their teachings
I John 4:1 -
Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets
are gone out into the world. |
3 The Leaven of Herod
Mark 8:15
-
And he charged them,
saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,
and of the leaven of Herod.
In Matthew 22, three groups
who tempted Christ:
| (1) |
Leaven of Pharisees : Hypocrisy |
| (2) |
Leaven of Sadducees : False
Doctrines |
| (3) |
Leaven of Herod : Worldliness |
Once said - “The world
is not becoming more Christian, Christians are becoming
more Worldy”.
Herodian-proclaimed self-righteousness and political
involvement.
Some think if we have a Christian President, a Christian
Senate, a Christian Governor , a Christian Mayor, we will
have a Christian nation.
Not so!
John 3
“ye must be born again”
Romans 3
: Spiritual condition of man
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