14 MAY 23 Sunday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“Jesus also used this illustration: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.’” Matthew 13:33
Storytelling is one of the oldest ways of teaching and training others. Jesus uses a variety of stories, object lessons, and parables to paint a picture of the topic he was covering. Storytelling helps us learn, but also to remember it and can be easily retold to others. This particular illustration stands out to me as someone who likes to bake, and I can easily grasp the idea being painted.
Unusually Jesus talks about yeast in the negative sense, beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Mt. 16:6) Paul too spoke about yeast in the negative sense saying, this false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! (Gal. 5:9) Additionally, Paul says, to get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. (1 Cor. 5:7) These references to yeast are directed at evil and wicked people and their teaching which is false at best and damaging at worst.
Jesus in this passage is relating how the Kingdom of Heaven’s economy works in that the seed of the good news spreads like yeast to affect the whole thing. Jesus started the church and issued in the Kingdom of Heaven, but it spread through ordinary people, not professionals. Regular everyday people and nobodies spread the good news of Jesus all over the world. Eventually, the good yeast hit you.
We continue this today by helping people learn the process of disciple-making, giving them simple tools, letting them invest in others, and watching the Lord multiply new disciples wherever they go. Like making fresh bread, the aroma of a job well done is pleasing to the nose and the taste.
What kind of yeast are you? good or bad?
Reading Plan: Psalm 93, 96; Prov. 14; 1 Tim. 3:14-4:5; Matt. 13:24-34a
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