Monday, May 2, 2011

Purpose of Yeast

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.  Matthew 13:33


leaven- a small piece of fermenting dough put aside to be used for producing fermentation in a fresh batch of dough.  To spread through causing a gradual change. (Websters)

The leaven was hid in three measures of meal.  The heart is, as the meal, soft and pliable; it is the tender heart that is likely to profit by the Word.  The meal must be kneaded before it receive the leaven; our hearts, as they must be broken, so they must be moistened, and pains taken with them to prepare them for the Word, that they may receive the impressions of it.

The leaven must be hid in the heart, not so much for secrecy (for it will show itself) as for safety; our inward thoughts must be upon it, we must lay it up, as Mary laid up the sayings of Christ.

Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  Psalm 119:11

When the woman hides the leaven in the meal, it is with an intention that it should communicate its taste and relish to it; so we must treasure up the Word in our souls, that we may be sanctified by it. 

Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.  John 17:17

(Matthew Henry)

I will finish this tomorrow--this verse really hit home with me.  Mainly because I bake and I got the concept of the fermented dough.  We are the dough.  When God's Word takes hold in our hearts--it spreads throughout our lives--touching, changing, everything that it comes into contact with. 

Here is what I know:  if I don't spend time with Christ, reading His word, applying His concepts, memorizing His Word in order that it can be used as needed, and seeking His direction--then I'm really not going to grow much. 

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