Bad leaven? ... Good leaven? ... Our chioce?

[MessageOfTheCross]

And He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water (symbol of the Holy Spirit [John 7:37-39]), that brings forth his Fruit in His Season (John 15:1-8); His Leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever He does shall prosper ("His Leaf" corresponds with the "Tree of Life"; everything that man does dies; everything Jesus does lives forever and is blessed). Psalm 1:3

The "Tree of Life" (Psalm 1:3)
The Way Of The Spirit
Focus: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Object Of Faith: The Cross of Christ (Romans 6:1-14)
Power Source: The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 11)
Results: Victory (Romans 6:14)

The "Tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17)
Man's Way
Focus: Works.
Object Of Faith: Performance.
Power Source: Self.
Results: Defeat!

Everything that mans does dies; everything Jesus does lives forever and is blessed. Psalm 1:3

 

[unobtrusive]

What is the bread of life? The word of God.

Who is the word of God? JESUS.



What it's the difference between leavened bread and unleavened bread?

When bread rises it's leavened bread, If the bread does not rise then u got yourself unleavened bread.


Exodus 12:8
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until
the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

Interesting

That is the feast of Unleavened Bread. Leave as fast as you can, and don't wait for the bread to rise.

"Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life." ( Deuteronomy 16:3 )

Egypt is a representation of the "ways of the world."

 

[unobtrusive]

The leavened loaves offered here were simply an expression of gratitude for their daily food, which was leavened. But otherwise, leaven symbolizes corruption and evil.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:6-8)

Doesn't it relate to the kingdom of heaven and pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit?

“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)

“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:15-17...referring to Pentecost)

 

[Nehemiah6]

Doesn't it relate to the kingdom of heaven and pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit?

“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)

The leavened loaves of Pentecost were already explained. But it you wish to apply that leaven to the Day of Pentecost, that is the day when sinners were saved by grace as a harvest of souls. While they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, their sin natures (old Adamic corruption) were not eradicated. Thus leaven. And we see this leaven in the case of Ananias and Sapphira.

However, since Christ clearly identified leaven with sin and corruption and hypocrisy (and Paul confirmed this), that must be a consistent interpretation. So when we read the parable of the woman who HID leaven in three measures of meal, it is still speaking of sin, hypocrisy, and evil.

The Parables of the Kingdom speak of Christendom -- churches on earth until the Rapture -- and how there is a mixture of good and bad fish, tares and wheat, etc. So what does this leaven represent? Apostasy which spread throughout the churches since the time of the apostles. We know from Revelation that the churches were already being corrupted with false teachers and false doctrines. We know from history how the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches allowed false doctrine and false practice to creep in. We also know how the Bible was under attack since the 17th century and how the majority of Christendom has succumbed to false teaching and apostasy. All of that is represented by the leaven which was hidden in the meal. Normally yeast is not "hidden" when bread is baked, since that is a normal part of baking. but in this case, the leaven did not belong in the meal, thus was hidden by the woman, who really represents Satan.

 

[unobtrusive]

[/SIZE]The leavened loaves of Pentecost were already explained. But it you wish to apply that leaven to the Day of Pentecost, that is the day when sinners were saved by grace as a harvest of souls. While they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, their sin natures (old Adamic corruption) were not eradicated. Thus leaven. And we see this leaven in the case of Ananias and Sapphira.

However, since Christ clearly identified leaven with sin and corruption and hypocrisy (and Paul confirmed this), that must be a consistent interpretation. So when we read the parable of the woman who HID leaven in three measures of meal, it is still speaking of sin, hypocrisy, and evil.

The Parables of the Kingdom speak of Christendom -- churches on earth until the Rapture -- and how there is a mixture of good and bad fish, tares and wheat, etc. So what does this leaven represent? Apostasy which spread throughout the churches since the time of the apostles. We know from Revelation that the churches were already being corrupted with false teachers and false doctrines. We know from history how the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches allowed false doctrine and false practice to creep in. We also know how the Bible was under attack since the 17th century and how the majority of Christendom has succumbed to false teaching and apostasy. All of that is represented by the leaven which was hidden in the meal. Normally yeast is not "hidden" when bread is baked, since that is a normal part of baking. but in this case, the leaven did not belong in the meal, thus was hidden by the woman, who really represents Satan.

I see that you are relating your decision on the parable in Matthew 13:24 where “tares” are planted by the enemy, henceforth making God’s Kingdom completely corrupt. That's not right because the wheat and tares are eventually separated. However, you may not be saying that the entire “Kingdom of Heaven” is corrupt, but heresies that enter the church are corrupt.

It is obvious that you are emphatically endorsing a viewpoint, that whenever the term “leaven” is used in the Bible, it represents corruption, and it always speaks of sin, hypocrisy, evil, and “apostasy" which spread throughout the churches since the time of the apostles.” If the spiritual interpretation of “leaven,” in this case, totally corrupts the “Kingdom of Heaven,” that would be quite sad in my opinion.

Please consider that in Matthew 13:33 that the *whole was leavened.” I take this as the “Kingdom of Heaven increases, the same as the story in Acts 2 at Pentecost, when 3000 were added to the church.
That’s the “leaven” of “firstfruits” as originally stated in the “Feast of Weeks” when leavened bread was to be baked.
“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)

This verse doesn’t indicate that the entire “Kingdom of Heaven” becomes corrupt because of heresies.

Leaven…ζύμη zýmē, dzoo'-may; probably from G2204; ferment (as if boiling up).
Taken from Strong’s Concordance...Leaven is applied to that substance which is small in quantity, yet thoroughly pervades a thing by its influence. The NT uses it in both a positive (cf. Mat 13:33) or negative sense (e.g., "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."1 Corinthians 5:6).

Evidently you haven’t received the mystery of the “Kingdom of Heaven” according to the words of Jesus in Matthew 13:11-12. “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.”

For your enlightenment sir, here are the terms for “kingdom” heaven” and “leaven” from the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 13:33.

Kingdom...βασιλεία basileía, bas-il-i'-ah; from G935; properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively):—kingdom, + reign.
used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah

Heaven...οὐρανός ouranós, oo-ran-os'; (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity):—air, heaven(-ly), sky.
The region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings.

In your opinion...
Is the “Kingdom of Heaven” righteous in Matthew 13:44 because it’s related to “treasure” instead of “leaven?”

Is the “Kingdom of Heaven” righteous in Matthew 13:45 because it’s related to a “pearl” instead of “leaven?”

Does the “Kingdom of Heaven” become totally corrupt in Matthew 13:47-48 because it’s related to clean and unclean sea creatures?

Is the “Kingdom of Heaven” corrupt in Matthew 13:52 because Jesus makes a connection between the Old treasures and New treasures, the Torah and the prophets together with the “New Covenant”?

 

[posthuman]

It is obvious that you are emphatically endorsing a viewpoint, that whenever the term “leaven” is used in the Bible, it represents corruption, and it always speaks of sin, hypocrisy, evil, and “apostasy" which spread throughout the churches since the time of the apostles.”

totally off-topic ((or is it?)), but why aren't people so dogmatic about a symbol always being either of good or of evil when it comes to Lot's wife - who was turned into a pillar of salt ?

both pillar and salt are consistently identified as 'good' symbolically in the scripture, but all that is thrown out immediately when 99% of people read, "remember Lot's wife"

as you point out however, the Law includes the use of leavened bread, and the immediate context of the parables in Matthew & Luke 13 seems to be clearly identifying leaven with the kingdom of God, which is no evil thing.

i guess the conclusion is that we should not approach scripture with preconceived ideas of what it "must mean" but let it say what it says. the only axiom we should bring to it when we read is that God is always good, always holy, and always sovereign. as you also pointed out, if we bring in our own interpretations like 'lions are always good' or 'always evil' then we may totally miss the point - regardless of whether we can come up with some kind of semi-consistent ideas to satisfy ourselves with.

Christ is speaking in parables, upending the order that man assumes, destroying the wisdom of the ones who call themselves wise. He's comparing the work of God - the planting of the kingdom - to the work of a woman, which to the society He was speaking directly to looked at as menial and without glory. He's comparing the kingdom of God to leaven, which that society ((and apparently ours too)) perceived as an wholly evil contaminant. He calls the poor blessed, though that society called them cursed. He says meekness results in strength. He calls Himself the Shepherd - while the society He speaks this to considers shepherds the lowest class of workers there was, like garbage men or janitors to us today. but then here is the Lord of all creation, taking away our trash, making clean the floors for us to walk on -- humbling Himself, contradicting the expectations of all the people who call themselves "learned"

all the while, if they had truly understood what Moses and the prophets had written, they should have expected all these things!!



how dim our eyes, how useless and vain our thoughts! Lord, increase our faith! Jah, you are the one who opens and shuts, open us to your truth!

 

[Nehemiah6]

If the spiritual interpretation of “leaven,” in this case, totally corrupts the “Kingdom of Heaven,” that would be quite sad in my opinion.

Well, as a matter of fact, it is sad that "the Kingdom of Heaven" (all the churches until the Rapture) will be corrupted. But that is exactly what the Lord was teaching in the parables of the Kingdom. Please note that out of the seven parables given in Matthew 13, there are only two which do not speak of the influence of Satan within the churches, or the presence of false Christians. Those are (a) the treasure in the field and (b) the Pearl of Great Price. All the others show how Christendom (the outward manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven) is affected by Satan and evil spirits.

Satan at work, the Gospel attacked
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Satan at work, false Christians present
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way...The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Evil spirits at work (the birds of the air)
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Satan at work, churches corrupted
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.

False Christians present, cast into Hell
Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

As to the evil meaning of leaven please note (Mt 16:6,11,12; Mk 8:15; Lk 12:1; 1 Cor 5:6-8; Gal 5:6-9):

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees...How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

 

[unobtrusive]

Well, as a matter of fact, it is sad that "the Kingdom of Heaven" (all the churches until the Rapture) will be corrupted. But that is exactly what the Lord was teaching in the parables of the Kingdom. Please note that out of the seven parables given in Matthew 13, there are only two which do not speak of the influence of Satan within the churches, or the presence of false Christians. Those are (a) the treasure in the field and (b) the Pearl of Great Price. All the others show how Christendom (the outward manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven) is affected by Satan and evil spirits.

Satan at work, the Gospel attacked
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Satan at work, false Christians present
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way...The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Evil spirits at work (the birds of the air)
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Satan at work, churches corrupted
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.

False Christians present, cast into Hell
Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

As to the evil meaning of leaven please note (Mt 16:6,11,12; Mk 8:15; Lk 12:1; 1 Cor 5:6-8; Gal 5:6-9):

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees...How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Evidently you think Pentecost (the 50th day) is a bad thing. Have it the way you want. It ain't like you haven't heard.

The purpose of the feast of "firstfruits" (The Feast of Weeks) was to commemorate the completion of the grain harvest. Its distinguishing feature was the offering of "two leavened loaves" made from the new corn of the completed harvest, which, with two lambs, were waved before the Lord as a thank offering.

"Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits *unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:17) *God doesn't accept corruption.

The day of Pentecost is noted in the Christian Church as the day on which the Spirit descended upon the apostles, and on which, under Peter's preaching, so many thousands were converted in Jerusalem.

I sincerely do not believe that God instigated corruption be advising Israel to bake bread with leaven. The "leaven" of "firstfruits" represents the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and His bounty that He gives to us.

"But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." (1 Corinthians 15:23)
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among." (Romans 8:29)

 

[Nehemiah6]

Evidently you think Pentecost (the 50th day) is a bad thing.

That statement is utter nonsense. I already responded to the issue of leavened bread on the Day of Pentecost. There was a HARVEST of souls on the Day of Pentecost following the crucifixion of Christ. All the believers received the gift of the Holy Spirit on that day. HOWEVER THEY ALL DID NOT BECOME SINLESSLY PERFECT ON THAT DAY. Hence the leaven represents the Old Adamic nature -- "the flesh" -- which is not eradicated, and which has to be crucified.

When a sinner is born again he receives the New Birth, and a new nature which is created by the Holy Spirit entering his spirit. But the flesh remains. Therefore the flesh must be crucified or mortified. This is the leaven that Paul talks about. The leaven of malice and wickedness, which must be purged. Please note (Gal 5:16-25):

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

[unobtrusive]

That statement is utter nonsense. I already responded to the issue of leavened bread on the Day of Pentecost. There was a HARVEST of souls on the Day of Pentecost following the crucifixion of Christ. All the believers received the gift of the Holy Spirit on that day. HOWEVER THEY ALL DID NOT BECOME SINLESSLY PERFECT ON THAT DAY. Hence the leaven represents the Old Adamic nature -- "the flesh" -- which is not eradicated, and which has to be crucified.

When a sinner is born again he receives the New Birth, and a new nature which is created by the Holy Spirit entering his spirit. But the flesh remains. Therefore the flesh must be crucified or mortified. This is the leaven that Paul talks about. The leaven of malice and wickedness, which must be purged. Please note (Gal 5:16-25):

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

So the leaven, i.e. increase endorse by God is bad. Have it your way.

 

[Speak2Me]

Just because God uses a physical thing as an example, does not mean there is something wrong with that physical thing. For example, He used a lion to describe Jesus, and also a lion to describe Satan. Doesn't mean lions are good or bad- their just lions. Yeast has also represented both good and bad in the Bible. What matters is the point God is trying to make in each scripture's context.

I have read all the posts& I think your statement fits better. I have seen leaven as both bad & good, but the bad far outweighs the good, and context tells us which it is.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I have read all the posts& I think your statement fits better. I have seen leaven as both bad & good, but the bad far outweighs the good, and context tells us which it is.

The real issue -- which was never addressed in this thread as yet -- is why was leaven to be shunned during the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (a continuation from Passover)? The instructions to meticulously remove leaven from Israelite houses, and to strictly eat unleavened bread had great spiritual significance. Leaven (yeast) is required for the fermentation process, and fermentation is essentially the production of alcohol from the breakdown of organic substances in the absence of air. Thus it is associated with intoxication and corruption, and became symbolic of sin and evil. The Passover lamb represented Christ our Passover, who was sacrificed for us, and those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are required to separate themselves from the corruption that exists in this world. Therefore John wrote "Love not the world, neither the things of the world".

 

[unobtrusive]

The real issue -- which was never addressed in this thread as yet -- is why was leaven to be shunned during the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (a continuation from Passover)? The instructions to meticulously remove leaven from Israelite houses, and to strictly eat unleavened bread had great spiritual significance. Leaven (yeast) is required for the fermentation process, and fermentation is essentially the production of alcohol from the breakdown of organic substances in the absence of air. Thus it is associated with intoxication and corruption, and became symbolic of sin and evil. The Passover lamb represented Christ our Passover, who was sacrificed for us, and those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are required to separate themselves from the corruption that exists in this world. Therefore John wrote "Love not the world, neither the things of the world".

It takes time for yeast to work and make bread rise. Israel didn't have time to wait during the exodus. According to scripture, it took Israel 7 days to make it to the shores of the Red Sea. That's my thought.

Exodus 12:11-12
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

Exodus 12:31-33
[SUP]31 [/SUP]And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.
[SUP]32 [/SUP]Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
[SUP]33 [/SUP]And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

Deuteronomy 16:3
Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Drinking alcohol doesn't seem to be in the picture given in scripture. Israel still celebrates this feast. But it is not clear that ancient Israel, and certainly modern Israelis understand the meaning of the Feast to this very day. Even with that, I'm quite sure that the feast of unleavened bread was not given to instruct us to stay sober for 7 days.

 

[unobtrusive]

“And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” (Exodus 12:8)

The drink offered to our Lord was vinegar, made of light wine rendered acid, "mingled with gall," or "myrrh;" both expressions meaning the same thing. The vinegar was made bitter by the infusion of wormwood or some other bitter substance, usually given, according to a merciful custom, as an anodyne to those who were crucified, to render them insensible to pain. Our Lord, knowing this, refuses to drink it. He would take nothing to cloud his faculties or blunt the pain of dying. He chooses to suffer every element of woe in the bitter cup of agony given him.

“And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.” (Matthew 27:33-34...The outset of the crucifixion)

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:28-30...the ending of the crucifixion)

Is this good or bad? The leaven of the Pharisees is messing around with evil. Not to eat leaven is to get away from that stuff as fast as you can before it spreads into your mind and heart.

The leaven of the Kingdom of God is to wait on the Lord, and let the good stuff sink into your heart and mind. I started a thread http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...wing-mind-our-responcibility.html#post3269905 It takes time for that to happen, but it isn't that we should just sit on our posterior and twiddle our thumbs with a smile on our face, meanwhile looking quite out of our minds.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Get right to it and wait. "Study to show yourself" something. What would that be?... Approved unto God. He's looking at us.

 

[unobtrusive]

Here are two verses that describe "good leaven."
Not only that, but in parable, Jesus is definitely not making up a story that didn't actually happen, as some people might think. I believe all parables spoken by Jesus were stories of actual happenings.

"And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth." (Genesis 18:6)

"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)

This makes the story of Abraham and Sarah more interesting, doesn't it?

So... Question... Why 3 measures, does anybody know what the spiritual meaning of this would be?

 

[Nehemiah6]

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth." (Genesis 18:6)

The context makes it crystal clear that because this meal was to be served IMMEDIATELY this would be unleavened bread. Leaven (yeast) requires time to work through dough, but what did Abraham do and say? He "hastened" to Sarah, therefore Sarah hastened to make flatbread without leaven upon the hearth. Then Abraham "ran" to the herd since this was to be a hastily prepared meal. And the young man "hasted" to dress it. NO LEAVEN.

 

[unobtrusive]

Here are two verses that describe "good leaven."
Not only that, but in parable, Jesus is definitely not making up a story that didn't actually happen, as some people might think. I believe all parables spoken by Jesus were stories of actual happenings.

"And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth." (Genesis 18:6)

"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)

This makes the story of Abraham and Sarah more interesting, doesn't it?

So... Question... Why 3 measures, does anybody know what the spiritual meaning of this would be?

The context makes it crystal clear that because this meal was to be served IMMEDIATELY this would be unleavened bread. Leaven (yeast) requires time to work through dough, but what did Abraham do and say? He "hastened" to Sarah, therefore Sarah hastened to make flatbread without leaven upon the hearth. Then Abraham "ran" to the herd since this was to be a hastily prepared meal. And the young man "hasted" to dress it. NO LEAVEN.

Do you have an answer to my question, why 3 measures in both Genesis and Matthew?

 

[Nehemiah6]

Do you have an answer to my question, why 3 measures in both Genesis and Matthew?

In Scripture the number three represents sufficiency or completeness (beginning with the triune Godhead). So three measures of meal would provide sufficiency of bread for all the guests as well as the hosts. In the Parable of the Leaven, it represents the whole of Christendom (all the churches). You will note in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, that doctrinal corruption had crept into all of them. They also symbolize the periods of Church history from Pentecost to the Rapture.

 

[garee]

I think it has to do with spiritually eating and drinking as in the parable below.

Psa 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Its the food the disciples knew not of.

Doing the will of the father (Isaiah 53) as he pours out the cup of his wrath inflicting the Son.

Joh 4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Drinking the deadly poison shows us false doctrines did not have a affect, he is of His volition when satisfying the will of the father gave up the Spirit of Life .God cannot die

 

[garee]

Do you have an answer to my question, why 3 measures in both Genesis and Matthew?

The word three is used throughout to represent the end of a matter. Like twelve equals the whole loaf or the whole to whatever is in view as the God's authority .