"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

                                   

Jesus spoke to the people in his day with many parables to describe the teachings he wanted them to know.  In the 13th chapter of Matthew, we see many mysteries of the Kingdom which Jesus taught and the parable of the leaven was the fourth one taught. The Prophets had spoken saying, "I will open my mouth in parables' ..I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."  As Jesus spoke these parables, He fulfilled the prophesies which had been spoken.  The King of the Kingdom of heaven was among them.  From the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, (vital activity), and the violent, (active), take it by force.

**When we see the word ..."leaven" or yeast, we know it is figurative of evil or sin, false doctrines, and hypocrisy as of the Pharisees.  The absence of leaven is symbolic of purity or sincerity and truth.  A woman used figuratively in an evil sense represents wickedness, error, uncleanness and unfaithfulness as well as idolatry and false religion. We see this represents unrighteousness as spreading within the kingdom of God which is visible to us, on earth.  It will spread throughout all parts of the work of the Lord on earth as humanism, modernism, liberalism, and liberation theology or any other "ism" which exalts itself or human ideas  over the authority of the Scriptures.  Worldliness and immorality is even permitted in some fellowships and is not seen as sin in some of today's modern churches. 

When leaven is used in a good sense, it represents "Israel" with the two covenants (Gal. 4: 21-31) and righteousness and purity.   We see this from Genesis 37, Rev. 12, and Ezekiel 16.  The Church is the Body of Christ and as such is the "one new man" in Christ.  All denominations and believers that serve and worship the one true God make up the one true Church on earth today.  We may differ in beliefs, but we all serve the same Lord if we "know Him" and adhere to the commands of God's Word.

Meal represents food or "the Word of God" in Scripture and our Lord is called the 'Bread Of Life' that cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat (partake) thereof, and not die. John 6: 47.  The meal or (flour), was used to make bread and we are told man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Leaven, as referred to in sour dough used in making bread, is used in reference in a bad sense in God's word but the word "meal" is used in a good sense.  His Living Bread is the only bread that can truly sustain a child of God. 

Wheat represents those who have the love of Christ and a pure or uncorrupted faith and doctrine as seed to sow. Tares represent those who have been sown in among the wheat but are as a poisonous or noxious weed in the midst. In the East, it was common for the enemy to sow tares or other poisonous seeds in the fields of those which they wished to hurt.  They would grow together and some were difficult to get rid of.  We see this in the Universal Church across this world today and will even more as we see the Day of the Lord approaching.  Many are recognized as religions which worship science or other gods besides the 'One true God'.   Some religions try to isolate their members from the world or other beliefs.  We are in the world and to witness to others, but are not of this world as our conversation is from on high. 

This parable reveals to us that the Kingdom of God now on earth is in the realm of profession, and will become corrupted by false doctrines and unscriptural programs until the whole is considered corrupted as with tares mixed in with the wheat.  The true Body of the Living Christ will be called out to meet the Lord in the air.  All false religions and those unsaved will be left behind.  There are many cults, false doctrines, motives, and teachings that all try to hide behind the unadulterated Word of God as well as those who live a true Christian life.  In many of the cults, there is a measure of truth in what is taught, but enough sin or leaven to "leaven" or cause the whole to be corrupted by the measure that is in it. 

In many Christian organizations, truth has been forsaken for theories or opinions that have been passed down from denominations or families and become a "holy cow" or "sacred calf" in their life, in much the same way as one would worship an idol.  We can focus more on doctrine than "The Divine One" and lose focus of who we are worshipping and what it is really all about.  In these last days, we are to hold to the truths that we have received of the Lord and know His Word which sets us free.  It has been said that toward the days of the end, false doctrines and these other evils of leaven will infiltrate Christians churches, organizations and colleges.  Many say righteous living will hardly be found in the last days.  We see this in today's society as God's laws are being ignored.

**We must be careful not to let the yeast of evil affect our lives.  Our secret of victory is keeping our eyes fixed upon Jesus in faith and to despise the things of the world as we abide in God's word and look forward to His return. We must listen to the voice of Holy Spirit and put on the whole armor of the Lord. We should be ready to defend God's Word and suffer for Him if necessary. May we seek to be pure and sincere as we hunger for the Living Bread of life each day.

Study Reference
**Full Life Study Bible Commentary Notes--KJV.