SERMON ON THE BEACH A Little Yeast

The parables that Jesus taught were meant to help us to understand the great truths behind all life.
As these mystery stories unfold they are intended to direct us in the ways of God’s kingdom on earth.
Once again, we must look to scripture to assist us in accurately interpreting these parables properly.

Matt 13:33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
In the past, some teachers taught that this yeast is the gospel and is therefore good…It would seem like there would be no harm in interpreting this parable in that way…But there in lies the harm.
The problem is that those teachers have greatly misinterpreted what the Lord had intended…
And how do we know that? Once again scripture tells us…(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary.)
Yeast: "then, is symbolic or typical of evil, always having this implication in the OT"…"In the NT its
symbolic meaning is also clear. It is "malice and wickedness" as contrasted with "sincerity and truth"
In Mark 18:15 yeast is the hypocrisy of the Pharisees…In Matt 16 it is the rationalism of the Saducees…
In Mark 8 it is the Herodians materialism…In 1Cor 5 it is sexually immorality…In Gal 5:9 it is legalism.
So, the harm lies in our own thinking… It may seem truthful but may cause a malevolent result.
In the past, some of us have also been taught that the dough symbolizes the church or the world…
And that the gospel will eventually work its way all through the world…Or at least all through the church…
Well, it’s been over 2000 years now and we don’t see that happening in the world, or even the church.
So, what does this parable tell us?

Every Hebrew would have known that this woman did something sneaky and evil (spoiling)…
She "took and mixed" (Gk. Ekgrupto: hid, concealed) this yeast into the flour…And flour means unity… It symbolizes the blending together, of people with God and with each other sharing in fellowship…
Fellowship: Gk. Koinonia: partnership, a joint contribution, a sharing in participation, communion.
A large amount of flour (3 measures) typifies the oneness shared by God, with his children…Gen 18,19.
So, this woman had no business hiding yeast in the fellowship, oneness and unity of God with his people.

Now, we must bring the total picture together…
The kingdom of heaven while still on earth can be spoiled…Because it is within man (Luke 17:21).
Jesus in his wisdom, looked down through the centuries and warned us of what could take place…
He knew that unity, fellowship and oneness between God and his people would be at risk, on earth… And so he cautioned us to never veer off from the instructions found in the scriptures…
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

So, what has happened to the kingdom of heaven in the hearts of men and women in the church…
It has held onto the yeast of hypocrisy…Making the exterior appear right…Placing form over fellowship.
It has held onto the yeast of rationalism…Convincing others through reason…Not the heart of fellowship.
It has held onto the yeast of materialism…As the evidence of our faith, spirituality and oneness with God.
It has held onto the yeast of immorality…In the attempt at unity with the world… Rather than God.
It has held onto the yeast of legalism…Trying to control behavior by laws…Rather than by grace.
It would seem that much of the church is not following the instruction of scripture in Acts 2, and…
1Cor 5:8 Therefore let us keep the Festival (the continuous life of the believer), not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
If the kingdom in heaven is one of sincerity and truth, without yeast…Don’t allow any yeast into your heart.