From Matthew 13:33 / Kingdom mystery #4 – the mystery of TRANSFORMATION.

There are places in God’s Word where the economy of words is simply astounding. One of those places is found in this parable.

Note first, the first and main point: The Believer is gradually transformed into the image of Christ, it is not an instantaneous act.

Note second, this transformation is through saturation and permeation. The Spirit inwardly makes His way into the deepest recesses of the heart and mind – bringing his Holy influences to every particle of our being. God does not fear time. He utilizes it to His highest glory and our best good. He that began the good work in us, WILL complete it until the day of Christ. He is patient with us, and we ought to be with one another.

Note third: All three of the preceeding parables assert the life and power is in the seed – which ultimately is the Word of God.

1. It WILL bring forth fruit.

2. Even though challenged by harmful fakes, it will survive until the day of harvest.

3. It will begin small outwardly – but it will end filling the whole earth.

4. And it will being transformation in those who receive it into themselves.

Note fourth: The same is true with this parable as with all in this portion – they are about the Kingdom of Heaven. If we lose that focus, we get into interpretive high weeds. This above all points to the Kingdom of Heaven = The Rulership of Christ, first in the individual, and then at His coming – over all creation. In all three Synoptists “the kingdom” is the most important topic in Jesus’ teaching. In Matthew it is usually the kingdom of heaven (32 times) The New Testament is all about this Kingdom being inaugurated by Jesus while He was here, and how He ascended to His throne, and how the whole creation is in the process of being subdued under His feet.

He is IN that position NOW: Ephesians 1:15–23

And the fullness of it is yet to come: 1 Corinthians 15:22–27

So we do not SEE it all yet – but we will: Hebrews 2:6–9

Hints to preachers: Beware some common pitfalls.

A. Is LEAVEN always a symbol of evil? No. Lev. 7:13-14; Lev. 23:15-17 / Peace offerings and Wave offerings were commanded to be done WITH leavened bread.

B. Is this a parable warning us about the way sin invades – akin to Matt. 12:1 or 1 Cor. 5:6? CONTEXT – CONTEXT – CONTEXT

All of the referents to growth in this entire passage are invariably presented in a positive light. It seems odd if Jesus would change that picture midstream without some sort of indication. Don’t forget Jesus and Satan are both called lions in different places.

C. Is this a parable about how the entire world will be brought to Christ eventually through the invading influence of the Church?

None of the other parables seem to indicate that kind of concept – i.e. transforming all of creation.

The balance of Scripture seems to indicate that we must await the sudden return of Christ in that regard – Esp. passages like Matt. 24.

2. Hiddenness / the Secret working of God in His people.

This appears to be the main point of the parable. Luke 17:20–21 (Within you)

It is the reality of the individual living under the direct rulership of Christ – seeing Him as God, and seeking to live by His Spirit of holiness.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness – is NOT to be part of a movement to make Christ King – but to make it a priority in life to be RULED by Christ AS King.

Matthew 17:5

Do not look to a new Moses form of external government

Do not look for the days of the Prophets where they mediated the Word of God to us

Look to Christ as your sovereign and King.

The Kingdom in the larger sense, is simply the collection of those whom are seeking to be ruled over by Jesus Christ as their Lord and God.

3. Permeation NOT sudden transformation in a moment.

We tend to look for keys or experiences which will make our Christian experience or life take giant leaps forward.

These MAY occur from time to time – but as in the parable of the soils, and the mixed seed in the field, and the mustard seed – all speak of a growth process, and not a sudden jump. This is God’s most usual way of working in our lives.

It works silently and insensibly (Mk. 4:26), yet strongly and irresistibly: it does its work without noise, for so is the way of the Spirit, but does it without fail. Hide but the leaven in the dough, and all the world cannot hinder it from communicating its taste and relish to it, and yet none sees how it is done, but by degrees the whole is leavened. – Leon Morris

We do not run to a preacher or some meeting to have a sudden experience of being set free from temptations or sins we battle.

We do not grow in grace in an instant.

Tho there are seasons of more rapid growth than others – growth spurts. But they cannot be created or are to be sought as an answer.

We go about the business of daily learning to yield more and more to the Spirit’s leading us away from sin and into righteousness.

Sanctification is not a matter of sudden jolts. It is the process of His Gospel permeating every facet of our being and bringing each part under more and more control of Christ.

This is why we need to soak more and more in God’s word:

Preached

Read

Understood

Taught

Meditated upon

And forming the lens through which we see all of life.

Perhaps [you will] say, Yes, I have waited on those ordinances, which are the way in which he [has] promised to give out strength. But is this all? [You may] come to them, and not wait on God in them. [Is it possible you have] carnally expected strength from them, and so put the ordinance in God’s stead? [Do you share something in common with those] in James 4:13: ‘We will go into such a city, and buy, and sell, and get gain?’ [Could it be your} heart said, I will go and hear such a man, and get comfort, get strength? and [do you wonder that you are weak, barren, and unfruitful?] Are ordinances [themselves] God, that they should make you strong or comfortable? – Gurnall

4. A LITTLE bit eventually yields a GREAT result.

50 lbs. of flour is referred to here, but only a little leaven eventually leavens the whole lump.

It isn’t more of Christ’s Spirit that we need as though it comes in quantity – what we need is the influence of the Spirit in every part.

Actions.

Thoughts.

Attitudes.

Reasoning.

Plans and purposes.

Responses.

Perceptions.

Feelings.

5. This is God’s METHOD in the progress of His Kingdom – one cannot short circuit it, nor circumvent it.

It is important to grasp this, in order to avoid discouragement in the process of dealing with indwelling sin.

God [at times] may communicate the less of his assisting strength, that he may show the more of his supporting strength, in upholding weak grace: we [aren’t amazed] to see a man of strong constitution, that eats his bread heartily, and sleeps soundly, live: but for a crazy body, full of pains and infirmities, to be so patched and shored up by the physician’s art, that he stands to old age, this begets some wonder in the beholders. It may be [you are] a poor trembling soul, thy faith is weak, and thy assaults from Satan strong, thy corruptions stirring and active, and thy mortifying strength little, so that in thy opinion they rather gain ground on thy grace, than give ground to it; ever and anon thou art ready to think thou shalt be cast as a wreck on the devil’s shore: and yet to this day thy grace lives, though full of leaks. Now is it not worth the stepping aside to see this strange sight? – Gurnall