The Word of God Compared to Leaven

    THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO LEAVEN

    "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto Leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened," Mt 13:33.

    SOME understand by Leaven in this place the Word of God, others grace; the one concludes it is the word of grace, the other the grace of the word; a third sort understand Church of God is intended by it.

    The Word and grace of God may be compared to Leaven in three or four considerations.

    PARABLE

    I. Leaven is of a diffusive quality; it infuses itself into every part, till the whole lump

    be leavened.

    PARALLEL.

    I. The Word and grace of God is of a diffusive nature; it will where it is received in a spiritual sense, leaven every faculty of the soul, the whole man, body and spirit, be leavened therewith. By three measures of meal, some understand the body, soul, and spirit to be meant.

    PARABLE

    II. Leaven is of an assimilating quality; it turns the meal in which it is hid into its own nature.

    PARALLEL

    II. The Word of God, where it is in truth received, such is the assimilating nature thereof doth convert by its powerful operation the whole soul into its own likeness, it changes the evil qualities thereof, and works divine and spiritual qualities in the room of them, making a glorious and visible change in the heart and life.

    PARABLE

    III. "The woman took the Leaven and hid it in the meal." Leaven must be hid, so that it may leaven the meal the better.

    PARALLEL

    III. The Word of God must be received into the heart, it must be hid as it were there like seed that is covered in the earth; that so it may have its blessed effect, in order to leaven the sod in a spiritual sense the better: "Thy Word have I hid in my heart," Ps 119:11.

    PARABLE

    IV. Leaven secretly and invisibly worketh and altereth the meal, and maketh a change therein, turning of it into dough.

    PARALLEL

    IV. So the workings and operations of God's Word are secret and invisible; our Saviour alludes to this, when he compares the work of the Spirit in regeneration to the wind, as is well observed, the Word and Spirit work secretly, their operations are invisible to the outward eye.

    PARABLE

    V. Leaven doth not change the whole three measures of meal, all at once, but it accomplishes its work by degrees.

    PARALLEL

    V. So the Word and grace of God, work not that blessed change in the soul all at one instant; but grace is carried on in believers by degrees. I deny not, but at the first infusion of grace or act of faith, a man is really and actually justified;

    yet the work of conversion, and holiness is gradually carried on, and may be a great while before it be perfected.

    PARABLE

    VI. "A little Leaven will leaven the whole lump," 1Co 5:6, Gal. v, 9.

    PARALLEL

    VI. So a small quantity, or but a dram of true grace will spiritually Leaven and change the whole man; hence grace in the beginning is compared to a grain of mustard seed.

    PARABLE.

    I. Leaven is taken in the scripture in an evil sense for hypocrisy, evil doctrine, malice, and wickedness, from that sour quality that is in us.

    DISPARITY

    I. The Word of God hath no unpleasant or scouring quality in it, but contrariwise it is the only means through the Spirit to purge out that old Leaven, whether it be evil doctrine, hypocrisy, malice, or wickedness, that soureth and corrupteth the whole man.

    II. This may further inform us, touching the nature of the Word and grace of God. And from hence we. may be able to make some judgment, whether conversion be truly wrought in our souls? or whether the kingdom of God, where Christ spiritually rules, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, be in truth begun in us or not?