1. The kingdom of heaven is compared to what?

2. What is leaven?

3. What did the woman do?

4. What contrast is intended in the parable?

5. What did the small amount of yeast do to the large amount of meal?

Things to note about the kingdom:

1. Both the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the leaven are parables of contrast. While both contrast the small versus the large, each parable makes a different point.
   1. The contrast in the parable of the mustard seed is between a small beginning and an enormous result.

   2. The contrast in the parable of the yeast is between a small presence in the beginning and a later inescapable presence.

2. Again, note that the power did not reside within the woman, but within the yeast.

3. This parable urged them to place their confidence in the intent and working of God.

4. The influence of the kingdom would become so far reaching that it would be inescapable.

Special note: The point of both the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast were opposite the expectations of the Jewish people.

1. They expected the kingdom to come with enormous power that quickly enabled Israel to assert world prominence.

2. Seeds grow slowly; yeast works slowly. Neither produce "instant, dramatic results."

3. These parables again declare that the kingdom would not be what the first century Jewish people anticipated.

David Chadwell

Jesus' Kingdom Parables Study Guide (part 5)
Wednesday evening Bible class, 10 June - 18 November 1998
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1998
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

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