Outline
INTRODUCTION:
Again, we are teaching a very short parable with a great deal of significance. Oh what a matter a little grain of sand can bring to a halt! Let it get in a bearing with the grease and it becomes a "grinding wheel" that can eventually wear out the mechanical item. That is what leaven is like. The word is defined as yeast in the Old Testament and as fermentation in the New. Either way it is the means of having bread to rise and fruit juice to ferment into an alcoholic beverage. The yeast reacts with the sugar-type ingredients of the food and accelerates the process of decay. Sounds terrible doesn't it? Perhaps that is precisely why the Lord used it. So we would know, upon examination, that He was describing something we ought to find disgusting.
Pray for wisdom and ability as you prepare, outline and teach this lesson.
Texts: MAT 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
LUK 13:20-21 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? [21] It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
LESSON PLAN I. OBJECTIVES A. General 1. To show that the Kingdom of Heaven is sometimes "contaminated" by leaven in the people who participate in its activities on this earth. B. Specific 1. Define and explain leaven to your class. 2. Teach that the leaven (ungodliness) is basically a source of corruption, and not of good in the church. 3. Teach that the Bible teaches the elements of the Lord's Supper are to be pure and without yeast as any part of the ingredients. No leavened (rising) bread and no alcohol or "wine" rather pure juice of the grape. II. Presentation A. Teacher's presentation 1. Scriptural Basis a.THE IDEA THAT YEAST WAS TO BE ELIMINATED FROM THE PASSOVER MEAL IS CLEAR IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exodus 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
1. GOD IS VERY CLEAR HERE. THE PENALTY FOR BREAKING THIS RULE WAS TO BE SHUNNED! THE DISOBEDIENT PERSON WAS THROWN OUT OF THE POPULATION OF ISRAEL. a)ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT GOD WAS VERY STRICT ABOUT BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS IN THE BIBLE, BUT THE TREND TODAY IS TOWARD ACCEPTANCE OF VIRTUALLY ANYTHING UNDER THE EXCUSE THAT WE MUST BE "APPROVING" OF PEOPLE TO WIN THEM!?
Exodus 13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.
2. NOT ONLY ARE THE PEOPLE UNDER MOSES TO NOT EAT THE BREAD WHICH CONTAINED YEAST, BUT ALL YEAST WAS TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES! a)DO YOU SUPPOSE THE RULE HERE IS THAT ONE MUST REMOVE THE OBJECTS OF TEMPTATION FROM HIS IMMEDIATE AREA RATHER THAN DEPEND UPON A "STRONG WILL" TO KEEP HIMSELF FROM SIN?!
WHAT A NOVEL IDEA!
Lev 2:11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.
3. NO MEAT (OR MEAL OFFERING) THAT WAS OFFERED TO THE LORD WAS TO CONTAIN LEAVEN. YEAST IS A CAUSE OF CORRUPTION. MAN'S OFFERINGS TO GOD ARE TO BE AS PURE AS POSSIBLE. B. THE NEW TESTAMENT ALSO SPOKE OF LEAVENMatthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
1. In this parable Jesus is talking about the fact that a little "corruption" goes a long way."Leaven has a bad connotation. Paul wrote that unleavened bread was to be eaten with the Passover supper (1 Cor. 5:7,8). In the course of this age, as the apostles were to expect so we are to expect the infiltration of Christianity by fleshly, worldly, immoral standards and false doctrines. That has happened in most denominations, Christian colleges, and seminaries in the last two or three generations. (see Footnote 1)
Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matthew 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Matthew 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Leaven = "Greek_2219. zume, dzoo'-may; prob. from Grk_2204; ferment (as if boiling up):-leaven (See Footnote 2)
NOW NOTICE THE HEBREW WORD AND IT'S MEANING:
Leaven = "Hebrew_7603. se'or, seh-ore'; from Heb_7604; barm or yeast-cake (as swelling by fermentation):-leaven (see Footnote 3)
ANYONE WHO UNDERSTANDS FERMENTATION UNDERSTANDS ALSO THAT IT IS CORRUPTION -- IE, THE ROTTING PROCESS. In the case of using yeast, the cook begins a process where the yeast brings about the desired reaction in the food. Namely, the rising of dough to make a softer and more delicate bread. In the fermenting of juice, the result is an alcoholic beverage.
JESUS WAS USING THE WORD LEAVEN IN REFERRING TO THE PHARISEES' DOCTRINES BECAUSE THEY WERE "CORRUPT" -- THEY WERE NOT WHAT GOD INTENDED IN THE LAW! THE APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES WERE TO "BEWARE" OF THEM.
1 Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1 Cor 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
PAUL'S WRITING TO BOTH THE CORINTHIANS AND THE GALATIANS MAKES THIS SAME POINT USING LEAVEN:
A LITTLE CORRUPTION GOES A LONG WAY!
c.Mat 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
1. NOTICE HERE THAT JESUS USES LEAVEN TO TEACH ONE OTHER PERSPECTIVE -- THAT THE KINGDOM IS "LIKE UNTO LEAVEN" IN THAT A TINY BIT OF IT CAN INFLUENCE MUCH.
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE INFLUENCES OF GOD'S WORD, WORK AND PEOPLE:
1. GOVERNMENT
OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM WAS FIRST SET UP IN MOSES' DAY AT A SUGGESTION FROM HIS FATHER-IN-LAW.
OUR NATION IS A LAND ESTABLISHED ON THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN BASIS OF RESPECT FOR THE "INALIENABLE" RIGHTS OF MAN TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. IT IS IRONIC THAT THAT RIGHT TO LIFE IN INFANTS IS THREATENED BY ABORTION LAWS BUT PROTECTS BALD EAGLE EGGS.
2. HUMAN RELATIONS
WE LEARN TO RESPECT OUR FELLOW MAN, TO TELL THE TRUTH, TO NOT STEAL OR ASSAULT HIM ALL FROM THE WORD OF GOD. OUR RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND FOR OURSELVES IS ROOTED IN GOD'S TEACHING.
3. ENVIRONMENTALISM
THE RIGHT KIND OF CARING FOR THE UNIVERSE AND PLANET COMES FROM GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS TO ADAM ABOUT CARING FOR THE WONDERFUL CREATION GOD MADE IN SEVEN REAL DAY AND NIGHT, 24 HOUR DAYS.
4. CRIMINAL JUSTICE
WHEN GOD'S RULES OF DEALING WITH CRIMINALS ARE FOLLOWED, THE NATION IS FAR BETTER OFF, AND SAFER.
5. RELIGION
GOD LAID OUT THE PROPER WAY AND MEANS OF WORSHIPPING HIM. HE TOLD US ABOUT JESUS, HOW TO ACCEPT HIM, HOW TO REPENT WHEN IT IS NECESSARY. EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW TO LIVE SUCCESSFULLY HERE AND IN ETERNITY -- ALL IN ONE BOOK.
TAKE YOUR BIBLE, GO STAND IN THE CENTER OF THE LARGEST LIBRARY YOU CAN FIND. HOLD IT OUT IN YOU HAND AND TURN SLOWLY IN A CIRCLE. YOU WILL SEE BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES THE TRUTH IN THE ABOVE VERSE ABOUT THE LITTLE BIT OF LEAVEN (THE BIBLE) TOUCHING ALL THE MEASURES OF FLOUR (THE WRITINGS AND THOUGHTS OF MANKIND)!
2. Simple, Practical Basis a.THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE CAN EMPHASIZE ABOUT THIS LESSON ON LEAVEN:
1. THAT LEAVEN AS USED TO SHOW "CORRUPTION" OR SPOILAGE IS VIRTUALLY UNNOTICEABLE IN THE BEGINNING.
ILLUSTRATION #1:
TAKE A BAGGIE OF FLOUR AND PLACE IT IN A BOWL. OPEN A PACKAGE OF YEAST AND POUR IT OUT ON A PIECE OF WHITE PAPER. ALLOW THE CLASS TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLOUR IN THE BOWL AND THE YEAST ON THE PAPER. NOW ADD THE YEAST TO THE BOWL OF FLOUR AND MIX WELL WITH A FORK. ALLOW THE CLASS TO LOOK IN THE BOWL. THE YEAST HAS BASICALLY DISAPPEARED.
ILLUSTRATION #2:
A LITTLE CORRUPTION (LEAVEN) GOES A LONG WAY:
TAKE OUT TWO MORE BAGGIES OF FLOUR AND ADD TO THE BOWL. MIX THESE IN WITH A FORK. ASK THE CLASS IF THE WHOLE BOWL OF FLOUR IS NOW TOUCHED BY THE YEAST? (THE ANSWER IS YES, AND IF YOU WERE TO ADD THE MILK, EGGS, AND OTHER INGREDIENTS TO MAKE BREAD, THE DOUGH WOULD ALL RISE AS THE YEAST WARMED AND WORKED.
SHOW THEM THE THREE EMPTY BAGGIES AND THE ONE YEAST PACKAGE. NOTICE HOW MUCH FLOUR CAN BE INFLUENCED BY SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF YEAST OR LEAVEN.
ILLUSTRATION #3:
ONCE CORRUPTION SETS IN IT IS VERY DIFFICULT (SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE THROUGH HUMAN MEANS) TO REVERSE IT.
TAKE A PACKAGE OF YEAST AND POUR IT INTO A CLEAR GLASS. ADD HOT WATER (NOT BOILING - IT WILL KILL THE YEAST!!!) STIR IN A TABLESPOON OF FLOUR MIXED WITH A TEASPOON OF SUGAR. SET IT ASIDE AND TEACH YOUR CLASS. AS YOU GO ON WITH YOUR CLASS, YOU WILL SEE THE YEAST WORKING. WHEN IT IS REALLY GROWING, ASK THE CLASS IF THEY CAN THINK OF ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN GET THE YEAST OUT OF THE GLASS TO STOP THE "ROTTING" PROCESS. THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS NO.
TELL THEM, "THAT IS HOW IT IS WITH PEOPLE. WHEN WE ALLOW CORRUPTION (SINFUL BEHAVIOUR) TO ENTER OUR LIVES WE HAVE A VERY TOUGH TIME GETTING BACK TO THE CORRECT WAY OF LIVING. AND LIKE THE YEAST, IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE TO MAKE A BIG MESS OF THINGS!
THE "LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES" WAS THEIR TAKING THE LAW OF MOSES AND ADDING BURDENSOME AND FOOLISH LAWS WHICH NO ONE COULD TRULY LIVE WITH AND THEN MAKING THEMSELVES SEEM SUPERIOR TO EVERYONE ELSE. THAT ARROGANCE WAS CORRUPTION. IT BROUGHT ABOUT THEIR DECISION TO DENY JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD AND THEIR MESSIAH!
3. TIPS FOR THE YOUNGER CLASSESIn today's lesson, you are going to be chemist and philosopher alike. The illustrations above are for your class and every one else's. No lectures today. No long discussions. It is Show and Tell time for everyone. Use the yeast and flour to teach. Remember to take time with each illustration. Talk about what you are doing. Ask the class what the yeast is like in a person's life - sinful behaviour. The flour is the good teaching, the yeast is error. A little bit can mess up a lot of the good. The yeast is rot, the flour is purity. After you tell (write them down on a board), then you can review them with the class. Yeast is sin, flour is the honest Christian's life. Get the idea.
NOW DON'T FORGET TO TELL THE CLASS THAT IT IS NOT SIN FOR THEIR MOTHER TO USE YEAST IN HER COOKING. WE ARE ONLY DOING WHAT JESUS DID IN THE BIBLE BY USING IT AS AN EXAMPLE OF HIS TEACHING. THE PACKAGE OF YEAST IS NOT REALLY SINFUL TO USE IN FOOD PREPARATIONS!!
4. DEMONSTRATIONS / ILLUSTRATIONS / SONGS / QUOTES (see Footnote 4) a.A "WORM" IN THE "APPLE"
No doubt you have occasionally seen an apple with a wormhole in it. But did you ever wonder whether the worm began to bore from the inside or from the outside? Well, scientists tell us it began on the inside! They say that the egg is laid in the blossom, and that after the wiggly, undesirable little creature hatches in the core, it eats its way to the skin. The worm of sin operates the same way-from the inside out!
b.I hate ingratitude more in a man Than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness, Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption Inhabits our frail blood.
William Shakespeare
Twelfth-Night [1598-1600],Act: III, Scene: iv, Line: 390
A regime, an established order, is rarely overthrown by a revolutionary movement; usually a regime collapses of its own weakness and corruption and then a revolutionary movement enters among the ruins and takes over the powers that have become vacant.
Walter Lippmann
For Charles de Gaulle. From Today and Tomorrow [June 5, 1958]
Communism is the corruption of a dream of justice.
Adlai E wing Stevenson
Speech at Urbana, Illinois [1951]
Communism has never come to power in a country that was not disrupted by war or corruption, or both.
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
American president
Communism
An upright minister asks what recommends a man; a corrupt minister, who.
C. C. Colton (1780-1832)
English author, clergyman
Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places . . . and we believe it a fair presumption that secrecy means impropriety.
Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)
American president
IF THE LEAVEN (YEAST) IS A SYMBOL OF CORRUPTION, ROT AND SIN IN SOMETHING, THEN WHY DO WE STILL USE IT IN OUR COOKING?
JESUS, OFTEN USED THINGS TO MAKE ILLUSTRATIONS. HIS TEACHING WAS USUALLY DONE IN THE OUT OF DOORS. THE WORLD AROUND HIM MADE IT EASY TO POINT TO SOMETHING AND EXPLAIN HOW IT COULD DEMONSTRATE SOMETHING HE WAS DISCUSSING OR TEACHING. THE FACT THAT HE WOULD MAKE AN ILLUSTRATION OF IT DID NOT CURSE ITS USE.
YEAST USED TO MAKE BREAD RISE IS NOT WRONG. BUT WHEN HE WANTED TO SHOW HOW ONE TINY THING COULD INFLUENCE THE WHOLE, WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO POINT OUT A BAKER COOKING IN AN OUTDOOR OVEN AND SEE THE FLAT "PITA" BREAD SITTING RIGHT BESIDE THE WELL ROUNDED LOAF OF SOFT, YEAST BREAD. THE DIFFERENCE WAS THAT PINCH OF YEAST. THE LISTENERS COULD SEE HOW IT AFFECTED SOMEONE BY JUST LOOKING.
b.I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A TINY SIN IN HIS LIFE AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HURTING HIM. HE IS STILL POPULAR, STILL ATTENDS CHURCH, IS A GOOD PERSON. HOW CAN THAT LITTLE BIT OF BACKSLIDING REALLY HARM HIM IF HE CAN CONTROL IT?
GOOD QUESTION! FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THAT "LITTLE SIN" WON'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. IN THE ILLUSTRATION OF HOW A WORM GETS INTO AN APPLE USED ABOVE, WE SAW THAT THE EGG WAS LAID IN THE BLOSSOM ON THE APPLE TREE. THEN OVER TIME THE APPLE ACTUALLY GREW AROUND THE EGG. FOR A LONG TIME THAT APPLE LOOKED JUST AS SHINY AS THE REST OF THE APPLES ON THE TREE. BUT SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING WHICH WE COULD NOT SEE. THE WORM HAD HATCHED ON THE INSIDE AND WAS EATING HIS WAY OUT. ONLY IN THE "LAST STAGES" COULD THE EFFECT BE SEEN. BY THEN THE WORM HAD DAMAGED THE APPLE UNTIL IT IS ALMOST TOTALLY WORTHLESS.
THAT IS THE WAY YOUR FRIEND'S LITTLE BACKSLIDING WILL BE. AS HE CONTINUES TO JUSTIFY IT AND NOT REPENT, HE WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE DISTANT FROM THE LORD. IT MAY NOT BE HIS WISH FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT THAT IS WHAT GOD SAYS WILL HAPPEN. IT CANNOT BE AVOIDED.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO NOT ROT. THAT WAY IS TO CALL IT SIN, REPENT ACCORDING TO 1 JOHN 1:9 (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.) AND TO FLEE FROM THAT SIN. OTHERWISE SOMEDAY HE WILL HAVE A ROT SO BIG IN HIS LIFE ALL THE WORLD CAN SEE IT!
c.THE LESSON SAID THAT THERE IS NO ALCOHOLIC WINE USED IN THE LORD'S SUPPER SERVICE. IF THAT IS SO THEN WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WINE IN THAT SERVICE?
FIRST: JUST BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE WRONG DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. THE BIBLE NEVER ONCE REFERS TO WINE AT THE LAST SUPPER OR AT THE LORD'S SUPPER TABLE. IT SPEAKS OF THE CUP.
SECOND: THE IDEA OF WINE AS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS COULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR ANOTHER REASON. THE WINE IS SYMBOLIC OF THE BLOOD JESUS SHED FOR OUR SINS. THAT BLOOD WAS TOTALLY PURE; UNTAINTED BY SIN. AS A SYMBOL, THERE COULD BE NO FERMENTATION (LEAVEN) PRESENT. JUST AS THE BREAD USED MUST BE UNLEAVENED (FREE OF YEAST AS AN INGREDIENT) SO TOO MUST THE JUICE BE FREE OF CONTAMINATION. THAT MEANS PURE GRAPE JUICE!
d.IN MATTHEW 13:33 JESUS SPOKE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BEING LIKE THE LEAVEN. DOES THIS MEAN THERE IS SOMETHING CORRUPT THERE TOO?
NO, QUITE THE OPPOSITE. IT IS TEACHING THAT A LITTLE OF THAT INFLUENCES MUCH ALSO. THINK FOR A MOMENT OF ALL THE THINGS WHICH GOD'S TEACHINGS HAVE TOUCHED. WHERE WOULD THE WORLD'S SOCIETIES BE IF THERE WAS NOT A WHOLE GROUP OF CHRISTIANS TO TEACH AND BEAR INFLUENCE? -- EVEN IN THE UNCHRISTIAN NATIONS LIKE INDIA AND THE ARAB COUNTRIES?
DISCUSS THIS IF POSSIBLE!!
6. APPLICATIONS a.ARE YOU LIKE THE APPLE WITH THE WORM EATING AWAY INSIDE AND CORRUPTING? IT IS POSSIBLE WITH ALL OF US IF WE ARE NOT CAUTIOUS. WILL YOU TAKE A MOMENT AND DO AN HONEST APPRAISAL OF THE "YOU NO BODY KNOWS?"
b.A LITTLE LEAVEN TOUCHES THE WHOLE. ASK YOURSELF HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE THAT TINY BIT OF INFLUENCE FOR JESUS WITH THOSE YOU ALREADY KNOW.
c.IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT - WHERE YOU WORK, WHERE YOU PLAY, WHERE YOU LIVE THAT IS A HARMFUL BIT OF LEAVEN? WON'T YOU DO AN INVENTORY OF YOUR "SPACE" AND SEE IF IT NEEDS A BROOM -- OR PERHAPS JUST A SET OF TWEEZERS APPLIED.
HOW I WOULD TEACH THIS LESSON1. READ THE PARABLES - DEFINE LEAVEN, EVEN SHOW THE YEAST.
DO ILLUSTRATIONS OF FLOUR AND YEAST SO THE WARM WATER, YEAST, FLOUR AND SUGAR WILL BE "WORKING" AS YOU TEACH.
2. COVER THE EXPOSITORY VERSES IN NT AND OT.
3. COVER "SIMPLE PRACTICAL" OUTLINE
4. DISCUSS THE INFLUENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, DISCUSS QUOTES, ETC.
5. COVER QUESTIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Footnote 1: The Rice Reference Bible, (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1981), .
Footnote 2:Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (WORDsearch), (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1990), npn.
Footnote 3: Ibid.
Footnote 4: Please note that the use of a quote or a reference to a person does not indicate that we hold them in high esteem; only that the item can be used in some way in a lesson. In fact, you will find some statements actually oppose or disagree with Bible-believing philosophies in some outlines so that you can use them as arguing points.