Spread the Kingdom

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 1, 2023 | Matthew 13:33-34

KEY VERSE:

…The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough. Matthew 13:33 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

The practice of the first century bread makers would be to add a piece of dough from the last time they baked bread to the dough they intend to use for making bread in the present time and mix it till the whole dough is filled with the old dough. This leftover dough from the previous time would have fermented and turned into leaven. When the old dough is mixed in with the new dough, it acts as yeast, causing the dough to rise.

It is also known that during certain festive occasions among the Jews, they were forbidden from eating anything which contained leaven (Lev. 23:4-6). Jesus also told his disciples in Matt 16:6 to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Leaven may seem to have become a metaphor for negative influence, and that little impurity has the potential and threatens to spoil an entire loaf.

However, in today's parable of the leaven, Jesus did not appear to use leaven to mean an impurity that threatens to ruin the entire loaf. Jesus said the kingdom will start small with the disciples and grow to the rest of the world. The Kingdom like leaven will start small and as it touches lives and cultures it will influence them positively. Again, Jesus implies that the works of the kingdom are unseen, just as the work of the leaven is not visible but hidden.

HANDS AND FEET OF THE MESSAGE

We as believers and kingdom children, and custodians of the mysteries of the kingdom must share our faith so the work of the kingdom (leaven) is made manifest and grows. The work of the kingdom is to help humanity become better. The Kingdom is God’s help to helpless humanity. It is therefore the responsibility of Kingdom children to become channels of the leaven of the kingdom to reach all who must be saved.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that I am a channel for the world to experience the leaven of your kingdom blessings. For Your name’s sake. Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!