Matthew 13:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The same thing the Lord sets forth in this parable of the leaven, as much as to say to His disciples, As leaven changes into its own kind much wheat-flour, so shall ye change the whole world. Note here the wisdom of the Saviour; He first brings instances from nature, proving that as the one is possible so is the other. And He says not simply ‘put,’ but hid; as much as to say, So ye, when ye shall be cast down by your enemies, then ye shall overcome them. And so leaven is kneaded in, without being destroyed, but gradually changes all things into its own nature; so shall it come to pass with your preaching. Fear ye not then because I said that many tribulations shall come upon you, for so shall ye shine forth, and shall overcome them all. He says, three measures, to signity a great abundance; that definite number standing for an indefinite quantity.

The Lord refers to the apostles by using the analogy of leaven and the mustard seed. Just as a small amount of leaven can alter the entire batch of dough, so too will you transform the world, despite your small numbers. Satah served as a measure for the Jews, similar to how the Greeks used chinixes or decalitres. Some interpret leaven to signify the preaching, while the three Satas represent the soul's three faculties—mind, emotions, and will. The woman symbolizes the soul itself that incorporates the preaching within all its faculties, mixing and sanctifying it through this divine infusion. We are called to be completely permeated and transformed into the divine essence. For the Lord declares, "until all things are leavened."

Or, The leaven signifies love, because it causes activity and fermentation; by the woman He means wisdom. By the three measures He intends either those three things in man, with the whole heart, with the whole soul, with the whole mind; or the three degrees of fruitfulness, the hundred-fold, the sixty-fold, the thirty-fold, or those three kinds of men, Noe, Daniel, and Job.

He likened the kingdom of heaven to yeast that is mixed into dough, for the yeast causes the dough to gradually become like itself. The yeast does not immediately dominate the mixture; rather, it transforms it from within through its inherent power. In a similar way, the gospel of Christ operates. The yeast within the dough also represents the Body of the Lord, indicating its significance in the lineage of Adam.

The ‘satum’ is a kind of measure in use in Palestine containing one modius and a half.

Through the parable of the mustard seed, He predicted the growth of faith resulting from the daily inclusion of believers, while the parable of the leaven illustrated its transformative power. The term "kingdom of heaven" should again be interpreted as the teaching of faith. The woman will take it and hide it in three measures of flour. "Sati" refers to a specific measure used by the Hebrews. The mention of three here suggests abundance, as this number is often symbolic of many. The woman symbolizes wisdom, or Christ Himself, who brings forth and sustains life: He generates believers through the Sacrament of Baptism and nourishes them with His teachings. The teaching of faith resembles leaven.

How should we interpret the parable of the leaven? We had an intense discussion about this yesterday. My perspective is that the teachings of God conveyed through parables serve two purposes. First, we need to grasp the literal narrative, and then we must uncover its significance. The kingdom of heaven is likened to leaven, which a wise woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until it was all leavened. I believe that leaven represents the doctrine and the faith that accompanies it. The Lord draws a parallel by calling His beloved, the Church, as the holy Apostle describes. The three measures of flour symbolize the three sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth, from whom all the nations now enfolded within the Church descended after the flood, beginning their journey with faith.

Or otherwise; The Lord compares Himself to leaven; for leaven is produced from meal, and communicates the power that it has received to a heap of its own kind. The woman, that is the Synagogue, taking this leaven hides it, that is by the sentence of death; but it working in the three measures of meal, that is equally in the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospels, makes all one; so that what the Law ordains, that the Prophets announce, that is fulfilled in the developements of the Gospels. But many, as I remember, have thought that the three measures refer to the calling of the three nations, out of Shem, Ham, and Japhet.

The realm of heaven is compared to yeast in the immaculate embodiment of our God and Savior, through whom the entirety of creation is transformed. Through the unity of the one Body, which was shaped from our nature and from the Virgin Mary, all humanity is restored through eternal rebirth.

He says, Until the whole was leavened, because that love implanted in our mind ought to grow until it changes the whole soul into its own perfection; which is begun here, but is completed hereafter.

The kingdom of God is likened to a mustard seed and leaven. The tiny mustard seed eventually sprouts into a substantial bush, while the leaven permeates the entire batch of dough, causing it to rise. This imagery represents both the Church, which initially comprised only the apostles and a handful of followers but later flourished to encompass all of humanity, and the personal spiritual journey of each individual. The initial spark of faith in the Lord Savior—marked by the desire and commitment to attain salvation through faith—is akin to a minute point. At first, this faith only touches awareness and personal agency; however, it sets in motion the entire progression of spiritual life.

The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a beetroot, which a woman takes and mixes into three measures of flour until it begins to rise. The Lord employs natural occurrences in His parables to illustrate the unalterable nature of His word, akin to the steadfast laws of nature. ‘Just as a small amount of leaven affects the entire batch of flour, so you, My apostles, will transform the world, despite your small number. Do not think to yourselves: what can we twelve accomplish amidst so many? Your strength will be made evident in this—that you will endure within this multitude without retreating. Just as leaven influences the dough only when it is incorporated with flour, so too will you prevail when you establish an unbreakable bond and unity with those who oppose you.

Like yeast: the interpretation of this parable aligns with the one before it. "As yeast mixed into a large batch of flour causes the flour to be transformed by the yeast's power, so you (apostles) will change the entire world" (Chrysostom). This also applies to the soul of every individual in Christ's kingdom: the influence of grace discreetly yet genuinely envelops and gradually sanctifies all the faculties of one’s spirit. - "Which the woman took," etc.: these serve as images for a more vivid illustration. - "In three measures": according to Augustine, the three measures represent the three primary faculties: heart, soul, and spirit (cf. Theophilus).