By George Huang
This sermon explores the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Matthew 13:31–33) and reveals how God’s Kingdom grows both outwardly and inwardly in our lives. From the smallest beginnings of faith, God brings about visible impact and deep internal transformation over time. Even through struggles, sin, and suffering, God is at work shaping us by His grace. This message encourages us not to overlook small beginnings or hidden growth, but to trust that God is faithfully working to complete His purpose in us.
Sermon presentation: English and Chinese (中文版)
Sermon text for Search Engines to read:
English version:
Parables of the Mustard Seed & Yeast in the Dough
Scripture: Matthew 13:31–33
Jesus told them another parable: “The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The Kingdom of God is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Today, we continue with the Kingdom of God series. We will study the 3rd and 4th of the seven parables in Matthew 13.
“Kingdom of God” is not a place we go — it is God’s rule taking root in our hearts and transforming our perspective and how we live.
The first two are the “Parable of the Soils” and “Parable of the Wheat and Tares.”
The Parable of the Four Soils tells us the four types of people and how they can all receive the Gospel. The Parable of the Wheat and Tares tells us why God allows false Christians to remain for a while – to save more souls.
Strangely, Jesus did not give the explanations of the other five parables. He seemed to be intentionally hiding their meanings from the general public.
Matt. 13:10–11 – The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God has been given to you, but not to them.”
But to those who seek, He will reveal the meanings, just like what we are doing today.
The mustard seed and the yeast in the dough parables seem very similar on the surface. But like the parables of the minas and talents, we will see deeper meanings when we compare them carefully. With our modern knowledge of biology, we can see even more meanings in these parables.
The main idea: The Kingdom of God grows powerfully over time from the smallest faith and Gospel.
Both the mustard seed and the yeast in the dough show tremendous growth from the small things. But they show us changes in two totally different ways:
Mustard Seed — Visible, Outward, Surprising Growth
Yeast in the Dough — Invisible, Inward, Total Transformation
Let’s first analyze the Parable of the Mustard Seed.
Mustard seed is used again later by Jesus to represent the growth of faith from the smallest bit:
Luke 17:6 – Jesus replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”
The man who sowed the mustard seeds should represent God, the sower in the Parable of the Four Soils, too. He is the true source of the Gospel and faith. He is the one who really plants faith in people.
The field represents his realm in this world, including His Church. The plants grow inside the Church.
Mustard seed is the Gospel and starting faith. It is small but has all the genes needed to form the plant. The mustard trees are the mature Christians. They serve the community in general.
Mature mustard trees provide food and shelter to birds and animals. Jesus called us “the light and the salt of the world” (Matthew 5:13–16).
Today, many Christians and Christian groups are on the forefront of service. They sacrifice their time, treasure, and talents to serve humanity – no matter who they are. Serving others is the most important means of spreading the Christian faith.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” — St Francis of Assisi
So the mustard seed parable is not hard to understand. Living it out may be hard, though.
Do you have a heart willing to sacrifice yourself for others or for a greater cause? This is not about dying for others, but to give up something such as your time, talent, and wealth for others.
John 12:24 – Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
“True love is putting someone else’s needs before yours.”
The tiny mustard seed can grow into big plants if we nurture it properly. If we are willing to let God do His work, Christians have great potential to grow and change the world.
The Yeast in the Dough parable, however, is far more perplexing.
Yeast is never mentioned in the Bible in a positive way. Yeast represents sin and evil intentions, and in some festivals, Israelites avoid leaven bread. In fact, Passover is the meal that starts the seven-day Feast of the Unleavened Bread. It is a reminder of the Israelites leaving the sinful world of Egypt behind.
Matt. 16:6 – Jesus said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Jesus was referring to those religious teachers’ evil intentions and wrong teachings.
The bread-making woman should be referring to people. No surprise since they do the cooking. Sin comes from people, not God. However, God may allow sin and suffering to last for a time.
The flour, which comes from wheat, represents Christians. Water, which is needed in the dough, represents the Holy Spirit working in us.
Flour = Christians
- Water = Holy Spirit
- Yeast = sin / evil
Good-tasting bread?
How is that possible? Why is sin allowed among Christians, and how can we get something good from it?
To figure that out, we need to learn how to make bread.
How to make bread?
- Flour mixed with water, yeast, a tiny bit of oil, salt, and sugar.
When flour is mixed with water, it turns into the elastic gluten when kneaded.
The yeast turns sugar into CO2 and breaks down starch, protein, and fat into simpler molecules. The CO2 is trapped by the elastic gluten and the dough rises.
Give the yeast some time to grow and do its job and the dough will expand in size due to the air in it.
On the outside, the dough looks pretty much the same, just a lot bigger. The dough becomes full of air and expands in size because the yeast digests the sugar in the flour and releases CO2.
Then we divide up the dough into the right amounts and bake them into bread. During baking, the bread changes color, but we can still see the original shape.
The really big changes happened inside the dough, on a molecular level, during the proofing process. The yeast also transformed the protein, starch, and fats into something different.
CO2 makes the bread fluffy. Ethanol gives it a bit of taste but is mostly evaporated during the baking process. The baking process destroys the yeast and the ethanol but the bread tastes different as a result.
Different kinds of yeasts, cooking methods, and slightly different ingredients will produce different kinds of bread. So yeast is a tool used by bakers to make a variety of tasty baked goods.
Yeast first makes CO2 and then makes ethanol. So by controlling the proofing time, we can control the amount of alcohol.
Similarly, God works through different kinds of sins and sufferings to shape Christians with different characteristics and gifts. Some are hardy Christians able to fight. Some are soft and sweet who bring comfort to others.
Unlike the mustard seed, the yeast doesn’t alter the dough’s appearance much, but it completely transforms it. This kind of complete transformation is not as visible because it is inward, but one can really taste it afterward.
Yeast shows how something small and hidden can spread and affect everything. In life, sin and suffering spread — but God works through them to transform us.
Our transformation often happens through how we respond to others’ sins toward us, through God’s work and grace.
God can and does work through the bad things in life to make us better. That is one of the most amazing things about the Christian life.
Once we realize these, we will never see sin and suffering the same. We won’t be controlled by our emotions in the same way.
This is the perspective of a mature Christian. We can have real joy and hope in the midst of difficulties and suffering.
We may not see much growth right now. But God is working — both outwardly and inwardly.
Also, in the parable Jesus said explicitly that the amount of flour is about 60 lbs. That’s a lot of flour – can feed maybe 100 people. There’s a reason for him to tell us the amount.
The works of sin and the resulting Christian growth are never done in isolation. The spread of sin and suffering usually comes from interaction with other people.
Yes, there’s sin and suffering among people in the Church, too. Don’t be surprised. God is at work here also.
In the washing machine allegory, we talked about how the Church is like a washing machine, and how the dirty cloths, which represent sinful Christians, help cleanse each other.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
In the end, you will turn into great bread. Those sins and sufferings will be gone for good. God uses sin and suffering to transform Christians, but if we stay with Him, He will destroy sin and remove suffering in due time.
Are you struggling with sin or going through suffering? God is making you into good bread.
It may be a long and painful process but do not give up!
You may not understand everything God is doing right now… but that does not mean He is not working.
God is already at work in our lives.
The question is: will you let Him finish His work in you?
中文版 Chinese version:
芥菜種及麵酵的比喻
讀經：馬太福音 13:31–33
耶穌又設個比喻對他們說：「天國好像一粒芥菜種，有人拿去種在田裡。這原是百種裡最小的，等到長起來，卻比各樣的菜都大，且成了樹，天上的飛鳥來宿在它的枝上。」他又對他們講個比喻說：「天國好像麵酵，有婦人拿來藏在三斗麵裡，直等全團都發起來。」
今天我們繼續「神的國度」系列講道。我們將學習馬太福音13章中的七個比喻中的第三及第四個。
「神的國度」不是一個要我們去的地方，而是神的統治要在人心中紮根，改變我們的想法及生活方式。
前兩個比喻分別是「土壤的比喻」和「麥子和稗子的比喻」。
四種土壤的比喻告訴我們四種類型的人以及他們如何都能接受福音。麥子和稗子的比喻告訴我們，為什麼神允許假基督徒暫時留在教會。是為了拯救更多的靈魂。
奇怪的是，耶穌並沒有解釋其他五個比喻。祂好像刻意的對普通大眾隱藏它們的含義。
馬太福音 13:10–11 – 門徒進前來，問耶穌說：「對眾人講話為什麼用比喻呢？」耶穌回答說：「因為天國的奧祕只叫你們知道，不叫他們知道。」
但對於尋求的人，祂會啟示這些比喻的意義，就像我們今天所做的一樣。
芥菜種和麵酵的比喻在表面上看來幾乎相同。但是就像一錠銀子和才幹的比喻一樣，當我們仔細的比較它們時，我們會發現更深的含義。再加上我們的現代的生物科學知識，我們可以從這些比喻中看到更多的奧秘。
核心思想：神的國會從最小的信心和福音開始，慢慢地，不斷的壯大。
芥菜種和麵酵都顯示出很小東西可有的巨大的生長。但它們向我們展示了兩種截然不同的變化：
芥菜種：看的見的、向外的、驚人的成長
麵酵：看不見的、向內的、全面的轉型
讓我們首先來分析芥菜種的比喻。
耶穌稍後又用芥菜種來說明一個概念——最小的信心是可長成很大的：
路加福音 17:6 – 主說：「你們若有信心像一粒芥菜種，就是對這棵桑樹說：『你要拔起根來，栽在海裡！』它也必聽從你們。」
播種芥菜種的人應該是代表神。祂也是在四種土壤的比喻中的撒種的人。祂是福音和信心的真正來源。祂是真正賜給人們信心的源頭。
這片田地像徵祂在世間的領域，包括祂的教會。植物則生長在教會之內。
芥菜種是福音及是起步的信心。雖然它很小但它具有形成植物所需的所有的基因。
芥菜樹是成熟的基督徒。他們的存在及服事使社會受益。
成熟的芥菜樹為鳥類和動物提供食物和庇護所。耶穌稱我們為「世上的光和鹽」（馬太福音5:13–16）。
今天，許多基督徒和基督教團體站在服務的最前線。他們為服務人類而犧牲自己的時間，財富和才能，無論那些受益者是否是基督徒。為他人服務是傳播基督福音最重要的方法。
「隨時都要傳福音。必要時，用文詞及言語。」——阿西西的聖方濟各
因此，芥菜種的比喻並不難理解。但是要活出它來可能很難。
你有一顆願意為他人或更大的事業犧牲自己的心嗎？這不是要你為他人而死，而是要為他人犧牲一些你的時間、金錢和才華。
約翰福音 12:24 – 我實實在在地告訴你們：一粒麥子不落在地裡死了，仍舊是一粒；若是死了，就結出許多子粒來。
「真愛就是把別人的需要放在你自己的需要之前。」
如果精心培育，小小的芥菜籽可以長成大植株。如果我們願意讓神做祂的工作，基督徒就有巨大的潛力成長並改變世界。
然而，麵酵的比喻卻很令人困惑。
聖經從未以正面的觀點來談酵母菌。酵母菌代表罪惡和邪惡的意圖。在某些以色列的節日中，他們不能食用發酵過的餅。實際上，逾越節（Passover）是七天無酵餅節的開始。無酵餅節提醒以色列人他們離開埃及的故事並要把罪惡的世界拋在後面。
馬太福音 16:6 – 耶穌對他們說：「你們要謹慎，防備法利賽人和撒都該人的酵。」耶穌指的是那些宗教人士的邪惡意圖和錯誤的教義。
做麵包的女人應該指的是人們。因通常都是女人做飯，這就不足為奇了。
罪惡來自人們，而不是神。然而，神可能允許罪惡和痛苦持續一段時間。
來自小麥的麵粉代表基督徒。麵團中需要的水代表著聖靈在我們裡面工作。
麵粉 = 基督徒
水 = 聖靈
酵母 = 人的罪惡
好吃的麵包？
那怎麼可能？為什麼基督徒之間有罪，並能從中得益呢？
為了弄清楚這一點，我們需要了解如何製作麵包。
麵粉與水、酵母和少許的油、鹽、糖混在一起。酵母將糖轉變為二氧化碳（CO2），並將澱粉、蛋白質和脂肪分解為更基本的分子。二氧化碳被麵筋包住，麵團就會膨脹起來。
給酵母一些時間來滋長及完成它的工作，麵團會因為其中的空氣而膨脹。從外觀上看，麵團幾乎沒有什麼差別，只是體積大了很多。
然後，我們將麵團分成適當的大小，並將它們烤成麵包。在烘烤過程中，麵包會變色，但我們仍然可以看到原來的形狀。
真正的巨大變化發生在發酵過程中，在麵團內部，在分子層面上。酵母還將蛋白質、澱粉和脂肪轉化為不同的東西。
二氧化碳使麵包蓬鬆。乙醇使它有些味道，但在烘烤過程中大部分會蒸發掉。烘烤過程會殺死酵母並蒸發掉乙醇，但麵包的口感和味道卻因此有所不同。
不同種類的酵母、烘烤方法和略有不同的成分會產生不同種類的麵包。因此，酵母是麵包師用來製作各種美味麵包的工具。
酵母首先生產二氧化碳，然後才生產乙醇。因此，通過控制發酵時間，我們可以控制酒精含量。
同樣，神透過各種罪惡和苦難來塑造基督徒，使他們有不同的性格和恩賜。有些人是能夠戰鬥的強壯基督徒，有些基督徒是柔軟而甜美，為他人帶來安慰。
與芥菜種不同，酵母不會大幅改變麵團的外觀，但卻能徹底改變其本質。這種轉變並不明顯，因為它發生在裡面，但麵包做好之後就能吃得出來。
酵母展現了微小而隱藏的事物如何擴散並影響萬物。在生活中，罪惡和苦難蔓延，但神藉由它們來改變我們。
我們的轉變往往體現在我們如何回應他人對我們的罪，以及神的作為和恩典之中。
神能夠也確實會透過生活中的苦難來塑造我們，使我們變得更好。這是基督徒生命中最奇妙的事之一。
一旦我們認識到這些，我們對罪和苦難的看法將會截然不同。我們也不會再像以前那樣受情緒控制。
這是成熟基督徒的視角。即使在困境中，我們仍然可以擁有真正的喜樂和盼望。
我們現在可能看不到明顯的成長，但神正在動工——無論是在外在還是內在。
此外，耶穌在比喻中提到麵粉約為60英磅。這麼多的麵粉可以餵飽許多人，這個細節是有意義的。
罪與成長不是孤立發生的，往往來自人與人之間的互動。
教會中也會有罪與苦難，不要因此感到驚訝，神也在其中工作。
在洗衣機的比喻中，我們提到教會像洗衣機一樣，帶著污點的衣服彼此摩擦，反而變得更乾淨。
羅馬書 8:28 – 我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。
最後，你將成為美好的麵包，那些罪惡和苦難將會消失。
神用罪惡和逆境來改造基督徒。當我們與神同行時，祂會在適當的時候消滅罪惡並帶我們脫離苦難。
你是在與罪惡掙扎，還是在經歷苦難嗎？神正在把你塑造成美好的麵包。
這可能是一個漫長而痛苦的過程，但請不要放棄！
你或許無法理解神現在所做的一切，但這並不代表祂沒有在工作。
神已經在我們生命中動工了。
你該問的問題是：
你願不願意讓祂完成祂在你身上的工作？
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