Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
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—This parable, while it teaches the same general truth as the foregoing one, holds forth, perhaps, rather the inward growth of the kingdom, while "the Mustard Seed" seems to point chiefly to the outward. It being a woman's work to knead, it seems a refinement to say that "the woman" here represents the Church, as the instrument of depositing the leaven. Nor does it yield much satisfaction to understand the "three measures of meal" of that threefold division of our nature into "spirit, soul, and body," alluded to in I Thessalonians 5:23, or of the threefold partition of the world among the three sons of Noah (Genesis 10:32), as some do. It yields more real satisfaction to see in this brief parable just the all-penetrating and assimilating quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all institutions and tribes of men, and exhibit over the whole earth one "kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."
Let both grow together—that is, in the visible Church.
until the harvest—till the one have ripened for full salvation, the other for destruction. (See on Matthew 13:39).
and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers—(See on Matthew 13:39).
Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them—"in the fire" (Matthew 13:40).
but gather the wheat into my barn—Christ, as the Judge, will separate the two classes (as in Matthew 25:32). It will be observed that the tares are burned before the wheat is housed; in the exposition of the parable (Matthew 13:41, Matthew 13:43) the same order is observed: and the same in Matthew 25:46 —as if, in some literal sense, "with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked" (Psalms 91:8).
Third and Fourth Parables or Second Pair:
THE MUSTARD SEED and THE LEAVEN (Matthew 13:31-33).
The subject of both these parables, as of the first pair, is the same, but under a slight diversity of aspect, namely—
THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM FROM THE SMALLEST BEGINNINGS TO ULTIMATE UNIVERSALITY.
The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32).
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way—(See on Matthew 13:38-39).
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field—Happily for us, these exquisite parables are, with like charming simplicity and clearness, expounded to us by the Great Preacher Himself. Accordingly, we pass to: Matthew 13:36-38. See on Matthew 13:36; Matthew 13:38
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Matthew 13:33:
Matthew 5:14
Matthew 13:30-39
Matthew 13:32
Galatians 5:9
Colossians 3:3
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