Five Rivers Church
Mustard Seed and Yeast
What does a Mustard Seed and Yeast have in common with the Kingdom of God? Join us as Tracy leads us through uncovering the Hidden Truth in these two parallel parables.
Locations & Times
Five Rivers Church
1450 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45429, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
Hidden - Discovering Kingdom Truths
Tap or click on the link below to see all of the messages in the "Hidden - Discovering Kingdom Truths" Series.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSM0eKZiFXLrxGd3Q_i5szmw4R5fGMHo6Hebrew Hermeneutics
If you have not been with us in our study of Matthew, we introduced, PaRDes, a traditional Jewish Rabbi's teaching method. Here is a simple way to understand
PaRDeS
P’shat - surface level understanding
Remez - Old Testament reference points to whole context
Drash - Combines the story with the meaning of the OT Reference.
Sod - The message God has specifically for you in the teaching
If you have not been with us in our study of Matthew, we introduced, PaRDes, a traditional Jewish Rabbi's teaching method. Here is a simple way to understand
PaRDeS
P’shat - surface level understanding
Remez - Old Testament reference points to whole context
Drash - Combines the story with the meaning of the OT Reference.
Sod - The message God has specifically for you in the teaching
P'shat
In the Middle East, the Mustard was a toxic weed. It was difficult to eradicate from your field once it got a start. What is it about the Mustard Seed that is like the Kingdom of God?
> It starts small, but grows into something big
> It is counterintuitive - who plants a mustard seed?
> It is unstoppable - it is almost impossible to get rid of it
> It is a blessing - birds find rest
In the Middle East, the Mustard was a toxic weed. It was difficult to eradicate from your field once it got a start. What is it about the Mustard Seed that is like the Kingdom of God?
> It starts small, but grows into something big
> It is counterintuitive - who plants a mustard seed?
> It is unstoppable - it is almost impossible to get rid of it
> It is a blessing - birds find rest
Remez
Another teaching method of the Rabbis was to state something that would on the surface not seem right. It causes our radar to go off - WARNING! WARNING! Something hidden here!
So the mustard seed grows into a bush like plant. But Jesus says it becomes a Tree. So we say, wait a minute. What is this about?
In Ezekiel 17, we read about a work that God is doing. Ezekiel 17:22-24, “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”
Two things in this passage:
1). God is doing the work
2). Animals represent the other nations and the Tree is Israel. So God is doing a work so that Israel can bless the other nations.
Another teaching method of the Rabbis was to state something that would on the surface not seem right. It causes our radar to go off - WARNING! WARNING! Something hidden here!
So the mustard seed grows into a bush like plant. But Jesus says it becomes a Tree. So we say, wait a minute. What is this about?
In Ezekiel 17, we read about a work that God is doing. Ezekiel 17:22-24, “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’”
Two things in this passage:
1). God is doing the work
2). Animals represent the other nations and the Tree is Israel. So God is doing a work so that Israel can bless the other nations.
Drash
God is doing a work that is going to allow us to complete the mission He has given us to be a blessing to others. The work He is doing is establishing The Kingdom of God. The Kingdom starts small, it is counterintuitive, its unstoppable. And we get to be part of it.
God is doing a work that is going to allow us to complete the mission He has given us to be a blessing to others. The work He is doing is establishing The Kingdom of God. The Kingdom starts small, it is counterintuitive, its unstoppable. And we get to be part of it.
P'shat
Yeast always represents sin to the Jewish reader. It parallels the toxic seed in the first parable.
> Yeast begins small, but grows.
> Yeast is counterintuitive - What does yeast have to do with the Kingdom?
> A little yeast goes a long way - it is unstoppable.
> 60 lbs of yeast is going to make enough bread for a feast
Yeast always represents sin to the Jewish reader. It parallels the toxic seed in the first parable.
> Yeast begins small, but grows.
> Yeast is counterintuitive - What does yeast have to do with the Kingdom?
> A little yeast goes a long way - it is unstoppable.
> 60 lbs of yeast is going to make enough bread for a feast
Remez
What sets off our warning radar? 60 lbs of flour. That is enough flour to make bread to feed a family for six months. Why so much?
In Genesis 18, God visits Abraham and Sarah. There are three men traveling. In Abraham's signature move, he and Sarah show them radical hospitality. Abraham kills a fatted calf and Sarah uses 60 lbs of their finest flour to make bread. They cook a feast for three travelers.
Genesis 18:1-8ff
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milkand the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree." (There is more in the following verses)
The Jewish Rabbis taught that God always blesses our radical hospitality.
What sets off our warning radar? 60 lbs of flour. That is enough flour to make bread to feed a family for six months. Why so much?
In Genesis 18, God visits Abraham and Sarah. There are three men traveling. In Abraham's signature move, he and Sarah show them radical hospitality. Abraham kills a fatted calf and Sarah uses 60 lbs of their finest flour to make bread. They cook a feast for three travelers.
Genesis 18:1-8ff
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milkand the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree." (There is more in the following verses)
The Jewish Rabbis taught that God always blesses our radical hospitality.
Drash
Our small acts of radical hospitality will start something that will change the world!
Our small acts of radical hospitality will start something that will change the world!
Sod
What is God saying to you? What is He inviting you to do with Him?
Radical Hospitality will cost us financially. It will often create some uncomfortable situations for us. It will push us to engage in relationships with some unlikely people.
Will you join Him?
What is God saying to you? What is He inviting you to do with Him?
Radical Hospitality will cost us financially. It will often create some uncomfortable situations for us. It will push us to engage in relationships with some unlikely people.
Will you join Him?
Parable of The Leaven
LeAnn Dent shares three windows to look at the parable of Yeast. It was very helpful to Tracy in his study of this passage. <br> This link will take you to a page of messages listen to February 5, 2019.
https://www.ccftruman.org/sermons?offset=1558377265481