And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus asks this question not just once, but repeats it, signaling the profound mystery and unexpected nature of his kingdom. It's easy to get hung up on how small or insignificant things might appear at first, but Jesus is pointing to a deeper reality: His reign is not about outward power or immediate, universal acceptance, but about an unstoppable, transformative force that begins subtly and grows to encompass all.
And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just spoken about the urgency of repentance, highlighting that suffering isn't always a sign of greater sin. Now, he turns to a series of parables to explain the nature of God's kingdom, starting with its seemingly insignificant beginnings and its eventual pervasive growth. These parables, like the mustard seed and the leaven, illustrate how something small can grow into something immense and transformational, encouraging his listeners not to be discouraged by its humble start.
Ever wonder why Jesus didn't just spell things out clearly? The answer is more profound than you might think.
Jesus often used parables for multiple reasons:
The repetition of the question, 'To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?', signals that Jesus is introducing significant, yet challenging, comparisons designed to provoke thought and deepen understanding for those who truly listened.
The Kingdom of God starts small, almost unnoticeably. So why should we expect it to grow?
The parables of the mustard seed and leaven powerfully illustrate the nature of God's kingdom:
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These comparisons remind us that the kingdom's true nature isn't measured by its initial appearance or worldly status, but by its divine origin and destined expansion.
Understand the original words
zymē · Greek Noun
In biblical symbolism, leaven typically represents an influential force that permeates the whole, used here to describe the pervasive, transformative power of the Kingdom of God.
saton · Greek Noun
Refers to a specific quantity of grain or meal, often associated in the Old Testament with ritual offerings and preparation for guests.
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for the final, climactic events of his earthly ministry. The parables of the mustard seed and leaven, spoken during this journey, serve to encourage his disciples, preparing them for the kingdom's seemingly humble beginnings and its eventual, powerful expansion.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus is teaching and healing throughout Galilee, gathering followers and attracting crowds, but also facing increasing opposition from religious authorities.
Early 1st century AD
Journey Towards Jerusalem
Jesus begins a significant journey towards Jerusalem, a journey that will culminate in his passion, death, and resurrection.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Teaching in Cities and Villages
During his journey, Jesus actively teaches in towns and villages, using parables to explain the nature of God's kingdom.
This passage presents the same parables of the mustard seed and leaven, directly illustrating Jesus' method of describing the kingdom of God through relatable, everyday imagery.
Mark 4:26-32This account includes the parable of the growing seed and the mustard seed, emphasizing the unseen but certain growth of God's kingdom, much like the parables in Luke.
1 Corinthians 1:28This verse speaks to God choosing what is lowly and despised to bring to nothing the things that are, mirroring the theme of humble beginnings leading to immense growth in the parables about the kingdom.
Daniel 2:44This Old Testament prophecy foretells a kingdom that will be set up by God and will never be destroyed, offering a grander, future perspective on the kingdom Jesus is describing in its current, unfolding stages.
calvinLuke 13:18-22: "Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?"
- He delivered another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field: 32. Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown up, it is the largest among herbs, [220] and becometh a tree, so that the fowls of heaven come and make their nests among its branches. 33. He spake another parable to them: The kingdom of…
jfbLuke 13:18-30: "Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?"
Lu 13:18-30. Miscellaneous Teachings.18-21. mustard seed … leaven—(See on [1657]Mr 4:30-32). The parable of "the Leaven" sets 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 leav…
Jesus asks this question not just once, but repeats it, signaling the profound mystery and unexpected nature of his kingdom. It's easy to get hung up on how small or insignificant things might appear at first, but Jesus is pointing to a deeper reality: His reign is not about outward power or immediate, universal acceptance, but about an unstoppable, transformative force that begins subtly and grows to encompass all.
Jesus has just spoken about the urgency of repentance, highlighting that suffering isn't always a sign of greater sin. Now, he turns to a series of parables to explain the nature of God's kingdom, starting with its seemingly insignificant beginnings and its eventual pervasive growth. These parables, like the mustard seed and the leaven, illustrate how something small can grow into something immense and transformational, encouraging his listeners not to be discouraged by its humble start.
Jesus has just spoken about the urgency of repentance, highlighting that suffering isn't always a sign of greater sin. Now, he turns to a series of parables to explain the nature of God's kingdom, starting with its seemingly insignificant beginnings and its eventual pervasive growth. These parables, like the mustard seed and the leaven, illustrate how something small can grow into something immense and transformational, encouraging his listeners not to be discouraged by its humble start.
"And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”" — Jesus asks this question not just once, but repeats it, signaling the profound mystery and unexpected nature of his kingdom. It's easy to get hung up on how small or insignificant things might appear…
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Last reviewed October 2026