The Parable of the Yeast, Matthew 13:33
Don’t Despise Small Beginnings – Lessons from the Yeast
Many believers become discouraged when they do not see immediate results in their spiritual lives, prayers, or ministry work. We live in a world that expects instant success and visible progress, but God’s Kingdom doesn’t always work that way. Like yeast hidden in dough, God often works quietly and invisibly in our hearts and circumstances. People need to understand that small beginnings, unseen efforts, and slow progress still matter in God’s plan.
We need faith to trust that God is at work even when we can’t see it. There is also a need for believers to stay faithful in sharing the Word of God, showing love, and giving testimonies—even when it seems like no one is listening or changing. The world needs Christians who believe that every seed planted and every act of love will eventually bear fruit through the power of God’s Spirit.
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.’” — Matthew 13:33
The Meaning of the Parable
Yeast is used to make dough rise when baking bread or cake. When you put a little yeast in the dough, it makes it rise, and you are able to bake a lot of bread or cake.
In the same way, Jesus said the Kingdom of God works like yeast. Let’s take the example of Jesus Himself. When He started His ministry, He began with only twelve disciples. He had no money, only the Word of God. He planted the Word of God in people’s hearts, and today the Gospel has reached billions of people. It started with Him and twelve disciples. The same applies to you and me. We should never despise a humble beginning. Our testimony, dedication to evangelism, sharing God’s Word with one person, and showing love to others—these small actions can transform a person’s life.
How the Kingdom of God Works
The Kingdom of God works just like yeast. When you mix yeast with dough, you do not see how it rises—you only notice the dough has risen after some time.
That is what Jesus was teaching about the Kingdom of God. We cannot see how it grows, but eventually, we will see how much it has grown. We may share the Word of God with someone and plant the seed of truth in their heart. We might not notice how the Word grows, but God is working. As Paul says, we plant, but God makes the seed grow. God is the one working out our salvation and expanding His Kingdom. His power cannot be seen with our eyes, but we can see its effects in people’s lives—addicts delivered from drugs, prostitutes saved from immorality, and broken hearts healed. That’s how powerful the Word of God is—it sets captives free.
Transformation Takes Time
Notice that yeast takes time to make the dough rise. In the same way, God’s Word takes time to transform us. This process is called sanctification—being separated from our old sinful nature and made new in Christ. I want to share my personal testimony. God has saved and transformed me from many things, especially sexual immorality. It took many years for me to be set free—almost 13 years of struggling with the same sin again and again. I fell many times, but God never gave up on me. I kept crying out to Him every day for deliverance.
I started avoided situations that led me to sin, committed myself to serving God in my local church, stayed busy with ministry and work, and spent time reading the Word and praying daily. Eventually, God delivered me, and today I can confidently say I am free. That’s how God works—He takes time to shape and deliver us, just like yeast takes time to make dough rise.
Your Testimony Can Change Lives
Your life and testimony can change someone today. The way you live can influence your neighbor. Your story can bring hope and transformation to many people. So don’t be afraid or grow tired of sharing your testimony and the Word of God. It might seem like you are not doing enough, or the enemy may whisper that you have no results. But don’t give up—God is working behind the scenes. He is causing the seeds you have planted in people’s hearts to grow. I prayed for my younger brother to change, and for a long time it seemed like my prayers were not working.
But eventually, he joined the church and now attends faithfully every Sunday. The same applies to you—keep trusting and surrendering to God. He is the one who makes the seed, or the yeast, work. God is the one who changes people’s hearts. It’s not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit. Our responsibility is to preach, love, and testify—and God will make His Word bear fruit in people’s hearts.
Conclusion
The Kingdom of God may begin in small and unseen ways, but its impact is powerful and everlasting.
Like yeast hidden in the dough, God’s Word works quietly yet transforms lives completely. Keep sharing, keep praying, and keep believing. The little things you do for God are never wasted—He is working in ways you may not yet see.
