Jesus Spoke Their Language—Do We?

Matthew 13:33-35 - Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.” (NLT)

Parallel passage: Luke 13:20-21

Devotional Series: The Stories Jesus Told

I studied theology at university. In my final year, I wrote an essay about Jesus and women. More than 2,000 years after he walked the face of the earth, it’s difficult to fully grasp how differently Jesus engaged with women compared to his contemporaries. I remember learning about a rabbi who, at the time, taught that it was dishonourable for women even to hear the reading of the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). But in today’s passage, we see Jesus using a woman as the subject of his parable.

The parable of the yeast follows the parable of the mustard seed. Both stories make similar points: the kingdom of heaven may seem small and insignificant, but over time its impact is enormous. So why did Jesus make the same point twice? Perhaps he wanted to use examples that would connect with both men and women. At the time, men were more likely to be farming in the field, and women baking in the kitchen. This isn’t the only time he uses paired parables—think of the lost coin and the lost sheep.

What does this tell us about Jesus and his teaching style? Jesus was inclusive. His message was accessible, relatable, and relevant. As someone who has formally studied theology, I know there is always a temptation to overcomplicate the gospel or any teaching from the Bible. I have to remind myself that sharing the Word is about speaking truth with clarity. It isn’t about showing off how educated I am or how “anointed” my quiet times may or may not be.

Sometimes our hidden motives—self-promotion, insecurity, or prejudice—get in the way of sharing God’s Word in a way that is simple, pure, inclusive, and easy for listeners to connect with. In my opinion, it isn’t enough to just share the gospel for the sake of sharing. We need to ask ourselves: Am I sharing in such a way that it can be truly heard by the people I am ministering to? Of course, the Holy Spirit can work through anything, but in today’s passage we see that Jesus was intentional and mindful of his audience’s context and receptivity.

Questions for reflection: Am I intentional in how I share the gospel? Do I consider who my audience is and what they need to hear? Am I presenting the gospel in a way that is simple, inclusive, and true to Scripture? Am I relying on the Holy Spirit to clear away my insecurities and distractions?