The answer is: Three

Matt 13:33

In Matthew 13:33, we discover the clever parable of the leaven. Jesus uses this homey detail—leaven, or yeast breathes life into flour—symbolizing how a small influence can lead to tremendous transformation. It’s intriguing that he specifically mentions three measures of flour. This wasn’t just any ordinary quantity; three measures equal about 50 pounds. That’s enough dough to sustain a large family or even supply a sizable feast!

Now, throughout biblical texts, the number three often represents completeness and harmony. Think of the Holy Trinity in Christian thought or how Jonah was in the whale for three days. In this parable, three measures of flour can invite us to reflect on practical life and the abundance that a little bit of leaven—truth, love, kindness—can impart.

Leaven itself also paints a complex picture in scripture. It can symbolize sin when referring to the feasts where unleavened bread is made, yet here it reflects growth and expansion. Much like how one good deed can ripple into larger impacts in the world, this parable reminds us that every little effort counts.

So, the next time bread is rising in your kitchen, a simple act can evoke such profound lessons about reaching far beyond ourselves. You might even find new ways to elevate not just the flour but the very lives around you!