The answer is: Three

Matt 13:33

In Matthew 13:33, Jesus uses the parable of the leaven to teach a profound lesson. By stating that a woman took three measures of flour and hid the leaven in it, He beautifully illustrates how a small amount of leaven can dramatically transform a much larger quantity of flour, suggesting that the Kingdom of Heaven starts small but grows exponentially.

Interestingly, three measures of flour would have been quite a significant amount for a woman in Jesus' time. It's enough to make a large batch of bread—around 100 loaves or so! This detail emphasizes multiplicity and abundance, hinting at the vast impact the Kingdom can have when a small truth is nurtured.

Moreover, if we consider leaven in biblical times, it’s often symbolically linked to both good and bad. While Jesus uses this imagery positively to represent the Kingdom's growth, elsewhere, such as in Exodus, leaven is representative of sin and corruption. This duality reflects the complex relationship we can have with influence—how even minor shifts in our lives, whether good or bad, can lead to significant changes.

This parable also resonates with cultural echoes throughout history. Think about bakeries around the world today: a little leaven still goes a long way! The message here outside of baking might just be a reminder that each of our actions—no matter how small—can ripple outward in meaningful ways. That's the spirit of transformation that the Kingdom embodies.