leaven. sour dough. Always used in. bad sense, as meal is in. good sense: therefore the common interpretation as to the Gospel's improving the world is the exact contrary of the leaven corrupting the whole of the meal. The same is true of the symbol of the "woman", see below. The Lord mentions three kinds of leaven, all of which were evil in their working: the leaven (1) of the Pharisees. hypocrisy or formalism (Luke 12:1); (2) of the Pharisees and Sadducees. evil doctrine or teaching (Matthew 16:11; Matthew 16:12); (3) of Herod. political religion, or worldliness (Mark 8:15). Compare also Gen 19:3. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. 1Co 23:14, 1Co 23:16, 1Co 23:23-28.
a woman.. common symbol of evil in the moral or religious spheres. See Zechariah 5:7; Zechariah 5:8; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 17:1-6.
hid. Compare Matthew 13:44, and see the Structure. App-145.
leavened. corrupted.