Among the Jews leaven was sometimes used as an emblem of sin. At the time of the Passover the people 96 were directed to remove all the leaven from their houses as they were to put away sin from their hearts. Christ warned His disciples, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Luke 12:1. And the apostle Paul speaks of the "leaven of malice and wickedness." I Cor. 5:8. But in the Saviour's parable, leaven is used to represent the kingdom of heaven. It illustrates the quickening, assimilating power of the grace of God.

Bland jøderne blev surdej til tider brugt som et symbol på synd. De fik besked på at fjerne al surdej fra deres huse i påskeugen, ligesom de skulle fjerne synden fra deres hjerter Kristus advarede sine disciple: Tag jer i vare for farisæernes surdej hykleriet!" Og apostlen Paulus taler om "sletheds og ondskabs surdej" Men i Frelserens lignelse bruges surdejen som et billede på Himmeriget. Den illustrerer Guds nådes levendegørende og forvandlende kraft.