Jesus used a lot of parables to explain the characteristics of the kingdom of heaven.I did a blog post on why He used parables to talk about the kingdom.
In this blog post, I will be talking about the Meaning of the kingdom parables
Jesus used everyday things we see and use to explain the different aspects , nature and culture of the kingdom.
Understanding the lessons behind the kingdom parables greatly helped me to understand the whole kingdom life principle.
I talked about the first kingdom parables .The is the parable of the sower which you can read about here.
Understanding the parable of the sower will help you understand other parables.
Before I get into the parable of the yeast and mustard seed ,I want to talk about something I noticed in the book of Mark .
After explaining the meaning of the parable of the sower ,Mark 4 vs 13 states
“Do you not understand this Parable?Then how will you understand any of the other parables.”
The question then is,how is understanding the meaning of the parable of the sower related to understanding the rest of the other parables.?
The parable of the sower is the summary of all the other kingdom parables.
which revolves round the acceptance of the word of God and the production of fruits through the word.
THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED AND YEAST
Before I get into the parable of the mustard seed and yeast ,I took out time to look at the mustard seed size in the internet .
The mustard seed is one of the tiniest seed in terms of size that I have ever seen.
On the other hand, the size of the tree that comes out of this very tiny seed is simple unbelievable.
My amazement is,how can this so very tiny seed when planted,push through the hard earth ,and grow into a very huge tree?
Why is God comparing the kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed?
In luke 17 vs 21 Jesus answered the Pharisees’ question of when the kingdom of heaven will come.
He said the kingdom of heaven is not something that one can say ,here it is or look at it coming. Interestingly, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven was inside of us.
Paul said that Christ was in us reconciling the world to himself.
This means that we are a reflection of the kingdom of heaven.
If then Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,it therefore means that we are to have the nature or characteristics of a mustard seed.
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A MUSTARD SEED.
The mustard seed does not look at its size.
It is only concerned with bringing out what is inside of it. A mustard seed is persistent. It does not give up no matter the external resistance.
When we come to the Earth we are like seeds.
And God has put greatness inside each one of us.
Our duty as kingdom citizens is to do everything we can to bring out that greatness.
PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE AND PEARL
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44–46).
Jesus wants us to understand the real value of prioritizing this kingdom above all else.
In both parables, the protagonists recognize the treasure they have found and are willing to trade everything they own to possess it.
You have to find something, and that’s what Jesus is telling us about here: what it’s like to find.
Finding comes before life-giving. When we find a treasure like God’s Kingdom, the cost to follow becomes insignificant.
This means the parable isn’t so much about what we’re willing to give up to gain the kingdom. But rather that the kingdom is worth losing everything to gain it!
Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:7-8, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
This parable is not about losing. This parable is about gaining.
In these two parables, Jesus wants to encourage us that there isn’t anything that we can give up that is more valuable than His kingdom.
We just need to pray for the faith to receive this truth, and the discipline to live it out.
THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS
This parable is quite interesting.
God is saying that the kingdom of heaven is made up of the good and the bad.
Since there is nothing bad in heaven ,the field Jesus refers to here is the earth.
This parable makes us understand that the Earth is an extension of heaven.
And he refers to both the good and the bad as GOOD SEEDS AND BAD SEEDS.
The nature of the seed is dependent on who sowed them.
The are three lessons to learn from the parable of the weeds.
1.Good and bad will always exist together .
2The bad or bad situations will remain with the good for long to ensure or proof the goodness of the good
3.It is not in our place to judge anybody for their actions .
It is God’s job to judge .Since he judges intentions and that is an area we or the angels have no knowledge about.
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