Bible Text
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in is branches.”
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure 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.
The Parable of the Net
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This was how it will be at the end of the age. The angles will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes” they replied.
The Parable of the Householder
“He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
A Kingdom by the Lake
Jesus sat by the lake, and large crowds gathered around him. That’s how chapter 13 begins with this section on parables. Like Jesus, does that happen to you? When sitting on your own somewhere do crowds gather around you? Does it happen to our congregation that crowds what to be near us, with us? It is obvious that we aren’t special enough, or maybe we are lacking something. Don’t feel alone, we are very much part of the crowds that stood by the lake and listened to Jesus from the boat.
We need to know more about who Jesus is, about the crowd and our part with the crowd. First of all, let us briefly look upon the life of Jesus that led up to this special event on the shore of the lake. In the previous chapters we find Jesus busymoving amongst the poor and rich touching their lives. He met them at work, at a wedding, in their homes, at church, in their travels, and even on the beach. He healed them of their sickness both physical and spiritual, he fed them, visited, comforted, and in everyway gave them renewed life. To these people it was as if they had found a great treasure, a treasure that changed their lives forever and what joy they would have found in Jesus. No wonder Jesus had a crowd around him wherever he went.
Jesus’ motivation, courage, and even success in giving life to others comes from his Father in heaven. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because what ever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5: 19) This is great news. We have heard that Jesus is one with God and God has revealed his intentions towards us through Jesus. That is: he loves us and desires only to give us life, to preserve our life, to restore our life, to give us abundant life, and to give us eternal life with him in his kingdom.
Secondly, who were these people who came to see Jesus by the lake? These people were living at a time when Rome, the dominate world power had occupied their homeland. Rome was an empire, a kingdom on earth with military bases, political, and economical power to ensure that all people adhered to the way of Rome and its leaders. In return, they promised peace and a share in the prosperity that their rule and domination offered.
For awhile people believed in the hope they offered. But it was short lived. It soon became evident that the rich became richer, and the poor became poorer. There still remained people unemployed, homeless, hungry, sick, and many without hope for a better life. Many people no longer trusted the kingdom of Rome. There were some who protested, and others even rebelled with force in an attempt to break this burden upon them. But all resistance was futile, and it was soon crushed by the kingdom of Rome and her allies.
The Church of the day, that is, the Temple in Jerusalem was also of little help to comfort the suffering people. In many ways they were a kingdom in their own rights. The priests and scribes behaved like kings and princes, people of privilege and honor set themselves apart from others. The kingdom of the Temple like the kingdom of Rome also failed to provide peace, comfort, and hope to all people. Even Jesus, king of kings was rejected by them.
Thirdly, what do we have in common with that crowd by the lake? In many ways we share a similar experience of living under various kingdoms on earth. We don’t live under a Roman empire, but we are today certainly under the influence of the dominate world power of American. Many people are struggling to hold on to their dreams for world peace and freedom. And others have fading dreams for economic security, full employment, and freedom from hunger and disease in the world.
Mighty kingdoms within America like Enron, WorldCom, Xerox, Merck, Qwest and others are failing people everywhere. We have our own corporate failures right here in Australia too. Executive managers of these failed kingdoms are shamelessly walking away with millions of dollars for themselves while leaving others to work out how they will survive the next day without an income.
It appears that things haven’t changed much since the Roman kingdom on earth. We have all put our trust and our hope into these kingdoms on earth to provide for us now and for our future. It was only the other day that I received my Superannuation statement from a kingdom on earth showing me my financial loses. I wasn’t happy about it and felt helpless to do anything about it.
All around us people are finding it difficult to trust political and economic institutions, corporations, or kingdoms of any kind to provide for their welfare. That also applies to the Christian church as we know it. Many churches feel like, look like, and sound like other political and economic institutions. They also have failed to provide for the welfare of all people. This provides a dilemma for Christians that want to invite others into their church. How does one invite a person who now distrusts institutions and corporations into another kingdom? Jesus does just that on the shore of the lake.
People everywhere especially in our western culture are looking for a new way and a new hope. I would imagine they would even embrace a new kingdom in which their faith and trust would remain secure.
On the shore of the lake we hear an answer from Jesus. The people that came to Jesus by the lake, in one sense have already left the kingdom on earth, because they were there with him. Through Jesus speaking the parables to them, he was inviting and drawing people into his kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is doing more than that, through his speaking of the parables Jesus is including all of them, yes, all of them into the kingdom of heaven.
When Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven, he was speaking of a kingdom greater than any on earth. He was speaking about a supernatural kingdom, a kingdom in which God ruled. This kingdom of heaven is not removed from us, but within our grasped, where it can affect our daily life, now and forever. What is the kingdom of heaven like?
Listen to the words of Jesus and compare for yourself. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.” “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure in a field.” “Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.” “The kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Take time to read the complete text of the parables again, and again, and again, wrestle with the text and Jesus will touch your life in unexpected ways. When Jesus speaks, it is the word of God, words that will transform your life.
I imagine standing with the people on the shore of the lake listening to the parables of Jesus’ kingdom and experiencing the transformation within and of the people all around me. No one person is the same. Through those words some people would have received encouragement, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, renewal of body and soul, and some would have seen new horizons for their life. And again, others would have felt sorrow, pain, and fear as they remembered the evil they had done to others, especially to the ones close to them. Even for them they were experiencing change. For it is also the process of renewing and bringing salvation into our life. The words of Jesus have power to bring transformation and salvation to all of us. No one is excluded. Jesus desires all of us in his kingdom.
What kind of ruler is God anyway? I know that many executive managers of kingdoms work on the upper most level in their tower with distant views. They are surrounded by opulence and protected from lesser minions by various minders who also have a fearful typing speed. I also know that Jesus is not like that. He is one with God, and refers to him as our Father in heaven. All who are in his kingdom are children of that kingdom. That simply means we are part of the boss’s family. In that family, all relationships are close and special to the Father in heaven. For that reason Jesus left his high place in heaven to be with us all to make us once more whole again and to restore our relationship with our Father in heaven.
Tomorrow morning many of us will be back at work, and all of us will be influenced in some way by someone’s kingdom on earth. Some may say “It’s back to the usual tomorrow, or back to the grindstone.” It need not be like that. Through Jesus in the kingdom of heaven attitudes and life can change. We all have different needs and only Jesus knows them intimately and can provide just for you. Speak with Jesus, seek his help, and let him transform your life.
We are blessed to be in the kingdom of heaven, to know Jesus and our Father in heaven. Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister…….” (Matthew 12: 50). Don’t forget, we are brothers and sisters with Jesus in one family. As Jesus has a role to play in the family so do we as brothers and sisters of the same family. Therefore, like Jesus we also give out the kingdom of heaven to others. Let us share the good news of Jesus and his kingdom as we go and help others meet their daily needs. That’s the way to help people leave the kingdom on earth and enter the kingdom of heaven where there is rejoicing.
Finally, what is the kingdom of heaven like? Simply, look at the life of Jesus and see the love he has for us, for you. The love and care he gave to people over two thousand years ago, he has been doing ever since and continues to do. In that love we can securely put our faith and trust in his kingdom.Amen.
