Back to Jesus’ parables as recorded in Matthew 13. There are seven in all, six of which start: “The Kingdom of God is like…”
- Keep sowing seed because not everyone responds and bears fruit
- The Kingdom co-exists with its opposition
- Parable of the weeds
- Parable of the bad fish (if we’re going to call the parable of the wheat and tares the parable of the weeds, let’s call the parable of the fishing net the parable of the bad fish!)
- The Kingdom grows and benefits others (today’s topic)
- Parable of the mustard seed
- Parable of the leaven
- The Kingdom has great value (tomorrow’s topic)
- Parable of the Hidden Treasure
- Parable of the Pearl
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” (Matthew 13.31 – 33, ESV)
Again, we have two parables making the same point. A seed grows into a tree. A little yeast affects the whole batch of bread dough. Jesus has been clear from the beginning: he didn’t call us to go hide in a corner somewhere or just conduct church services but to make a difference. “The birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12.3, ESV, emphasis mine)