As we continue through the parables that Jesus spoke to the crowds, it says in Mark 4:33 (LEB) And with many parables such as these he was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear it. Jesus used a parable for farmers, sowing seed. He used a parable for the food workers, a little leaven. He used a parable for merchants, finding a pearl. He used a parable for fishermen, sorting out the catch. Each parable targeting an audience in the crowd. Each parable communicating a spiritual truth about the kingdom of God. Then to his disciples he said in Matthew 13:43 (LEB) “The one who has ears, let him hear!” because he had an expectation of them. And he went on to say to them in Matthew 13:51–52 (LEB) “Have you understood … every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom … brings out of his storeroom new things and old things.” He expected them to understand and to teach.
The Seed Sprouts and Grows—He Does Not Know How
Mark 4:26–29
These parables are to tell us what “The kingdom of God is like”. We don’t know what makes things grow, but they do grow. We do recognize when there is fruit. And it is the fruit that we want anyway. It doesn’t matter what storms blew while the plant was growing, only that it bears fruit.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and Yeast
Mark 4:30-34
Matthew 13:31-35
Luke 13:18-21
He Was Speaking the Word to Them
Mark 4:30–34
Jesus told them that ”the kingdom of God … is like a mustard seed”. Why would he choose this as the subject of his teaching? He explains himself in a few verse, but the starting point is the smallest, most insignificant seed. This tree begins as something you might discount or overlook but the end of it is something great. Isn’t that like God’s Word? Sometimes it is spoken softly. We might easily discount what we are hearing and miss the future, the hope, the blessing that you have for us.
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Yeast
Matthew 13:31–35
Matthews gospel adds “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast”. Yeast operates differently. Seeds grow one by one and produce after their own kind. Yeast infiltrates everything it touches and changes it. Where there is a little yeast, it will cause the whole lump of dough to rise. In other parables he had used salt, which also affects everything it touches. But yeast is different in this way from salt, yeast causes everything to increase.
Matthew 13:35 in order that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, who said, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden since the creation.”
The Whole Batch Was Leavened
Luke 13:18–21
Luke confirms what is recorded in Mark and Matthew. Leaven permeates all of the dough. Leaven increases the volume of the dough. Once leaven is introduced, it will cause the dough to rise, you can’t take it out.
The Parable of the Weeds
Matthew 13:24–30
Each of these parables has a particular characteristic that relates the world we live in to God’s kingdom. In this parable, the crop that is planted, the crop the farmer wants to grow, the crop that will produce a harvest for the farmer is sown and growing nicely. But there is another plant growing alongside. Who is there that has not had this problem in their garden? The weeds find their way into the best prepared ground. Here, though, we see the spiritual truth that in this world, good and evil grow side by side. And what does the wise farmer say? In Matthew 13:30 “Let both grow together till the harvest”.
Matthew 13:40-43 sounds a lot like Revelation where we read that Jesus takes the book of judgments and as he opens the seals, the angels go to work. Then Jesus takes the harvest out of the earth and the final sickle reaps what remains for the “winepress of the wrath of God”.
Three More Parables
Matthew 13:44–52
Matthew gives us three more parables, all beginning with “The kingdom of heaven is like”:
- In Matthew 13:44 “treasure hidden in a field”. and the man that found it sold everything to buy that field.
- In Matthew 13:45 “a merchant searching for fine pearls” and when he found one … sold everything and purchased it”.
In these first two parables, the person recognizes something of great value up front, they see the value first, and do whatever is needed to be able to buy it for themselves.
- In Matthew 13:47-48 “a dragnet that was thrown into the sea … collected the good … but the bad they threw out”.
In this last parable, it is the other way around. This is not for the farmers that plant seeds, but this is given for the fishermen that understand this kind of harvest. They throw the net and catch what they can and sort out the good from the bad. In each of these parables, the message is clear, there is great value to be had by investing yourself in the kingdom of God.
Jesus Calms the Storm
Mark 4:35-41
Matthew 8:23-27
Luke 8:22-25
Let Us Cross Over To The Other Side
Mark 4:35–41
He Fell Asleep
Luke 8:22–25
Lord Save Us We Are Perishing
Matthew 8:23–27
Study Verses
- Mark 4:30–34 He Was Speaking the Word to Them
- Matthew 13:31–35 The Kingdom of Heaven is Like Yeast
- Matthew 13:24–30 The Parable of the Weeds
Today’s Reading
- Mark 4:26-41
- Matthew 8:23-27
- Matthew 13:31-52
- Luke 8:22-25
- Luke 13:18-21
The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels
This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.
Operation Exodus
is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview