Kingdom Growth & Influence | Matthew 13:31-35

Scripture

• Matthew 13:31–35

About this sermon

Introduction: When Jesus made use of parables, and other forms of illustrative teaching, He was taking from one world of reality to illuminate another world of reality. From the material to the spiritual. From the temporal to the eternal. From the seen to the unseen. Jesus took from the world of what was well known to people and used those things to explain what was not well known to people — and in some cases — unknown to people. Once His disciples understood what He was doing, then the meaning of parables became discernable. The crowds did not receive the explanations. All the parables would have represented a communication that reflected judgment for them. But the disciples DID receive explanations. And those explanations unlocked the method that Jesus was using. There is no record that Jesus explained the two parables that we examine tonight (perhaps He did). But once we have a context for these two parables, the meaning becomes plain. We will look at these two parables together (the mustard seed and the leaven), because the point they make is really the same. They answer the question, “How will the kingdom of God fair in this world?” What will happen with the message of the kingdom until the King returns? In the previous parables: We have seen that the word of the kingdom will not always be believed (parable of the soils). We have seen that it will exist in a way that requires it to operate in a world filled with sons of the evil one — until Jesus divides the two spiritual families through judgment. Now we see something additional. We see how that kingdom will grow until that time when Messiah returns. We see how that kingdom will influence until that time when Messiah returns. We see the ultimate triumph of that kingdom. The kingdom in its present state, its spiritual state, will grow until the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our God — when Jesus ushers in an earthly kingdom. ESV Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." We have two main points tonight. (1) The parables examined (2) The parables applied • THE PARABLES EXAMINED Matthew records two parables that make the same basic point but by means of different comparisons. • THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED The parable of the mustard seed has a man taking a mustard seed and sowing it in his field. What happens is that the mustard seed grows into a very large plant that provides a place for the birds to nest in its branches. At this point Jesus says two things that biblical critics have seized upon. Neither of the points that bother them should bother you. Jesus says that the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. The critics say that clearly there are other seeds smaller than the mustard seed. Of course, they ignore that what Jesus is referring to — IN CONTEXT — are those seeds in Palestine that are sown for the purpose of consumption — for food. He is not saying “the smallest of all the seeds in the whole world.” Rather, He is saying, “the smallest of the seeds sown in the fields for food.” In fact, Jesus makes plain what He means when He says, “when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants.” HIS COMPARISON IS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GARDEN PLANTS. And, indeed, in the time of Christ it was the smallest of the seeds for those plants that would have been consumed. He also says that it becomes a tree. Critics argue that it is not a tree, and that it was not sturdy enough to have the birds nest in its branches. But, again, if we hear our Lord in context, He is saying that in comparison with all the other plants in the field, it is BY COMPARISON a tree. It is very large compared to the other plants. Leon Morris — “δένδρον occurs in Matthew in 12 of its 25 occurrences; it is quite a Matthean word; it signifies a tree over against smaller growths.” Morris — “The point of the parable is that this very little seed grows into a sizeable plant, one larger than all the plants of the garden, and indeed in its mature state becomes a tree79 (it can grow to a height of 8 to 12 feet).” Other commentators note that during certain seasons its branches become quite rigid and would support the birds nesting. But I would also add that there is no dishonesty, nor is anyone mislead, when we tell stories in the common language that people use. We all understand when in describing something we sometimes make a point by use of intentional exaggeration (hyperbole). “I just saw the tiniest little frog.”

Topics

• Leadership