Matthew 13:31-33

Matthew 13:31-33

He set before them another parable while saying, “The kingdom of heaven is similar to a seed of mustard, which after a man receives he sows into his field.  On one hand it is the smallest of all the seeds.  But on another hand, whenever it should be increased it is the largest of all the garden plants and it becomes a tree so that the birds of heaven come and nest in its branches.”  He spoke another parable to them.  “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which after a woman receives she hid into three measures of flour until the whole flour was being leavened.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

 I find the Greek construction of v. 31 and v. 33 very interesting.  Why does Jesus need to include the fact that a man receives the seed and the woman receives the leaven?  Isn’t the important part of planting when a person puts the seed into the ground and then tending it as it grows?  Isn’t the important part of baking when we put the yeast into the flour?  Jesus tells us that the people receive.  In order to plant a seed, we as human beings must receive the fruit of another plant.  We cannot create a seed.  We cannot make a seed out of nothing.  We take that which comes from another plant and plant it.  The same is true of yeast, too.  We must receive the seed or yeast before having it grow in our own garden or bread.  The same is true with the kingdom of heaven.  We cannot create it ourselves.  We cannot even find our own way in.  We must receive it first and then plant it in our life to tend it.

Why is this a humbling section?  Why is it important to remember that we receive the seed of the kingdom of heaven and do not find our own way in?

Second Thought:

Jesus’ point about the size of the mustard seed is a fairly obvious one.  At first, the kingdom of heaven seems like such a small thing.  After all, what does it really cost us to turn to Jesus and confess that we need Him?  However, soon we find that a life lived with Christ consumes our whole life.  Slowly and surely Christ becomes the center and the focus.  Soon we find ourselves making decisions based on what Christ would have us do.  This single, simple, and small decision becomes a major influence in our life.

Has following Jesus ever seemed like a small thing in your life?  Have you had the opportunity to see that simple decision grow in your life and become the central figure of it?

Third Thought:

The same thing can be said of the yeast.  When we add yeast to flour, it seems like such a small thing when compared to all the flour.  However, before long we can see that the flour is changed by the small amount of yeast.  Soon the whole batch of flour puffs up and shows evidence of that small little addition to the flour.  The same thing is true with God.  When we follow Christ, it seems like such a small decision made among a life full of decisions.  But soon we find that every decision we make is influenced by our discipleship under Christ.

When you first followed Christ, how much of your life was affected by God’s ways?  As you have grown closer to Christ, are there any parts of your life that are still separate from Christ?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 13:34-35