Happy Sunday and Welcome back to afaithtalk.com. I’m glad you’ve come to join me on this walk through some parables Jesus told. This is another selection from today’s lectionary readings. I’m doing these in lieu of gathering with my local congregation. We’re on no services until further notice because of Covid-19. I hope wherever you are, you are well and using this time to grow your faith. That’s why I’m here.
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, these Parables come direct from your mouth. They must have been pretty understood because there is no explanation in here like there was last week for what they mean. So I’m asking, help me understand. Help me write what I need to write to say what You want us to understand. In Your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.
Matthew 13:31-33 and 44-52
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
I had a mustard seed in a little glass ball when I was a child. I don’t know what happened to it, but this part I do understand. That seed was very very small.
The kingdom of heaven, the one you and I belong to, it is like the largest of garden plants, a tree, and birds are welcome to perch in its branches. Hmm.
Matthew 13:33
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
The kingdom of heaven is like sixty pounds of flower all worked through with yeast. What’s something you know about yeast? It rises. It causes dough to rise. The kingdom of heaven grows. That’s two stories about how it grows.
The kingdom, it grows every time somebody decides to ask Jesus to come live in their heart. The kingdom grows despite the evil that surrounds us and one day will be the only kingdom. Praise Him for making us into full members of His family. (Ephesians 1:4-5)
Matthew 13:44
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden 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.
Do you know why the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure? Scripture says so in more than these parables. Back in Genesis 15, God is showing Abram a vision and He says, “Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward.
Footnotes on Shield say ‘or sovereign’ and on very great reward, “your reward will be very great’. He is everything we need. Everything we don’t deserve, but Faith is the only way to get Him. Faith.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Philippians 3:8
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.
There are more rewards for faith than we can even imagine.
Matthew 13:45-46
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Treasure. The kingdom of heaven is a treasure, because God is in it. Because where God is, in God’s presence, is fullness of Joy.(Psalm 16:11) And we have every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3) we’ve been given already manifest in the Kingdom. The kingdom is freedom and light and wonder and beauty and I for one can hardly wait to realize what I can’t even imagine at this point. It’s a very valuable treasure because God is.
When you believed, you were marked in Him, with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and when God looks at You He sees You as He sees Jesus. Through Jesus we are righteous and whole and immensely blessed.
We get as much of Him as we have faith to receive while we live out our lives in this fallen world. One day He’s coming. And when He does, all will be made new. There is refuge in His wings (Psalm 91:4) and His reward is with Him. (Isaiah 40:10) His name is a fortified tower. (Proverbs 18:10)
Revelation 22:12-13
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
The kingdom we’ve all been waiting for is coming. We already belong to it as we live our lives in faith. One day it will all be revealed. We are so loved.
Have faith. Hold onto your faith. Grow your faith.
Let’s pray:
Thank You, Jesus, for these words, all of Scripture is about You. There is so much to look forward to. So much to expectantly await. I can hardly wait for your return. Help us all grow our faith and trust You in everything. All for You. Amen.