Parables About God’s Kingdom
Pray
Begin with prayer, opening your heart to God’s Word and Spirit.
Read Matthew 13:31-35
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.”
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.”
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
Reflect
So far, our journey has highlighted Jesus’ ministry in action: healing diseases, driving out demons and showing power over nature—each event adding to the proof of who he was. This week, as Jesus continues his journey toward Jerusalem, we will experience samples from Jesus’ teaching ministry illustrated in parables. The stories would help people hungry for God understand deep and important things. Jesus told the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, both being small and seemingly insignificant. Both grew slowly and eventually, one would become a commanding protective presence and the other a powerful change agent. We end our week with Jesus telling his disciples about his upcoming arrest, trial, death, and resurrection as they headed steadfastly for Jerusalem.
Closing prayer
Father, we thank you for the promise revealed in these short parables. May our eyes be open to see the signs of your Kingdom in our world today. Amen.