18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Section Overview
The hour of crisis has come, the time to make a decision, for judgment is coming. People must recognize—Israel especially must realize—that the kingdom has come in Jesus. Still, many fail to see that the kingdom is present in Jesus’ ministry, and he tells two parables that provide part of the explanation for that failure. He likens the kingdom to a mustard seed and to leaven in flour. The kingdom has come in the person of Jesus like a mustard seed. The Jews expect it to arrive with apocalyptic power and glory, but instead it has come as a small mustard seed, and thus the presence of the kingdom is easily missed. Similarly, the kingdom is like leaven in flour, so that again its presence is missed. Eventually, however, the kingdom will come with apocalyptic power. The mustard seed will grow into a tree; the whole batch of flour will be leavened. The day of its universal reign and power is the eschaton.
Section Outline
IV. Galilee to Jerusalem: Discipleship (9:51–19:27)
A. The Journey Begins (9:51–13:21) . . .
5. Crisis Hour (12:35–13:21) . . .
f. Parables of Mustard Seed and Leaven (13:18–21)
Response
The kingdom has come and is working in and through the church, but the church is still imperfect. The kingdom is still small and hidden from the world since it has not yet come with apocalyptic power. Most people in the world are unbelievers, but this fact should not cause us to doubt the truth of the Christian faith. Of course, the church has spread throughout the world and made great advances as well, and this fact should be celebrated. At the same time, many disbelieve and continue to reject the good news.
By the power of the Spirit the church has done glorious things, and by giving into the desires of the flesh the church has done horrible things. The same is true of Christians. We have been transformed by the Holy Spirit. The power of the kingdom has invaded our hearts, and hence we are changed—but not yet perfected. We still sin, and sometimes as Christians we even do things that are horribly wrong. But no excuses for such wrongdoing are thereby granted. The weakness of the church and of our own lives does not prove that the Christian faith is wrong, for the kingdom has arrived like a mustard seed, like a small bit of yeast put into flour.
The kingdom is already here, but it is not yet what it will be. The day is coming in which the kingdom will come in its fullness, when everyone will bow the knee and confess that Jesus is Lord—some gladly, some grudgingly (Phil. 2:10–11). The kingdom has invaded our lives, but it has not yet won complete victory.