Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Matthew 13:31-33

Kingdom of Heaven is Like....

Part 2

(A Mustard Seed and Leaven)


With an understanding of these two parables ("The Mustard Seed" and "The Leaven"), we can take heart in knowing that the work of Christ, in regard to His Kingdom, will not be for naught.

  1. Parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32)

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

  1. Smallest seed

    1. Jesus not comparing to all other seeds

    2. Small seed of the herb garden

  2. Khardal mustard

    1. Mustard seed typically grows into bush

    2. This variety grows 12-15 feet high

  3. Interpretation

    1. Gospel is kike the mustard seed. It was small, and grew 

      1. First Just Jesus

      2. Then the twelve disciple

      3. Then about 120 in the upper room where they replaced Judas with Matthias (Acts 1:15-26)

      4. Then on Pentecost about 3000 became believers, (Matthew 2:41) 

      5. Gospel spread throughout the Roman Empire

      6. After reformation the Gospel spread around World, even to India and Bangladesh

    2. Gospel like a Mustard Tree, with humanity being lodge in its branches like birds

  4. Sometimes Jesus doesn't offer an explanation for a parable

    1. You must find what Jesus already explained

    2. Make an accurate interpretation

  5. Birds equal the wicked

    1. Remember the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:4? Birds represented Satan

And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.

  1. In Revelation 18:2, birds represents foul spirits and unclean thing

And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

  1. Tree equals the world powers (see Daniel 4; Ezekiel 17)

  2. Church becomes a worldwide power

    1. Wonderful things happen

    2. Large enough to even possess lots of belief systems and false leaders

  3. The big mustard tree is a symbol of the growth of the church

  1. Parable of leaven (Matthew 13:33)

 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." 

  1. Speaks of inward growth

  2. Leaven is yeast

    1. In Jewish homes, piece of fermented dough saved for future use

    2. Eventually added to new dough to permeate

In every kitchen every Jewish kitchen, the women would keep -- well, this is when they would make their bread, their leavened bread the bread with yeast, they would take from the dough once it rises before it's put in the over a little piece of the leavened or fermented dough and they would place it aside and keep it in their kitchens so that next time they would make dough, they would then hide that little piece of fermented dough in the middle of the batch of dough and that yeast would eventually permeate to the whole thing and then they would take a little bit more dough put it aside and that cycle would continue.  That's leaven.  Something is going to permeate and go through the whole thing.  It's speaking of growth.

  1. Popular, typical interpretation

    1. Leaven (yeast) is the growth of the gospel

    2. Slowly permeates society

    3. Dominion theology

    4. True: Church started slowly and will one day culminate in a millennial reign

  2. Leaven can also be a symbol of evil

    1. It was purged from Jewish homes at Passover

    2. On Passover, sacrifices offered without leaven

    3. In the case of evil, Jews were to remove leaven. example of purifying oneself of all evil

    4. Jesus warned the Disciples to beware of those who come with evil intents

Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." 

Matthew 16:6

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 16:11

  1. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus added Herod ias another one who is evil and corrupt,

Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 

Mark 8:15

  1. We must beware, that a little evil can corrupt much good

    1. Immorality

Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 

1 Corinthians 5:6

  1. It can corrupt good doctrine when one gets legalistic, Paul warned us of this

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Galatians 5:6-9

  1. Sometimes a church can grow without having true spiritual growth, growth must be positive. The church of Sardis was big, but Jesus warned the church it was dead.

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 3:1

  1. Finally, leaven can create false Christian religions, not all Christian Churches are of Christ, 

    1. A difference between genuine Christianity and Christendom

      1. True Christian churches are the bread and Christ, who is the Bread of Life

        1. Follows the true teachings of Jesus, and the Scriptures

      2. Under Christendom, many are the leaven that infects the bread

        1. They follow false doctrine or charismatic leaders, they are the leaven

          1. Mormonism

          2. Unitarianism

          3. Catholicism

          4. Jehovah Witnesses

          5. Unification Church

          6. Oneness Pentecostalism

    2. World doesn't know the difference between true Christian religions and a false ones

    3. Yet all fall under the umbrella of Christendom and you and I would I say "Well, that's not a real believer, but the world sees no difference

  1. CONCLUSION

    1. With an understanding of these two parables ("The Mustard Seed" and "The Leaven"), we can take heart in knowing that the work of Christ in regards to His Kingdom will not be for naught

    2. As we close this lesson, let me ask "What kind of leaven are you?"

      1. Are you part of the positive good leaven that follows Christ and learns the truth so the church can grow?

      2. Or are you part of the negative leaven that will bring harm to the growth of the church?

    3. Will you allow the grace of God to make you to be the kind of "leaven" that can be used to His glory...?

    4. You need to understand that when you plant a seed, it can grow great regardless of how much you share. Do not worry that you may not know everything, just know that sharing Christ Jesus is the seed you plant.

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