Understanding the Kingdom: The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Understanding the Kingdom: The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
(Mat 13:31)

Throughout human history we would be hard pressed to find a people more outwardly concerned with faithfulness than the Jews. Yet it is to them the Lord Jesus spoke the following…

…"If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible for you. (Mat 17:20)

Why would Jesus say such a thing to the faithful Jews? Because the faith He was speaking about was not a natural but a spiritual faith. Natural faith is little more than a strong confidence in a person (God) or and outcome (prophecy). This kind of faith can be conditioned into a person through repetitive practice of religious tradition. Jesus knew this was the “faith” of the Jews and that it had no real power, for if it did surely someone would have accepted Christ’s challenge to “tell this mountain to move from here to there”.

Christ uses the example of the tiny mustard seed to make a powerful point about true Christian faith -- that it’s much more than ritual bible reading, prayer, church attendance or even ministry, all of which can be accomplished without any assistance from God whatsoever. True faith exceeds mere confidence in God and His word. True faith is found only in the “knowing” that ignores all evidence to the contrary. The “knowing” that has its roots in “hearing” God “speak” into the heart. It’s only when I’ve “heard” God say “Go and tell the mountain to move in my Name and it will obey you.” that I am emboldened to do so before witnesses.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God.
(Rom 10:17)

For many years I confused reading the word with “hearing” God. I put my “faith” in what I read and found myself continually frustrated by the outcome. The Lord never intended the word to replace sitting at His feet and listening to Him. True, He always uses the word to confirm what I hear, but the word alone can never produce the “knowing” faith in that word that will move mountains.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(Rom 1:17)

This is why Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed, because it represents a faith born of “hearing” God. And from that deep conviction comes the action that produces the “greater things” Christ prophesied I and every true disciple would do in His Name.

…for when it (mustard seed) is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Mat 13:32)


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Understanding the Kingdom: The Parable of the Leaven

The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Mat 13:33)

In this, often misunderstood parable, Christ is comparing His glorious Kingdom on earth to leaven hidden in some bread dough. There’s no way I can conceive of that referring to sin, as many have suggested, for that would mean Christ was likening His Kingdom to the spread of sin throughout the earth. What, then, is the Lord referring to here?

I believe the “leaven” in this parable speaks of a true witness of Christ. It’s only through my witness that my world is impacted. My relationship with God, no matter how close, will have little discernible effect on those around me unless I’m putting what I’m hearing into practice. This produces a true witness through me that wields a powerful influence on those with whom I come in contact on a daily basis (“until the whole was leavened”). Like Moses who’s face supernaturally glowed letting everyone around him know he’d spent time with the Lord, our un-mechanical, unrehearsed love and faithfulness bears witness to our circle of friends, family, co-workers, neighbors etc. that we have been with Jesus.

For you yourselves are our letter, written on your hearts, recognized and read by everyone, (2Co 3:2)

This is the witness that makes people say, “he’s got something I want”. It doesn’t come from preaching at people, nor does it come from judging them. It comes from being with Jesus and hearing Him speak. For we all know that “faith comes by hearing”, and “faith without works is dead”.

Understanding the Kingdom: The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, that a man found and reburied…

I believe the “treasure”, here, speaks of a believer’s calling into ministry. Until I know it, my calling is something I desire and diligently seek after, but upon finding it, I immediately realize there’s still much work that needs to be done in me before I’ll be ready for such a Heavenly task. This is the reburying of the treasure Jesus refers to in the parable. It would be the height of foolishness and human pride for me to promote my calling to the world, as that would only invite the mocking and negativity that would surely quench my passion for the call. I must keep it to myself (bury it) until the Lord says otherwise, and, in the mean time, allow Him to complete His work in me to make me ready for the call.

Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. (Mat 13:44)

And this is the work the Lord must first accomplish in me. I MUST LEARN TO VALUE THE MISSION FIELD MORE THAN MISSION. I must be willing to surrender everything for the sake of the people God has called me to. They must be the joy set before me or I will not be able to endure the cross of persecution, affliction, temptation, and lack that is sure to accompany any effective ministry. Until I’m willing to “sell everything” to “buy that field”, the “treasure” of my calling may just as well remain buried. But once I begin to experience the Lord’s own burden for His “field”, then I’m free to dig up the treasure and share it openly as I begin to walk it out in faith as He leads and provides.


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Understanding the Kingdom: The Parable of the Merchant

The sixth parable of the seven in Matthew 13 describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a “merchant seeking fine pearls”. This speaks of, what should be, the foundational quest of every believer – the “pearl of great price” which is love from a pure heart. However, it’s not the pearl that defines the Kingdom in this parable, but the merchant seeking the pearl.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
(Mat 13:45)

This says that the quest for love is as important as the attainment of it, for it is the quest that defines the Kingdom and my place in it. The Lord, here, uses the “pearl” as a metaphor for love, because pearls are created from mere sand, afflicted and irritated over a long period of time in the dark belly of a clam. This speaks to me of ministry, because it’s only in true ministry that my desire to love and serve God can be daily tested to produce in me that “one pearl of great price”.

The daily trials of a God ordained ministry expose the pride, fear, personal agendas etc. that underlie my motives. This can either destroy the ministry (as it's done to many, often in a very public, humiliating way) or purify it as I allow God to purge me of my impure agendas and produce in me the “love from a pure heart” that bears true witness to His Name.

The truth is, without a ministry to test and refine it, my “love” is little more than mechanical obedience to the law. It’s only in the daily fires, afflictions, and irritations of ministry, that I am either destroyed, or made pure in love for His Kingdom. This is the quest every Kingdom believer should be following, for as the parable teaches:

Kingdom of Heaven = believers seeking to love others from a pure heart.


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Understanding the Kingdom: The Parable of the Net

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: (Mat 13:47)

This is the last of seven Kingdom parables the Lord spoke to the Jews in Matthew 13. That it was last speaks of its importance, for the Lord, Himself, said, “The last shall be first.”.

In this parable, Christ likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a “net” with its purpose to “gather” fish from the sea of “every kind”. The Lord is indicating here that there are many kinds of fish in the sea, or more to the point, many kinds of people in the world, including the poor, the wealthy, the weak, the strong, the influential, and the insignificant. To reach them all would require many different kinds of ministries. A ministry that might connect well with the homeless, would probably have little or no connection with the rich and famous. A ministry to the influential people of society would likely not relate to the blue collar Joes, and so on.

But what if God has purposed me for a specific ministry, say, to the poor, but I never hear His call to this, or even if I do, never fully step into it? Does this mean the poor intended for my stewardship must remain unreached? Not at all. Rest assured, what God has spoken in eternity will have its fulfillment in this life.

But, for this to happen, God will need someone else to step into my mantle. He could start from scratch and train someone up to walk in my ministry, but I don’t believe that’s His preferred way of doing it. Most likely, God will use someone who’s already walking in the fullness and blessing of their own ministry. He will call on them because they have proven themselves faithful. He will expand their tents to include my ministry, and the blessing I would’ve received will now be deposited into their account.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (Mat 25:28-29)

God will not lose a single soul because of my disobedience or ignorance. His has purposed to train up believers to become a “net” in His hands, that He may use as He wills to gather the lost into His Kingdom. When my life and ministry have matured to the place where God can use me to gather up the lost "of every kind" who have been abandoned by others whom God intended for that ministry… then I’ve become part of that great Kingdom “net” in the hands of the Lord.


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What Is My Spiritual Temperature? (pt. 7 of 7)

When I have purposefully declared Christ to be the absolute ruler of my life (step one); set myself apart from the things of the world to draw closer to Him (step two); sat at His feet as a disciple eager to learn the deep things of God through His word and Spirit (step three); transformed my witness from one of ritual obedience to one of true faith born of “hearing” the Lord speak to my heart (step four); received the Lord’s burden for His people and responded to His call to a specific ministry to address that burden (step five); and seen my own pride or fear-driven motives and agendas bubble to the surface so God could purge them from me and my ministry (step six) – then and only then have I reached the place God has been drawing me to my entire life -- the place of absolute rest in Him.

If I know and understand God’s program for spiritual growth, I can take my spiritual temperature at any time I choose. Should I find myself not at rest with God, I know there’s pride or fear in me that needs to be purged. If there’s pride or fear controlling my agenda, it’s because I haven’t connected fully with the Lord’s burden for His people. If I don’t have the Lord’s burden, it’s only because He is still working on my Christian witness to my family and friends, workplace and church. If I can’t seem to establish a good witness, it’s because I haven’t been hearing God intimately. If I’m not hearing His voice, it’s only because I’ve allowed something in my life to get between me and God. And if I’ve allowed something between me and God, it’s only because I have forgotten that He is the Lord of my life.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but it’s a great source of comfort to know that God has provided this “glory cloud” for me to follow, just as He did for the nation of Israel in the old testament. Because of this, I, like Israel before me, am without excuse for not remaining under the Lord’s protection and blessing while growing in the grace and knowledge of His Kingdom.

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What Is My Spiritual Temperature? (pt. 6 of 7)

Once the Lord gives me His burden and calls me into a particular ministry, He then begins to open the doors that were once closed up tight, doors that lead to His support and provision to manifest His vision into reality (step five). This is where the next stage of my spiritual growth begins, in the refining fires of ministry, where the Lord begins to reveal the pride and hidden agendas within my heart.

I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say: They are My people, and they will say: The LORD is our God." (Zec 13:9)

This refining process has led to the fall of many ministers and ministries both past and present. Some have fallen because they simply got ahead of God’s program, believing that their gifts and anointings were all they needed to enter ministry. Still others have stayed on course with God’s plan for their life, only to find their own pride rising up to take control of the work and covet the glory as well.

The truth is, if I operate apart from God’s established order, satan will allow me to rise just high enough in my ministry so that my fall, when it comes, will be public and humiliating both to myself and the body of Christ. This is why the refining must come when the ministry is thriving on all cylinders. When everything I put my hands to is being blessed, and my name is on the letterhead, it’s then I must be willing to let God expose my hidden motives so they can be confessed and purged from my life and ministry, leaving no stumbling stone for the enemy to trip me up.

Once God has done His work of refining my heart, I am ready for the seventh and final step in my journey to spiritual maturity…

To be concluded…


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