THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Passage: Matthew 13:31-35

Key verse: 32

NIV

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast(A)(B)

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(C) a mustard seed,(D) 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.”(E)

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like(F) yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour(G) until it worked all through the dough.”(H)

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.(I) 35 So was fulfilled(J) what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”[b](K)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 13:33 Or about 27 kilograms
  2. Matthew 13:35 Psalm 78:2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

31 He put another parable before them, saying, (A)“The kingdom of heaven is like (B)a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

33 He told them another parable. (C)“The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in (D)three measures of flour, till it was (E)all leavened.”

Prophecy and Parables

34 (F)All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:[a]

(G)“I will open my mouth in parables;
    (H)I will utter what has been hidden (I)since the foundation of the world.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 13:35 Some manuscripts Isaiah the prophet
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The kingdom of heaven is compared to the mustard seeds. Mustard seeds are the smallest of all seeds. But when they grow, they become larger than all garden plants and can even grow to become trees. The birds of the air can come and make their nests in their branches.

The kingdom of heaven is also compared to the leaven that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour, and it all becomes leavened. Leaven also starts very small and eventually causes the whole batch of dough to rise.

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Jesus compares the mustard seed to the kingdom of heaven. It may start very small in our heart. But it eventually grows and expands. We may not notice the presence of the kingdom of heaven in our hearts at the beginning. But it grows and expands until we are fully changed. The kingdom of heaven will expand into every area of our life.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming into our lives. May your kingdom grow in our heart and in our life. May we be able to live a new life that is ruled by you.

One Word: Lord Jesus, may your kingdom grow and expand in our heart