Growth Of The Kingdom

Before sending the crowd away, Jesus would use two parables about the kingdom of heaven.  When we look up the Greek words, we find that the term kingdom of heaven means literally the royalty of the sky, or where God lives.  This is interesting because I Peter 2:9-10 tells us, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”  The royalty of any country are families of the king, and John 1:12-13 tells us, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  Clearly, the kingdom of heaven is talking about those who have received Christ, the body of believers, also known as the church.  Jesus is laying a foundation for the church in his teaching. 

The first of these parables is found in Matthew 13:31-32.  “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: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”  Like a tiny seed, when the gospel is planted, it will naturally grow, spreading over a large area and benefit everyone around, even those who are not Christians themselves. 

The second parable, in Matthew 13:33 is almost the same.  “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”  Like the seed, the leaven will begin to grow as soon as it is introduced to the dough, eventually spreading throughout the entire mass, regardless how small the initial amount was,  This growth will continue until the bread is baked, killing the leaven.  In both parables, it isd apparent that if the gospel is present, it will have an effect on the world around them. 

In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  When a person receives the Holy Spirit, he automatically becomes a witness for Christ, in everything he does because of the Holy Spirit’s working in him.  It is as natural as the seed sprouting or the yeast spreading through the dough, and the growth or spreading can only be prevented by killing the seed or leaven, or by taking away the Holy Spirit.  Notice that Acts 1:8 did not say we should be witnesses, but that we shall or are going to be.   When we constantly have to motivate the people to witness,  it clearly indicates they are working in the power of the flesh, rather than in the power of the Spirit, and as John 6:63 tells us, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing…”

Matthew 13:24-35 reiterates why Jesus used so many parables in his teaching.  “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”  Jesus was teaching things that had never been known to most of mankind, things that were known only to those who believed God.  He was fulfilling the promise in Psalm 78:1-4.  “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.”  Only those who believed would take the time to understand.