Luke 13:18-21


Luke 13:18-21
18 So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19 “It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.” 20 And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 “It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

Expectations can be very dangerous.  One of the main reasons the Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah was because he did not conform to their expectations.  They were expecting a political figure who would set them free from the oppression of the Roman Empire.  Instead, Jesus was a humble servant who was far more concerned with setting them free from their sins than He was about the Romans.  This attitude frustrated their expectations, so they rejected Him.  The problem was that they based their expectations of a wrong or partial understanding of Scripture.   The same thing continues to happen today.  Many people think that when they trust Jesus to save them from sin; their lives will become easier, more prosperous and comfortable.  When these expectations are not met but instead, they suffer persecution, become ill, suffer or lose a job; people get frustrated and walk away from their faith.  This is why the correct understanding of Scripture is so vital.  Jesus is careful to teach His disciples what the kingdom of God is like, so we can have a more biblical expectation about what to expect as we follow Him.

THE EXPANSION OF THE KINGDOM PROVIDES PROTECTION: Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed that grows in a garden to the point that birds come and nest in the branches.  The mustard seed is a very small seed.  The expectation one might have of a small seed is that it will grow a small plant.  We typically plant small things in our gardens.  The man who planted the mustard seed must have expected a very small plant to grow.  Instead, this large tree sprouts from the small seed and ends up taking over a large space in his garden.  Jesus is like that seed.  People saw Him as small and insignificant.  He was not the larger than life political leader that would dominate the world.  However, His kingdom would grow much larger than expected and end up providing protection.  The kingdom of God had very humble beginnings.  Jesus and a few unimpressive disciples gained a following for a time, but never gained the traction necessary to become a “movement.”  When Jesus was crucified, the general opinion was that everything would just come to an end.  However, just the opposite was true.  After the resurrection, the message of Christ began to spread around the world.  People from every nation are being called to join this kingdom and find freedom from sin.

THE EXPANSION OF THE KINGDOM PRODUCES PERMEATION: Jesus compares the kingdom to a woman who puts a small amount of leaven in a large amount of flour.  The yeast permeates all the flour and causes it to rise.  In a similar way, the Gospel started out as a message that Jesus and His followers were proclaiming.  It started in Jerusalem, spread to the neighboring communities and then expanded to the nations of the world.  Just a handful of men began to multiply and spread and will continue to do so until people from every tribe and nation have placed their faith in Christ.  The influence of the Gospel on the societies of the world is undeniable.  As people embrace the Gospel and place their faith in Christ, their lives are transformed.  The families in which they live are renewed and restored.  The neighborhoods, schools and places of work in which believers are engaged begin to be influenced.  Satan has done all in his power to dim the image of God that men were created to reflect.  The effect has been catastrophic.  God is at work through the power of the Gospel to restore the image of God in the hearts of man.  Individuals, neighborhoods and nations have been transformed by the kingdom of God at work in the hearts and lives of men.  This will continue to happen and one day all nations will know Him and believers will have the joy of living transformed lives in the presence of God for eternity.

APPLICATION: Don’t allow our expectations the that Gospel will produce prosperity in our lives cause us frustration and disappointment.  Understand that the purpose of the Gospel is to sanctify us, not make us wealthy.  Don’t be discouraged by the apparent slowness of the spread of the Gospel.  Rejoice in the truth that the world is being transformed by the power of Christ.

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