Jesus Teaches About the Kingdom of God
September 14, 2021
Commentary
The general expectation in Jesus’ day was that the Messiah would come as a great king and leader, to set up His kingdom, and to free the nation from the rule of Rome. However, in the parable of the “mustard seed” (vv. 18-19) and the parable of “the leaven” (vv. 20-22), Jesus points out two aspects of the kingdom. The first is how the church will grow to be a large tree and the second is how evil doctrine will spread throughout its branches. Jesus knew that He was on His way to die, but He continued preaching to large crowds (v. 22). The prospect of death did not deter Jesus from His mission.
Someone asked Jesus if only a few people were going to be saved (v. 23). He responded to the person’s question with a story of a man who was giving a feast (verses 24-29). After he had closed the door to the banquet, no one else could come in, for they were too late (v. 25). Jesus was actually teaching that the people needed to respond to His invitation now, for the time will come when it would be too late and they would not be allowed in the kingdom. The longer sinners wait, the harder their hearts will become, and one of the agonies of hell will be the remembrance of opportunities wasted (vv. 26-28).
God’s kingdom will include people from every part of the world (v. 29). True Israel includes all people who believe in God. There will be many surprises in God’s kingdom. Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then and some who are influential now will be left outside the gates (v. 30). What matters to God is not a person’s earthly popularity, wealth, status or power, but his or her commitment to Christ. At this point the Pharisees urged Jesus to leave because they wanted to stop him from going to Jerusalem (vv. 31-32). They weren’t interested in protecting Him but were trying to trap Him. They wanted to stop Him from going to Jerusalem but Jesus life, work and death were not to be determined by Herod or the Pharisees but by God Himself (v. 33). Jerusalem had a history of rejecting God’s prophets and now Jesus(vv. 34-35).
Application
When I see the forces of evil winning so many battles, it can make me feel like withdrawing, but hopefully it will cause me to roll up my sleeves and do everything I can for the cause of Christ.
Luke 13:18– 35 (NET)
18 Thus Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.”
20 Again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”
22 Then Jesus traveled throughout towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” So he said to them, 24 “Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
31 At that time, some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus, “Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.” 32 But he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Look, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossible that a prophet should be killed outside Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! 35 Look, your house is forsaken! And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Illustration: Luther Don’t Belong to Christ You Belong to the World
And if thou be not in the kingdom of Christ, it is certain that thou belonged to the kingdom of Satan, which is this evil world. (Martin Luther – in Who Said That? by George Sweeting, p. 288).