Who is this Jesus? -- Parables of the Kingdom (Matt 13)

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Who is this Jesus? That is the question we are asking as we explore the Gospel of Matthew. By meditating on His words and actions as recorded by the apostles, we can come to know the one we call Savior a little bit better.

As the tension in the narrative begins to ramp up between those who choose to follow Jesus and those who oppose Him, Matthew turns our attention to a set of parables that Jesus told His disciples. These parables serve both to explain the varying responses to Jesus' ministry and to reveal a few characteristics of the Kingdom.

Parable of the Sower

For me this first parable is something of a map, giving a heads up concerning the obstacles ahead in the life of a disciple. Rather than seeing four distinct categories here, I see four stages of growth.

First is understanding. The seed of the Gospel cannot take root without understanding. And understanding cannot happen in someone who has hardened their heart to the message of the Gospel. Our hearts must first be softened. We must be willing to hear and learn, to walk humbly with our Teacher.

Once someone has understood the Gospel, they must develop roots. The trials of this world are quick to scorch anything that is not grounded deeply in our lives. The Gospel must become more than a superficial tradition, more than a good feeling. It must penetrate to the depths of our being, reaching the secret places of our heart--reaching to the place of transforming our very identity.

Still, the enemy has planted all sorts of distractions and amusements in the world to take our eyes off Jesus. Even a deeply rooted faith cannot be sustained if all our time and energy gets siphoned off into other things. Sometimes good things. Sometimes frivolous things. But none of them the essential thing. There is a reason simplicity is a value in the traditional Christian's life. It provides space to maintain the daily habits of prayer and study so as to nurture the seed of the Gospel in our lives.

For the one who is able to overcome all of this, a rich harvest is promised. Not an even harvest--some will produce 30 fold and others 100 fold--but, a rich harvest nonetheless. This, I believe, is the fruit of the Spirit that Paul talks of in Galatians. Peace as only God can give. Joy unending. Love poured into our hearts and overflowing. This is the work of the Spirit in our lives. And through this fruit, we find both a sweetness for us and those around us, and a spreading of the Gospel as the seed contained in the fruit goes forth to be planted in more souls.

Where do you find your struggle? Is it with understanding? With persevering through trials? Or with navigating a world full of distractions and busyness? What can you do to help the Gospel seed within you to bear fruit?

Parable of the Weeds

One of the great mysteries of the world is why God allows evil to continue. In this simple parable, Jesus attempts to give us something of an answer. Why does the farmer not pull up the weeds at once? So, as not to damage the wheat.

Indeed, we find it a theme throughout the Bible that God is in the business of transformation. What is evil, what is corrupt, what is uncomely is transformed by the power of the cross to give God glory. Whether that be like Pharaoh being set up as the object of God's wrath in order to display God's power or like Joseph being positioned for the salvation of the world through the misdeeds of his brothers. Even the cross itself, a symbol of death and imperial power was transformed into a symbol of life and humble obedience.

Consider this on a personal level as well. God does a work within us, gradually transforming our inner being rather than simply tearing out the evil within us. For the sake of our lives and of the fruit which God has planned for us to produce, He does not destroy us, but deals patiently with us as we stumble forward taking even our numerous mistakes and making them work for the good.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

Most of the time when I hear teachings on the mustard seed, I hear something about individual faith and how even small faith can do great things. Here, in Matthew 13, the context is corporate--the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed.

What I think is easily missed in this parable (and the individual application) is process. When a farmer plants a mustard seed, it does not instantly become a mustard tree. Indeed, growing a plant can take quite some time. So it is with the Kingdom. Jesus was the seed. He died and was planted in the ground and in the hearts of men. With His resurrection, the Kingdom began to sprout. And from that time, the Kingdom has continued to grow, a little bit at a time, becoming a church that is a home for all those who are lost or alone. And, it still continues to grow.

This stands in contrast to the expectation of the day, that the messiah would lead a revolt against Rome and re-establish the kingdom of Israel at once. No, God is working slowly and subversively in the hearts of men.

The Parable of Hidden Treasure

There are two meanings I see here. The first is probably the more common teaching--the immense worth of the Kingdom. Proverbs directs us to seek wisdom like hidden gold; how much more the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom is found by those who make diligent search and by those who are willing to leave everything else behind for the sake of the Kingdom. As Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount, "Seek first the Kingdom" and make the Kingdom your treasure.

Secondly, Jesus sets an example for us here. He came to this earth and found within it a treasure, a pearl of immense worth in His eyes--His people whom He had created. And so, He set aside all that He had, stepped down from His throne, and even gave His very life for this joy set before Him. He who had no need of anything, chose to give up everything for our sakes. How much more should we be willing to lay aside every weight for the sake of His Name?

How are you seeking the Kingdom? Where are you finding it?

The Parable of the Net

When we come to the end of all things, a final separation will be made. That which does not bear fruit will be burned in the fire, but that which does bear fruit will be made to shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.

Here we are seeing a transition. As the Jewish authorities have rejected Jesus, Jesus begins to speak in parables--granting insight to those who would come to Jesus and submit to His teaching; and confounding those who have turned away from Him. Those who are holding tightly to the little bit of power and knowledge they have, unwilling to risk themselves for the sake of the Kingdom--even what they have is taken away. But, those who have tasted of the grace that God so lavishly pours out, they find themselves given everything. And those who sit at the feet of the Master will be like the scribe bringing out of his storehouse treasures old and new. Here again we are called upon to take what we have learned and share it freely with others.

We have spent the last several weeks discovering who this man, Jesus, is. We've seen how He is our King, our Redeemer, God with us. How He is our rest. We've read about how He has laid out His Kingdom plan and then gone forth transforming the world by the power of His life. The question remains: How will we respond to Jesus and His Kingdom invitation?