(Mark 4:34) In these parables, Jesus is bringing the Kingdom of God to the forefront of our mind. Many fanciful interpretations have been advanced for these parables, and some of those even antithetical to their meaning (e.g. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”… Yeast. The parables tell us the kingdom of heaven is like… A mustard seed. I love the way that there is not just one answer to the question “What is the kingdom of heaven like?” It isn’t simple. They reveal that the kingdom of God is growing and expanding in the hearts of men and women. Nor is it obvious. The parables of the kingdom paint a great picture. The following work on the Kingdom of Heaven Parables is from Dispensational Truth: God’s Plan and Purpose in the Ages, by Clarence Larken (1918). This parable, like the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of yeast in the dough, is a story of growth. At this point, some commentators would say the parable is about the cost of discipleship. Many of the parables start with "The kingdom of heaven is like..." - Mt 13:24,31,33,44,45,47 2. The Parables of the Kingdom. The Bible tells us that Jesus used parables to teach people in such a way that they would understand. 19 It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. He moves from mustard seeds to leavened bread, from treasure hidden in a field to a merchant in search of fine pearls, even to a net that catches an array of fish. A merchant in search of fine pearls. Several times Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like…” and then he would tell a story. Treasure hidden in a field. It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Jesus' parables was "the kingdom of heaven" 1. The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. The 13th Chapter of Matthew contains seven parables of Jesus which each begins with the words” The Kingdom of Heaven is like….” Two of these parables, the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the wheat and Tares were given separate treatment in the Lectionary. Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52. In fact, the Bible says, "He never taught without using parables." Parable of the sower. A man or woman cannot come to God, believe in … A net thrown into the sea. That method of teaching is called a parable. When he taught, he began by saying, "The Kingdom of God is like..." and then he would give an example. The Parable of the Mustard Seed 17 When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. A farmer went out to sow his seed. Let’s begin with Matthew 13, the largest collection of kingdom parables. The kingdom of God is not just a seed, not just a harvest—it involves the whole story of growth—a growth that occurs whether or not humans notice it or understand the way it works. To what can I compare it? Matthew 21:28-32 the parable of the two sons. Some will listen and respond, willingly sacrificing themselves to gain spiritual life. It is in these parables that Jesus gives them stories, images, visions of what the kingdom of heaven is like. And he was saying, “The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. He’s telling us what it’s like and how important it is. Mark 4:30-32 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? We know many of these parables, but a few details may surprise us. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing. Let ’ s begin with Matthew 13, the largest collection of parables... 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