Luke 13:18-21 18He was saying therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed that a man after taking threw it in his own garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven that a woman after taking it hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Jesus had been preaching and teaching about the kingdom for some time. This passage gives the first two of several “kingdom parables” where he specifically compares the kingdom to an object of life the people would have understood. The setting of this parable is not clear in Luke, although the context had just been the controversy at an unstated synagogue. In the larger context, this passage ends a major travel narrative that started back in 9:51. The kingdom had come near to people through Jesus’ ministry. This passage fits well with the preceding passages that call the disciples to endure persecution, the crowds to believe, and the Jewish leaders to repent.
Jesus introduces each short parable with a rhetorical question that prepares the listeners to enter into the stories with anticipation. The kingdom of God was one of the major topics of Jesus’ preaching and teaching. He represented the kingdom as the sovereign Lord. Every kingdom needs a king, and Jesus is that King. The kingdom is difficult to picture in one’s mind because it is an abstract idea. There is no territory, castle, or visible throne in this kingdom. How do we know it is present? The two parables are short enough that each is given in one sentence. Jesus’ parables are windows into life in the first century. They are stories that people of that time could picture in their minds, and some may have experienced similar situations. The parables have a surprise to them that often contains the implied message.
A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds in the Holy Land. It can be compared to a grain of sand. The mustard plant can grow quite large, over ten feet tall. That is big enough for birds to land on. Big things usually start off with small things. The point of this parable comes in the surprise that such a small seed could grow to be so large of a plant. The kingdom may seem small at the beginning. In fact, it was represented in the small band of disciples and those who put their faith in Jesus as he traveled. At times, we can feel alone, isolated, or as if we are the only Christians in a place. But we can remember that we are part of something bigger. Most ministry work starts off small and may seem insignificant in the big scheme of the world. But every person is important. We should never underestimate what God is doing.
The second short one-sentence parable in verse 21 contains a similar idea. The picture is one that many people saw every day. Bread was an essential part of many people’s diets. It took quite some effort to prepare by growing and sifting the grain, grinding it, making flour, making the bread dough, and baking it in a small stone oven. This jobs was often done by the women of the family. The woman in this story adds her leaven, which was likely a form of sourdough, to her ground up flour. The leaven would need to be worked through the whole dough so that it would rise well and make delicious bread. Again, the idea is that a little can make a big difference. A small amount yeast could make a difference in three measures (a sata, or a bushel of 9-10 gallons) of flour. This amount would feed quite a few people for supper.
We should not feel discouraged when it seems our efforts are not making a big difference. Pastors of small churches can feel discouraged when they compare to the large or mega churches. Every person and situation is important in God’s kingdom. The first disciples could remember this parable when they went out into the big Roman Empire with millions of people. The work of the kingdom may seem small, but nothing can stop God’s work.
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