Matthew 13:31-58

Jesus provides a shock to most end times beliefs!

Introduction:

We have often been told by so many that the only thing to expect is negative.

While the bible does state there are negative things to happen in this world,

It never says those things will be exclusive.

Negativity is not the end all be all in God’s plan of redemption.

If you believe For God so loved the world, then you already have a certain amount of optimism in your belief.

Because since God so loved the world is true, then God is patiently waiting for the gospel to go to the ends of the earth, so that all may be saved.

The Good news will go to every tribe, tongue, and nation.

God will have a substantial number of believers in Heaven.

This may shock your senses but some even believe there will be more in Heaven than in Hell due to the lovingkindness of God’s grace when human history is complete.

We often look at the negative things around us and reply oh it’s just a sign of the times.

For the entirety of church history we can read people saying that.

Every generation automatically assumes, welp this is it.

It is a very self centered approach to end times events.

As long as I am saved, Jesus I am ready for you to come back.

Last weekend coupled with this weekend we will see a great hope in the Gospel.

It’s a hope so great that I pray you never miss it again when we come to the scriptures.

Read verses 31-32

This short short section of scripture carries so much positively that it should drive our entire end time belief system.

Jesus tells his disciples that they are like a mustard seed

This seed is identified as the smallest of all the other seeds

But it will grow to become larger than all the garden plants

This is the most significant part that most people miss.

Last week we discuss the parable of the dragnet where all kinds of fish are gather.

The kinds are identified as every people group.

Jesus made the disciples fishers of men.

In this same passage, there is a key detail missed.

If you will look at the last half of verse 32 closely, you’ll see it is a quotation of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel says

Ezekiel 17:23 “On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.”

God predicts that every kind of bird will rest on and under the branches of this tree

or aka mustard plant

This tree aka the kingdom of heaven will become so monstrous that it will fill the entire earth because every nationality will sit under the Sovereign hand of God displaying his glory in salvation.

God is not a respecter of persons but saves all.

God does not show favoritism to the Jew nor Gentile alike but loves all his creation

So much so that God the Son came down from heaven and dies for his creation.

He bled and died on the cross so that we may be made free and recreated in his image.

There is no other good news that could ever compare with that church.

The shed blood of Christ saves sinners.

Verse 33-35

Jesus now changes the imagery he is using but not the principle

His point doe snot change.

A woman now places leaven inside of flour and it causes a massive expansion.

Leaven in flour normally causes the flour to double or triple in size

Once the Gospel of the kingdom is introduced into the fallen world massive expansion takes place

Think on this for a moment church.

The Gospel started with Jesus and 12 disciples and now there are over 2.67 billion believers world wide.

Going from 12 to 2.67 billion percentage wise comes to 22,249,999,900%.

In the business world that would be the deal of a lifetime.

I don’t believe God is done with the world yet either church.

I believe that number will be even larger before Christ returns.

We have two smaller parables left for this section of Scripture.

We have the hidden treasure and the costly pearl.

These two don’t hit on the size of the Kingdom but the value of the Kingdom.

Verse 44

This man finds this treasure in the field which doesn’t belong to him.

He then hides it again to keep it secure so he may come and find it again.

This man is so joyous over that object he sells all he has to buy that field

so that he may have that treasure.

That hidden treasure church is Jesus.

When we find him we give up our very nature

Our very being so that we may have him

Lastly

This man was looking for many fine pearls but he found one that trumped all other pearls.

This pearl cost him everything he had and he was fine with it.

Jesus is enough.

When things are going good and when things are going bad remember

Jesus is enough

He is worth all our attention, worship, and devotion.

Closing prayer