Little Things with Big Results

Intro

Little things can make a big difference:

a pebble in your shoe

the needle on a sewing machine

the rudder on a ship

a “peanut” on an ultrasound

The Kingdom of God is something that, though it seems small at first, grows and has great affect. Jesus gives us two parables that show us what the Kingdom of God is like in Luke 13:18-21.

This is God’s Word, and if you let it, it will change your life.

Luke 13:18–21 ESV

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” 20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Pray: Father, may your Kingdom come in us, and may it make all the difference. Help us hear and obey your Word. Amen.

When we think of the Kingdom of God, we often jump straight to a place: heaven. I think that’s because we as humans are limited by our senses. It’s hard for us to grapple with ideas that don’t have a tangible, concrete part we can experience. We have to see it, hear it, touch it, smell it or taste it to really get it.

Now, none of us have seen heaven, but we’ve read about it. We’ve read and heard that there are streets of gold and a crystal sea. We’ve heard about the glory of God being the light in heaven, and about a “Mansion, just over the hill top.” Many have written hymns about the experience of being in heaven and we sing them frequently.

But the Kingdom of God isn’t like that. Not that heaven isn’t part of the Kingdom - it is. But it’s only part of the Kingdom of God. So when Jesus asks in verse 18, “What is the Kingdom of God like,” he is trying to find a way to put this idea of the Kingdom into a way we can get it. He’s “putting the cookies on the bottom shelf” for us, his kiddos!

Luke 13:18–19 ESV

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

He makes two analogies in our passage this morning: the first is to mustard seeds. The mustard seed was the smallest of seeds cultivated in the ANE. Mustard, technically, was an herb but it could grow up to 10 feet high, making the mustard a “tree.” It was the mustard seed and it’s growth that inspired this first parable.

So what is it that makes the Kingdom of God like a mustard seed?

The Kingdom Starts Small

Just as the mustard seed begins small, so does God’s Kingdom. But it doesn’t stay small for long...

The Kingdom Is Sown

Remember the parable of the sower? What was the seed in the story? God’s Word. When God’s Word is proclaimed, it is sown into the hearts of men, along with God’s Kingdom.

The Kingdom Grows

God’s Kingdom doesn’t stay small. Just as the seed in the parable of the soils grows in the good soil, so God’s Kingdom grows in those whose hearts are good soil. We’ll look at this closer in a few minutes.

The Kingdom Shelters Those Who Indwell It

What is unique about this first parable is the end result - instead of ending on the idea of the growth of the seed (and the Kingdom), Jesus ends on the benefit that the Kingdom provides. Look back at verse 19:

Luke 13:19 ESV

19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

That little mustard seed has grown so much that birds find shelter in its branches. The Kingdom of God provides that same shelter for those of us who dwell in it, too:

Psalm 91 ESV

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Having made one comparison, Jesus thinks about it and makes a second analogy - the Kingdom is like yeast. This one has some overlap with the mustard seed, but gives us a different angle on the affect of God’s Kingdom.

Luke 13:20–21 ESV

20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Once again, Jesus is putting the heavenly truth on an earthly sphere so we can take hold of the truth. This time, he uses an object that is most often associated with wickedness.

Yeast was used throughout the OT as analogous to sin. The Israelites were to get rid of all the leaven before passover, representing them purifying their hearts to take the feast. Most of the bread offered in the Temple was unleavened. Even Jesus teaches his followers to avoid the leaven of the religious teachers who were not authentic in their faith (cf. Mk 8.15).

So what can leaven teach us about God’s Kingdom?

The Kingdom is Hidden

Just as leaven gets incorporated into the dough, kneaded into it, so the Kingdom gets incorporated into the believer.

The Kingdom Shapes Those Who Incorporate It

As a result of working the Kingdom of God into our hearts, it shapes us. As leaven rises in heat to shape the loaf of bread, so the Kingdom rises within us, shaping us to better reflect God’s image in us.

Galatians 5:9 ESV

9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Now he was talking about leaven as sin, but the same principle applies here - when we begin to work the Kingdom of God out in our hearts, it affects every aspect of our lives.

The way we think about others - we see them the way God sees them

The way we think about sin - we abhor it the way God does

The way we talk to others - we demonstrate love while speaking truth, just like Jesus did

The way we approach problems - we deal fairly and compassionately with others while upholding goodness and justice

The things we do when we’re alone - we live in private in keeping with God’s commands

The things we value - we put God first, seeking his Kingdom and righteousness and not the stuff of this world

The way we worship - we worship God his way; we don’t make up our own gods or our own means of worshiping the true God

Invitation

Are you letting God’s Kingdom affect you? Are you resting in Him? Are you letting his Word change you?