Fig Tree, Mustard Seed, Yeast and the Narrow Door
Notes
Transcript
1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.
2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered?
3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.
4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?
5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”
6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.
7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.
9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’ ”
18 Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it?
19 It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”
20 He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like?
21 It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem.
23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied,
24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.
25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’
28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.
29 And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.
30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”
4 Parables
Fig tree
Mustard seed
Yeast in dough
Narrow door
They relate to each other and a common thought is continued ...
1. Usefulness in the Kingdom - being productive and bearing fruit - (righteousness and reproducing more fruit) or be cut down —- Israel was not producing fruit for God’s Kingdom and was in danger of being cut down
2. Kingdom of God would grow and spread rapidly - a mustard seed can grow to a tree for birds to dwell that is 30 ft high in one season!
3. Kingdom of God will go everywhere - spread throughout the world like leaven permeates all the dough Only those of true faith and a demonstrated fruit will enter the kingdom -
4. here it comes full circle as many will hear, many will partake at the table, many will be exposed to the grace of God, but not all will allow it to change their lives! God’s grace is free - but it changes the way we live - the door that is open will not always remain
Jesus wanted them to realize now is the time to allow the Kingdom to change your heart and become fruitful - because many will not make it in
He was specifically talking about Israel and the Jews who thought they were guaranteed a place in God’s Kingdom and held self importance -
Doesn’t this remind you of our nation - we are Christian, we are blessed, we are protected, but in reality many have sat at the table of Christianity to eat the feast yet have not heated any fruit - in our sense of self importance are having the door to the Kingdom shut on us!