A Spreading, but Exclusive, Kingdom

The year was 1989 when Disney released All Dogs Go to Heaven. In honest disclosure, I’ve never watched this film. But the title intrigues me with the fold theology that many people believe. Do cats go to Heaven? What about ferrets or bearded dragons? I’ll need to watch before I can make any comments on the movie, but it is the title that intrigues me.

In Jesus’ day there was a similar sentiment—All Jews Go to Heaven. R.T France writes, “by the first century it was generally assumed that it was the Jews, as the chosen people of God, who were guaranteed a place there, with the exception of those few who had specifically forfeited their place through rebellion and unbelief. The idea of only a few finding the way to salvation (13:22–27) and of Gentiles coming in to replace Jews (13:28–29) was therefore by now a quite subversive notion.[i]”

Today’s Scripture tells us that admission into God’s kingdom has nothing to do with genealogy, the guest list will be smaller than most assume, and Jesus is brokenhearted over those who refuse to come through the open door.

Jesus Tells Unexplained Parables (vv.18-21)

Where else do we see these word pictures?

1. The miniscule nature of mustard seeds are referred to in MT 17 and Lk 17 as a picture of little, but thorough, faith that is able to move huge obstacles.

2. Some commentators link this parable to the tree in Ezek 17 and Dan 4 which pictures a world empire.

3. Ever since Passover was established in Egypt in the book of Exodus, leaven is usually associated with sin that must be removed.

4. But I don’t think comparisons to evil or a world empire are what Jesus has in mind as He likens them to the kingdom of God.

What do these 2 parables have in common?

1. Both parables speak of something small that grows until it is unavoidable.

The black mustard plant is a bush that can grow from 4’ – 10’ in height.

The 3 measures of flour would be about 36 quarts or 50 lbs, starting with just a pinch of leaven

2. Darrell Bock writes, “Jewish expectation was of the quick establishment of a powerful, comprehensively present kingdom or of the kingdom’s decisive in-breaking from outside of history. However, Jesus teaches that the kingdom comes gradually, with growth that will culminate in a total presence.”[ii]

God frequently uses the obscure

1. When Samuel approached Jesse to anoint the next king, who did Jesse bring out first? Who was it that God finally said, “This is the one”?

2. When Goliath called out all the armies of Israel, who was it that God used to bring victory? When Saul tried to arm David with regal armor, what did David choose?

3. When God spoke to Elijah, what form did God take?

1 Kings 19:11–12 ESV:2016

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

4. How big was the lunch that the lad offer to Jesus to feed the multitude? I did a little research into the “loaves” and they are not like a loaf of French bread or sliced Wonder bread. They were more like dinner rolls or hamburger buns.

Gospel singer Danniebell Hall wrote in 1977 Just ordinary People God uses ordinary people He chooses people just like me and you who are willing to do what He command . God uses people that will gave him all, no matter how small your all may seems to you. because little becomes much as you place it in the masters hand.

Transition: One day Jesus was asked who would be included in this ever-expanding kingdom. He replied with startling news to many.

One Door and Only One (22-30)

The Door

1. A Narrow Door (v.24)

a. Both the small size of the door and the effort (lit., “agonizing struggle”) required to get through it indicate that only a minority will make it. You cannot simply drift into the kingdom of God.[iii]

b. Contrary to the wide gate Jesus describes in MT 7:13, or the “all Abraham’s children find rest”, or the “all paths lead to God” notions of modernists, Jesus surprises His audience by announcing that some will find themselves coming up short in their moral or religious attempts.

c. “Not only is the door narrow and difficult, but also it will not remain open forever.”[iv]

2. A Shut Door (v.25)

a. Just as God shut the door of the Ark, there will be a time when He shuts the door into His kingdom.

b. Foolish is the person who delays by thinking there will always be another chance.

Children’s ministry has changed a lot since I was a kid. Today, often Children’s ministry is given a wing with easy access so that visiting parents will feel safe leaving their children. “Back in the day” the 3 earliest churches I remember held the children’s Sunday School in the basement. Basements were usually damp in the 60s and 70s so the piano was often out of tune (on the rare occasion when we had a piano player). But those memories are strong. I still remember my teachers Ruthie Gibbs, Barbara Howerton, Elsie Snyder and Neva Lemons, with the same fondness that Liz McLaren thanked Eloise Conklin for leader her to accept Jesus as her Savior. My mother usually hosted the opening exercises. We didn’t have videos or recordings, usually we just sang off a flip chart or a large book. One of those songs I recall from the poster board was “One Door and Only One”. Have you heard this one?

One door, and only one And yet its sides are two, Inside and outside, On which side are you?

One Door, and only one, And yet its sides are two, I'm on the inside, On which side are you?

One Lord, and only one And yet the ways are two, Right way and wrong way On which way are you?

One Book, and only one Which tells of places two Good place or bad place On which place choose you?

The Divide

1. Fellowship Time and listening to sermons won’t be enough! (26-27) We must respond in repentancewhere we turn from sin and faith as we turn to Christ in order that our names would be written in the Book of Life. Too many miss the kingdom by 18”. They never let the things in their head change the nature of their heart.

2. Those who are Faithful (28) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all had personal encounters with YHWH. Many of Abraham’s descendants will be cast out because they lack that personal encounter.

3. Those who are far (29) The kingdom will not be limited to Jews, people from all directions will be allowed to recline at the table.

4. Those who will be first (30) are those who are like the woman in 10-17 whom the religious leader did not have time for.

5. Those on the outside are weeping and grinding or clenching their teeth; those on the inside are reclining (not a defensive posture at all) with the Master.

Transition: I don’t believe Noah and his family took any delight when God shut the door, the rain began and the pleas of the people were too late. In the same way Jesus weeps when He considers that some will be outside when the Master (Father God) shuts the door.

Invincible Confidence (31-35)

Jesus Takes No Pleasure in Those on the Outside (34)

1. Jesus’ desire is that they would seek first the Kingdom

2. Many in Jerusalem were unwilling.

3. You see God doesn’t send anyone to hell. Everyone who finds himself in perdition is there because he/she decides to rebel against God and is unwilling to accept His free gift of eternal life.

Jesus finished His Course (31-32)

1. Many believe that Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem came down the East side of the Jordan. This would have placed him in the region governed by Herod Antipas who was even more cruel than Pilate who executed the Jews traveling to sacrifice in the first 2 verses of this chapter.

2. Have you ever considered what it means to be invincible? If we truly believe that a Sovereign God numbers our days, we can live with confidence that NOTHING will kill us until God’s purpose for us is complete. Just as God permitted Satan to afflict Job, but God limited what Satan could do to him.

3. That is the confidence Jesus had as he responds to the threat of Herod. He knows that he has come to earth for a purpose and that nothing would deflect that mission.

Conclusion:

God’s kingdom started small but is growing like a mustard bush or yeast permeating dough.

Elsewhere Jesus promised that He would build His kingdom and the very Gates of Hell would not prevail against it.

As we live in Chase County, the rule of God has started and it is spreading until it reaches completion in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

But you have a choice. Are you willing to submit to His rule and spread His kingdom, or does He weep over you as those who were not willing?

Our final song is a toe-tapper or a hand clapper. It is a joyful prayer that God’s kingdom would spread until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord!

[i] Ibid., 236. [ii] Darrell L. Bock, Luke: 9:51–24:53, vol. 2, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1996), 1221. [iii] R. T. France, 237. [iv] Ibid., 237.