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Matthew 13:33
It is a wonderfully unique way in which Jesus tells yet another parable of the kingdom of heaven. Each parable, in succession, becomes smaller than the last, and is in relation to the small amount of seed sown in Matthew 13:3-9 but produced a harvest of as many as a hundredfold. Jesus took the time to explain this parable so that His disciples would hear and understand what He was saying to them, and to us. This would continue through Matthew 13:10-23. The wheat in Matthew 13:24-30 was sown alongside of the weeds planted by the evil one, which was to destroy the harvest, but yet the wheat harvest would fill the barn. The mustard seed, the smallest of seeds (Matthew 13:31-32) would grow into a large tree-like plant providing refuge for many. In Matthew 13:33 Jesus tells yet another parable of the kingdom of heaven but uses only one sentence to tell it. He states, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” Leaven is like yeast, which makes the bread rise, but it only requires a very small amount which will spread throughout a large amount of dough. The word – the gospel, when shared begins as a small seed or amount of leaven, but it begins to expand and grow until it fills all who will hear and believe.
This is an example of how the kingdom of heaven expands in our hearts and grows to no limits.
Each of these parables became smaller and smaller but is a guiding light of God’s word as to the small seed of salvation that is planted in our hearts when we hear the gospel, then allow our hearts to open to understanding of the gospel, then realize the importance of the gospel and begin seeking God’s will for our lives unto salvation in Christ Jesus – it begins to grow in our hearts to an overwhelming power that defeats and breaks the chains of Satan on our lives to victory and life everlasting in the kingdom of heaven. God’s plan for our lives is a wonderful thing that we become more and more aware of as we grow in our relationships with God through our salvation in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul declares in Colossians 1:27-29 (NKJV), “to them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
Dear LORD,
Your kingdom of heaven grows within all who will put their faith in You and believe in Jesus as our Savior. Your kingdom may seem small in the hearts of man, but You plant the seed through the sharing of the gospel, and in doing so, You arouse our curiosity about Jesus – You begin to grow the seed as we learn more and more about You and Your great plan of salvation for all humanity. Please help us to believe LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.