He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” Matthew 13:33 (ESV)
Jesus follows the parable of the mustard seed with a parable that has a similar meaning; the parable of the leaven. As with the parable of the mustard seed, many interpret the parable of the leaven as referring to an evil influence which invades the kingdom of God until it totally corrupts the kingdom. Continue reading
“Since the universe had its origin in God and depends on Him for its continued existence it must be, in all its parts and at all times, subject to His control so that nothing can come to pass contrary to what He expressly decrees or permits.”
Loraine Boettner
“The world as a whole and in all its parts and movements and changes was brought into a unity by the governing, all-pervading, all-harmonizing activity of the divine will, and its purpose was to manifest the divine glory.”
Loraine Boettner
God often gives in one brief moment that which He has for a long time denied.
Thomas a Kempis
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV)
There are varying opinions on the interpretation of this parable. One interpretation is based on observations from previous parables. Jesus is the man who sows the seed; which is the kingdom (Matthew 13:37), the field is the world (Matthew 13:38). Some commentators propose that mustard does not grow to be a tree but only a shrub. So, the growth of the mustard seed into a tree must signify something unnatural. Thus the kingdom of God started with meager beginnings (smallest of all seeds) and as it grew in became something “unnatural” or perverted through false doctrine, sinful practices and hypocrisy. The birds of the air are considered to be satanic spirits which have found a home in which to roost (Matthew 13:4; Mark 4:15). Continue reading
“We belittle God when we go through the outward motions of worship and take no pleasure in His person.”
John Piper
God has reserved to Himself the right to determine the end of life, because He alone knows the goal to which it is His will to lead it. It is for Him alone to justify a life or to cast it away.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
No man ever believes with a true and saving faith unless God inclines his heart; and no man when God does incline his heart can refrain from believing.
Blaise Pascal
