Big trees grow from little seeds

Matthew 13:31-35, 44-46

The kingdom of Jesus began in a small way. But it will have a wonderful future that will never end.

Jesus lived in the district called Galilee when he was a child. He did much of his work there. Mustard bushes grew in Galilee. They had tiny seeds. But each seed could grow into a very large bush. It would be 12 to 15 feet tall. The birds would make their nests in it. Jesus was referring to this bush. It was a familiar description in the ancient world. The OT used it too. (Read Ezekiel 31:6.) In that verse, the tree with birds in it described a great kingdom. That kingdom referred to the whole world.

Jesus taught that he had brought God’s kingdom. But this must have been hard for the Jews to believe. Their prophets spoke about a kingdom that included the whole world. People thought that Jesus was only a teacher and healer (someone who made people well). His work was only in a very small area.

So, in this passage, Jesus was teaching about the future. One day, God’s kingdom would include the whole world. This was just what the prophets had promised. (Compare Isaiah 2:2-4; 25:6-9; 35:1-10 and 65:17-25.) Jesus had begun to establish that kingdom. The signs were there already. (Jesus repeated Isaiah 35:5-6 earlier. Read Matthew 11:5.) The beginning of the kingdom was small. But it would grow. One day, Jesus would rule the whole earth.

Another parable taught the same truth. (Read Matthew 13:33.) Yeast is a substance that makes bread rise. The woman mixed it into the flour. At first, nobody could see the yeast. But, when the bread was ready, it was different. Everybody could see the effect of the yeast then. It is the same with God’s kingdom. Jesus is establishing it. People may not be able to see it now. But, one day, it will be there for everybody to see.

In Matthew 13:35, Matthew repeated Psalm 78:2. This Psalm spoke about how people might use parables in future times. Jesus showed more wonderful things in parables than other teachers did. He was the greatest teacher.

Precious treasure

Note: Treasure means something that is very valuable. This treasure was so precious that nobody could ever know its value.

There were no banks in the ancient world. Ordinary people had no official way to keep their money safe. They would hide any valuable things in the ground. The ground was often the safest place. There were many battles in Israel. And people would often have to run away. But first, they would bury their valuable things in the ground. They hoped that they would be able to return one day. Then they could dig up the valuable things again.

Even recently, there have been wonderful discoveries in Israel. One example was the Dead Sea Scrolls. This was a complete library of scrolls. (Note: The scrolls were rolls of skin from animals. People would write on the skin, and then roll it up.) Someone had hidden them in a cave. They referred to the time of Jesus. Perhaps there had been a discovery in Jesus’ time too. So Jesus would use it in his parable.

The man who was in the story probably had to look for work each day. He was certainly very poor. He wanted to buy a field where he had found a treasure. But first, he had to sell all that he had. But he was still willing to do it. He wanted that treasure so much.

The next parable (Matthew 13:45–46) was very similar. But the man was a rich seller. In the ancient world, there was something special. It was a pearl (a precious stone). People would rather own a pearl than anything else. In this story, the rich seller found a very special pearl. He, too, sold everything that he had. But he was willing to do it. He wanted to enjoy the pearl so much. It would be such a pleasure to him to own it.

Jesus repeated the same lessons in the two parables. He had a reason for doing this. There were important truths. He wanted the people to understand them.

• To be in Jesus’ kingdom was a delight. The worker went with joy to buy the field. He wanted the treasure that he had found. But the seller was looking for something special too. It would bring him much joy. And other people would admire him. It was a very special treasure. To follow Jesus and to enter his kingdom is still a delight.
• To enter Jesus’ kingdom means that we must give everything. We may be rich or we may be poor. But we must be willing to leave everything. Then we must follow Jesus.
• There were two types of discovery in the two parables. The first discovery was a surprise. The man did not expect to find it. But the seller was searching hard for pearls.

It is the same with the riches of Jesus’ kingdom. Some people find Jesus when they are not expecting to find him. Other people have been searching for him for a long time. Whatever way that it happens, it is still a great event. A person finds and enjoys Jesus’ kingdom. This is the very best experience that anyone could have.

Questions

• What joys have you known when you found Jesus? Was your discovery of him a surprise? Or, were you searching for him for a long time?
• How should members of the church show people that Jesus is such a special treasure?
• In the parable, the two men must sell all that they had. What does this mean for us today?