The Kingdom

Sermon 5 March 2023

I am continuing my study of the parables of Jesus. This is the fourth one. I am enjoying them so much I will probably do several more before I exhaust the subject or find something to drive my study of God’s word. I am quick to admit that I don’t have all the answers especially to the parables that all have multiple interpretations. I refer to Google and other on-line references. I often seek advice of others whose opinion I value and have posed a few questions to Pastor Ed. He loaned me a couple scholarly texts he thought may help. I found the first one to be so far above me that all it did was give me a headache. The other I found interesting. Ed said to take good care of it because it belonged to Nila. One of the author’s main arguments was that the average person in the pew isn’t capable of understanding the parables of Jesus. Only those who have studied and become knowledgeable of the history of first century history of Judea can know what Jesus means. The author claims that the lessons of the parables are totally dependent on the circumstances, society, and culture at the time Jesus spoke them. You may have noticed I have a history of disagreeing with the “experts” who write textbooks. I was known for that as far back as my college days. So, you shouldn’t be surprised when I disagree with this author. I challenge his basic assumption that the parables or any other part of the Bible must be read in context. NO!! The Bible is a gift from God. It is our handbook for living and is written for everyone and for all time. I think you are as capable of understanding scripture as anyone. Plus, if you get a different message than the so called experts, it doesn’t mean you are wrong. It means that God’s gift is different for each of us.

Getting down off my soap box and back to the teachings of Christ, Jesus has chosen His disciples and has sent out the first bunch of 12 and continues his ministry of teaching and healing. He preaches about planting seed from a boat just off the beach where a large crowd has gathered. That was the subject of my last talk. I’m not sure of the logistical details, but after he finishes with the crowd, He explains the seed parables to his disciples and gives them a series of metaphors about the Kingdom of heaven. They are actually similes, but that only matters to English teachers.

The first is the parable of the Mustard Seed. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” I don’t think Jesus was a gardener. He could have used acorns and oak trees as his comparison, but you get the idea, but do you get a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven? A tiny seed grows into a large plant. Just in case you don’t understand, He gives us another example. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Does that help you? Are you beginning to get a mental picture of what Jesus is talking about? He is obviously saying that the Kingdom of Heaven grows and multiplies from a small beginning into something bigger. That’s the lesson of the mustard seed, but what about the yeast? Many translations say leaven rather that yeast, but it is the same idea of growth and expansion. But the yeast is not the beginning, it is more of a catalyst. You have often heard that one rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel, but the message here is positive instead of negative. Yeast like the rotten apple also works its way through the whole bushel of flour. Next, Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as something of great value. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Why did the man hide it again? I don’t understand that unless the treasure couldn’t be removed from the field. Jesus continues with the narrative. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. He sold everything in order to have the Kingdom of Heaven. He valued the kingdom above all else, but is the Kingdom of Heaven something that can be possessed? Then, Jesus finishes with a parable that I can relate to. “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.” For those familiar with His recent parables we can probably get the message, but Jesus makes sure by explaining the meaning for his disciples, “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace…” Finally, Jesus finishes his teaching about the kingdom of Heaven with one last parable: “So Every teacher of the law who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He brings out both the new things and old things he has saved.” I think you can replace “teacher of the law” with anyone with prior knowledge or prior conceptions of God’s Kingdom. Hang on to that parable for a while. How do you see the Kingdom of Heaven? I think we would all agree that it can grow and has great value. What about God sorting out the bad from the good? Does that create a picture for you? Lastly don’t we all bring baggage into our faith? Is your mental picture the same as mine? If I asked you to define then describe the Kingdom of Heaven would you all compose the same answer? I think not. Isn’t that wonderful. Each of us are like the man in that parable with a new house. Our faith is not constant. We keep what we bring with us all our prior learning and experiences, add the new knowledge, save what we believe to be truth, and the result becomes who we are today. In this congregation, we are all Christians, but we are all different individuals. And that is beautiful. I don’t think it would be fair to leave without giving you the image of the Kingdom of Heaven. The description that these parables create in my mind is faith. Faith can grow from a very small beginning into something truly magnificent. Faith also be a group thing and can permeate those around us and can cause faith of others to grow. Faith is more valuable than diamonds or gold. Lastly, faith is dependent on our prior knowledge and beliefs. One of the most famous paintings in Latin America is in the cathedral of Lima, Peru. It is a full wall mural of the last supper. Jesus and the disciples appear similar to those we see them in Leonardo’s version, but in the center of the table is a baked guinea pig! That is what the natives of Peru eat at celebrations. We bring who we are into our faith even as it grows. Thus, to me Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven to be the combined faith of all Christians everywhere.