31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 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.”
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:
Let’s maintain our specific context. Jesus…referring to himself…said “the Kingdom of God has come to you”. The kingdom…that is like mustard seed and leaven…is the Body of Christ.
The same church what Jesus said “the gates of hell will not prevail against it”.
Ever hear the term “as much faith as a grain of mustard seed?”
Of course we have…but it’s not what Jesus said (as least not here). So, of course, what bothers me about the phrase is it implies that some effort on my part (faith) can influence the welfare of God’s Kingdom (the Body of Christ). While that may be true…it’s not true based on this text…and that’s important.
His allusion to the mustard seed is that it is similar to the Body of Christ…in that once it is planted, it will explode in size. And…the yeast completes the metaphor (these two similes make a metaphor, I think). A little, when put into a ball of dough, will leaven the entire loaf.
The whole truth is the Body of Christ will grow and influence everything…period. It has nothing to do with “our faith”, but with the nature of the Kingdom. At its zenith it will cover and control all of creation.
It will do so with, or without, our faith to assist it. I find this comforting at a time when if seems the church is being assaulted on all sides…and rapidly losing cultural influence around the globe. Assuming we are eagerly waiting the ultimate realization of God’s Kingdom…this is good news.
It’s a done deal. The only way to lose is to not be a member of the Body of Christ.
Live boldly out there today…
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