Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31–32
Parables were one of the hallmarks of Jesus’ teaching. When the disciples asked why He used them, He said, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:11). Jesus would also say, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight” (Matthew 11:25–26). With the parables that He taught, Jesus was able to conceal His message about the kingdom from His enemies while revealing these important truths to those with honest hearts. What did He say His kingdom would be like?
Christ’s kingdom would be hidden from the masses, but very precious to the few who would welcome it. Like treasure buried in a field (Matthew 13:44) or leaven placed inside some meal (v 33) or a mustard seed so small as to be virtually invisible (vv 31–32), this kingdom would not be apparent to the casual observer. When some of the Pharisees asked when the kingdom would come, He replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20–21). When Jesus returned to Nazareth after His baptism and began to preach the kingdom’s approach, they clearly did not recognize the profound significance of His words (Matthew 13:54–58). To those who would accept Jesus and His kingdom, however, He would prove a priceless treasure––like that hidden treasure (v 44) or the pearl of great price (vv 45–46) that is worth far more than the full sum of any man’s earthly substance.
As precious as this kingdom would be, it would not be free of corruption. Jesus said that there would be weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43). These weeds would not come, of course, from the pure seed, but from an enemy. There would be bad fish caught along with the good (vv 47–50) as the disciples went out fishing for men. The apostles often warned of corruption that would exist within the church (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:13; Acts 20:30; 2 Peter 2:1–3; Revelation 2:14–15). Jesus assures us, however, that God will sort it all out in the end and separate the wicked from the just (Matthew 13:40–42).
Jesus also showed that those who fail to see the true value of the kingdom often give it up too easily. This is the problem with the plants that sprang up in the rocky and the thorny soils. The rocky soil is too superficial: while it looks so promising because it yields the first sprouts, its inability to root leads to a speedy demise, like the person who accepts Jesus without giving discipleship much thought. The thorny soil is already too burdened with other things, like the person who wants to add discipleship to a list of other things on a lengthy résumé. What is the kingdom worth to you? Would you give everything you have––even your life––in exchange for it? It may seem insignificant and powerless to most, but the truth is that there is nothing more important in this life than being a citizen in the kingdom of heaven and no influence more powerful in any society. We need to be careful that we do not become so distracted by things in this life that we miss the single most important thing of all––the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Is this truly the priority in your life?