Matthew 13

I do not know if you have noticed or not, but Matthew is structured in narrative/teaching structure. This chapter is a teaching chapter in Matthew, specifically teaching through parables. Each parable in the book of Matthew tells of the "Kingdom of Heaven," or the Kingdom of God as it is referred to in other gospels. Most of these parables have something to do with the land, as the people who Jesus taught were the "people of the land."

First Jesus tells of the parable of the sower and the soil. Some people hear the message of the Kingdom of God, and the enemy comes and snatches it away. Some hear the message, but it only effects them shallowly. Others here about the Kingdom, and the worries of life get in the way. But some here the message of the Kingdom, and it produces fruit in their lives. You see this parable lived out by different people within the Gospel. The Pharisees and religious leaders hear the message, but do not believe it. The huge crowds who follow Jesus, but abandon him in the end can be seen as the middle two soils. But those who hear and believe the message, Jesus produces fruit in their lives. The Parable of the weeds explains the righteous harvest that God will have at the end of times. The parable of the mustard seed and yeast I think is particularly relevant and challenging for us today in the American church. We so often look for immediate results. Our nation has been called a "Fast-food nation." But that is not the way the Kingdom works. Rather the Kingdom is like a mustard seed and yeast, which starts small, but over time grows.

Sometimes it is hard to understand the parables of Jesus, given that we are so far removed from the context. However, they are important to understand since they speak of the Kingdom of God and how it works. The Kingdom of God is the message that Jesus proclaimed, and wants his followers to live out. It is not something that "seven steps" will adequately explain. The Kingdom of God is at work in this world. It has been sown and is working slowly in the world, effecting change no matter where it goes.

"God, help us to be aware of your Kingdom in this world. Grow us, harvest us, and mold us into citizens of your Kingdom. Amen."