Parable VIII: KOG III
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Experiencing Kingdom of God
Experiencing Kingdom of God
Matthew
The New International Version Chapter 13
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.”
Mark
The New International Version Chapter 4
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
Luke
The New International Version Chapter 13
18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
Historial interpretation
Growth and development of the Church or individual or some even interpreted as to the progression of Jesus’ life from birth to his burial and resurrection.
Which of these three interpretations can you also agree with?
If the Church is in mind of this interpretation, the parable points to the glory, or triumph of the Church or Christianity.
If the individual is in mind interpreting this parable, the parable points to the maturity of faith.
There’s definitely lack of understanding of Kingdom of God in historial interpretation, as they’re are mostly geared towards anthropological approach. But not to minimising the interpretation of the past theologians. Its interpretations are very helpful, and applicable in the life of individuals, and the Church.
Historical interpretations aren’t wrong, but are additional elements of the parable, but the central theme of the parable are eschatology and Jesus’ expectation of the full revelation of the kingdom of God to come!
Too many people have focused too much on the contrast of the smallest seed to its largest tree that it becomes. Hence failed to focus on its central theme of the last day and the already present Kingdom of God.
Linking this parable to the parable of the WEEDS and the WHEAT, what we can understand about the Kingdom of God is that now matter how unimpressive, how hidden, unnoticed or ignored, that the Kingdom of GOD is present, its full revelation with its fullest benefits will come.
The kingdom of God which has already begun, or is alreay existing with Jesus, does not come with a glorious bang and the defeat of the evil. What will come as bang is the final day of judgment. Infact, it will come unexpectedly, and almost unnoticed.
More than its final day of judgment, what’s is more in focus is the PRESENT KINGDOM OF GOD.
The focus on the birds dwelling in the branches or shades of the tree is the representation of the greatness and benefit of the Kingdom will bring in present reality.
We can see a example of it, in its most human form, in book of Daniel.
Dream/Vision and its interpretation in the book of Daniel:
Daniel 4:9-27
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
“ ‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.
17 “ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds—22 Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’
24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
<Adapting the parable>
The idea of the future Kingdom which is present now.
Image of KOG
Display of mighty power of God defeating or removal of the evil.
Image of the parable
Seed is planted - seend planter <Jesus>
Seed grows to become a large tree <transformation>
Act of coming to the tree to rest is up on the decision of the individuals <decision to remain in Jesus in its tranformed state>
Seed is planted - seend planter <Jesus>
Would like to start with saying that its wrong to think this parable is about the spiritual growth of the individuals; although it is not wrong to understand the dynamics of God’s work and applying it to the individuals. Meaning the seed that is planted by Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
The New International Version Chapter 1
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” l
So, understanding and applying this parable to idea of growth is probably not the wisest, or best interpretation because from the past, and even till now, growth of Kingdom of God is always associated with growth of the Church. Growing of our faith naturally leads to growth of the Church. But the nature of the Kingdom of God does not need GROWTH. Kingdom of God is proclaimed, fulfilled, and existed. Meaning, its not something that we will help it grow, or multiply in its numbers. (Probably more of a misuse of the word then the central idea of Kingdom of God).
<Side track>
Saving faith Vs Gift of Faith
Saving faith: gift of God, placed in us in order to regenerate
Gift of faith: special ability which God, through the Holy Spirit, gives to certain people to live a life of entire dependence directly upon him
Seed grows to become a large tree <transformation>
Rather, what we should focus is the TRANFORMATION of the seed, rather than its growth.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Renew is to transform
Mind is about understanding, and ways of thinking and attitude.
Act of coming to the tree to rest. The resting place is provided <decision to remain in Jesus in its tranformed state>
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
Remaining in God, in faith, is not just about reading the word, praying, fellowship and serving. It is more than doing what we believe is good, or what the stereotypical Christians do. They are “MUST”. But even in midst of doing all the right things, we still experience massive gap between experiencing Kingdom of God and the real world. Meaning there’s a massive gap between the Kingdom of God in bible to Kingdom of God in the real world.
What sustains us in the real world where the Kingdom of God seems so small, is because of the truth we know, that he saved, he hears, and that he also sustains.
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.