Sunday, July 26, 2026, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
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 of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
44 “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.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 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. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?”, Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
We are all prone to make oversights about the world around us. We see things and base their reality, strength, power or ability on how we see them. And we are blessed to have eyes that see things both large and small. We enjoy seeing those things that lift and touch us emotionally — a beautiful sunset; a flower that reflects its own created beauty; the rare bird whose plumes are bursting with color; a mountain or ocean view landscape that gives our spirits peace. Those are things that we can see with our eyes and identify easily. And we sometimes misjudge what they’re capable of because of what we see. What baffles us are the things that are right before our very eyes and yet we can’t see, nor is it easy to assess their potential. And we’ve probably all heard or said at one time, “If it had been a snake, it would have bitten you!”, or “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight. It’s the size of the fight in the dog!” It’s those intangibles, the things we can’t see that cause us to misjudge the quality or the power of things.
Enter the mustard seed. 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. Or the yeast. Who can see it working inside the bread, giving life under the right conditions causing the bread to rise? We don’t see it working but it touches every ingredient in the final product. Or who can know the value of a treasure found hidden in a field or know when someone searching for something truly valuable will find it. We live not knowing whether or not those, who were captivated by God’s grace have truly accepted it, or whether they’re just playing along to get along. Only God can tell. Yet we can be sure — if we understand what Jesus is saying — that those of us who have truly found the kingdom have been transformed in such a way that we can teach people by our lives the truth of God’s law and grace and the gospel of Jesus Christ and his salvation. People may not see it in us, but we know it’s growing and we realize the kingdom of heaven alive in us.
- Have you ever considered the kingdom of heaven as a present reality in your life?
- What power and wisdom does that knowledge give you in your daily living that would be helpful in leading others to God’s truth?
Todays Prayer
Today’s Prayer —
Loving Christ, keep me ever mindful of the kingdom of heaven alive and growing within me. Let my life be an example to others who are searching for something they’d give everything to have — the knowledge of Your grace and mercy.
