MATTHEW 13.31-33; 44-46; 51-52
…the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (V.45-46)
Through short parables, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed tree, leaven, a treasure hidden in a field, and a fine pearl. On the surface, Jesus’ stories seem disconnected from one another. In truth, they reveal different aspects of the Kingdom and its power. The first two parables speak about the far reaching influence of the Kingdom. Even though it begins as something small and weak, God grows it into something powerful and far-reaching. God builds on a small and seemingly insignificant scale, made most evident in the ignoble crucifixion of a Galilean peasant that leads to the glorious resurrection of the Son of God. The second two parables seem to be teaching the same thing — that the kingdom of heaven is like the discovery of something wonderful. Both show that, when found, the Kingdom of God eclipses the power of anything else might have over us. When the Kingdom of God is “discovered”, it becomes supreme in our lives. This is not a choice as much as it is a natural response.
1. What part of the text or sermon had the greatest impact on you?
Where were you most encouraged, intrigued, challenged?
2. What do the parables about the mustard seed and leaven teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven? How does the “smallness” of God’s Kingdom impact your view of “seeking the Kingdom first”?
3. How can thinking about the Kingdom of Heaven make you joyful now and in the future? What is the difference between just giving Jesus your life and just giving Him your afterlife?
4. What is the most powerful earthly treasure that fights to rule your heart? What would it mean for you to value the Kingdom of Heaven like the man who found the “Great Pearl?”
5. Why do you think Jesus concluded His seven parables with a question: “Have you understood all these things?”