Following Jesus Through MatthewSample

Yesterday’s reading showed us how we are to live on earth. There will come a day when we see God face to face and spend eternity with him, in the kingdom of God. In these parables, Jesus shows us a glimpse of what that will be like.

In the first two illustrations, Jesus tells us the kingdom spreads. Many of us might not be familiar with how a mustard plant spreads; we only know it’s used to make that wonderfully tangy condiment for hot dogs. (Or the condiment you’d never be caught dead putting on a hot dog.) We might be more familiar with bread dough, where one teaspoon of yeast is enough for the whole batch. Though we can’t see it, the word of God is spreading throughout the world, changing lives.

What about the hidden treasure and the pearl? Think about taking the time to save up for that thing you want to purchase – a car, a house, an education; it becomes very precious to you. 1 Peter 1 tells us that we were redeemed – purchased, bought back – with the precious blood of Christ. We are part of God’s kingdom not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. His sacrifice is precious indeed!

The parables of the weeds and the net are a bit harder to swallow, but they’re no less true. There will come a day when Jesus returns to the earth. Everyone who believes will rejoice on that day. But for those who don’t know Christ, this will be a day of judgment. We don’t know when this day will come, so it fills us with urgency as we share our faith with those around us. We want to introduce people to God and together fully follow him on this earth so that when Christ returns, we can all enter his kingdom in heaven.

Prayer: God, thank you for your word, even the hard-to-understand parts. Your word is true. Help me to never lose this sense of urgency. Help me to share my faith so that people will know what Christ has done for us, to save us from sin and to purchase a place for us in his kingdom. Amen.