20Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'
27"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'
28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."
31At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."
32He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' 33In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
34"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." (NIV)
MAIN IDEAS FROM THIS TEXT
A. The rule of God in the hearts of people may not be obvious, but it is growing, and one day it will be found all over the entire earth.
18Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." 20Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
- the mustard seed was the smallest of agricultural seeds in Palestine, and yet it had acquired quite a popular status because it could grow anywhere from 8 to 12 feet.
- commentators differ over whether the “yeast” illustration is meant to describe God’s ever-increasing rule over the earth, or the same within in a believer’s heart. However this should be understood, we are to remember that the growth of the kingdom is God’s work, with the spreading (and greater understanding) of the gospel as the means of this (Col 1:3-14; 1 Co 3:5-7).
Discussion Question #1: How does the assurance that God has been building His kingdom through the ages an encouragement to you? A caution to you?
B. Although many people are associated with Jesus, and hear His words regularly, they don’t necessarily know Him in a way that will save them.
He said to them, 24"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to..28"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."
”make every effort” – seems to suggest that works are necessary for salvation? “This signifies a great struggle against conflict. Christ was not suggesting that anyone could merit heaven by striving for it….salvation is solely by grace, not by works (Eph 2:8-9). But entering…. is nonetheless difficult because of its cost in terms of human pride, because of the sinner’s natrual love for sin, and because of the world’s and Satan’s opposition to the truth.” (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1542).
Just what is the “narrow door”? Some may say it is repentance and faith as opposed to works, but in the light of the following passages, it is most likely Jesus Christ Himself:
"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (Jn 10:9)
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)
"the last…will be first, and the first…will be last” – those who expect themselves to be “saved” because they are part of God’s nation (i.e., Jews) will be shut out, while those who come from the four corners of the earth, who’ve had no previous knowledge of God’s law (i.e., Gentiles) will be welcomed.
Discussion Question #2: What criteria can we use to determine whether or not we are truly among those who are saved, and not just those who think they are?
C. No one can possibly detract Jesus from His plans.
'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' 33In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
“today and tomorrow and the next day” - not to be taken literally. “This expression signified only that Christ was on His own divine timetable….expressions like this were common in Semitic usage, and seldom were employed in a literal sense to specify precise interavals of time.” (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1543)
D. Jesus shows great compassion and concern by grieving over those who reject Him – especially the people of His own nation.
34"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"
“Christ’s repeated expressions of grief over the plight of Jerusalem do not diminish the reality of His absolute sovereignty over all that happens. Nor should the truth of divine sovereignty be used to depreciate the sincereity of His compassion.” (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1543)
Also worth noting: Christ employs female imagery here. While Christ is a man, and God Himself – being a Spirit – is neither male nor female – sometimes there are female images that are used to describe certain attributes of God, and such is the case here. What we should be struck by, more than anything, is the tenderness that God shows in Christ.
E. Jesus will not reject Israel forever. He will incline the hearts of a great number of Jews toward Him again.
I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
The expression that is translated “Blessed is he….” does not have the flavour of a forced and reluctant acknowledgement of Christ’s Kingship, but is rather welcoming, and joyful. Therefore what Christ is likely getting at here is the way in which God will work to draw a great multitude of Jews back to Himself before Christ’s second return (Rom 11:25-32).
Next week: Luke 14:1-24 – Healing Again on the Sabbath, Seeking Seats of Honour, the Parable of the Great Banquet
