The Kingdom of Heaven is Like
There are several short passages of scripture in which Jesus makes comparisons to what the kingdom of heaven is like, in addition to the longer parables He spoke of in His teachings. Let’s look at a few of these shorter parables.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Matthew 13:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
The mustard seed is the least of all seeds. Among the things one can seek to sow, it might be considered the most insignificant, and the least desirable.
Now, in the parable of the sower, we will remember that Jesus said the seed of the word is sown into a man's heart. And so, the analogy here is that of a seed, a tiny seed, representing the word of the kingdom, sown into a man’s heart.
It says, like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed into his field. The seed of the kingdom, the word of God, the word of the kingdom, must be sown in the human spirit, the heart of a person, through hearing it and pondering it. Faith comes to us one way only, by hearing, by hearing the word of God. So, the word is sown by hearing it.
Seek ye First the Kingdom
But when it is sown, it becomes a great tree, it becomes very big within us, and it has a great impact on our lives. Jesus said, seek above all else the kingdom of God, that is, the knowledge, the understanding of the kingdom, through the study of and meditation upon the word of God, and all the things the Gentiles seek after shall be added unto you. That’s one of the powerful effects of sowing what looks like a tiny and insignificant seed, the seed of God’s word, into our hearts.
This comparison of the kingdom of God to a mustard seed is about the pursuit of the knowledge of the kingdom, through sowing the word of the kingdom, the word of God, something that appears insignificant compared to other pursuits, into our hearts. And that which we receive as a result is far greater, or a much larger tree, so to speak, than what we would otherwise receive through other pursuits. The benefits of seeking the kingdom are of far greater value.
The analogy of the birds coming and lodging in the branches of the mustard plant speaks of the place of safety and refuge produced by the presence of the kingdom of God in the life of the seeker.
The Parable of the Leaven
Matthew 13:33 The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
What is Leaven?
The primary meaning of the word leaven is an ingredient placed in bread dough, usually yeast, that causes the dough to rise. It can be used with a negative connotation, in having the mind corrupted or affected in a bad way, as in the analogy Jesus made saying, beware the leaven of the Pharisees. It is used positively when speaking of modifying or transforming something in a good way. In each of these three cases, one thing is in common; something is transformed.
In this passage of scripture, the leaven represents what the kingdom of God is like. It is like leaven placed in three measures of meal, likely speaking of the triune nature of man, which is spirit, soul, and body until the whole is transformed. The thing placed into the three measures of meal that transforms it is the word of God.
Be Ye Transformed
The Apostle Paul said to be transformed by the renewing or the renovation of your mind. The word of God is placed into our minds by hearing and pondering it, transforming not only our minds, that is, our thinking, but, more importantly, it feeds our spirit. The word of God is nourishment for man’s spirit and it affects our entire being, spirit, soul, and body. It transforms our entire being. Jesus said the words I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life, and Peter said to desire the sincere milk of the word, the nourishment of the word, that you may grow thereby.
Treasure Hidden in a Field
Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The kingdom is compared here to hidden treasure a man finds in a field. The kingdom, generally speaking, means the recognition of the kingdom, the knowledge of the kingdom, and the understanding of the kingdom. And it is something secret that can be found.
The Mysteries of the Kingdom
In the eleventh verse of this chapter, Matthew chapter 13, Jesus says that it is given to you to understand the mysteries of the kingdom. Mysteries are things that are kept secret but can be made known, or revealed. They are hidden things that can be found or discovered in a field, that is, in the world we live in.
In the analogy presented in this scripture verse, a man finds a hidden treasure in a field, he discovers the knowledge of the kingdom, he finds something that, unfortunately, comparatively few people even know exists.
Recognizing the value of the knowledge he has found, and for the joy of this knowledge, this treasure, he sells everything he has, gives up other pursuits and aspirations, and pays the price necessary to buy the field. It costs him everything, but to him, it’s worth it. He makes the knowledge of the kingdom his sole pursuit.
The Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls.
Matthew 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Like other passages, this passage is about giving up the more insignificant things of life to gain something of greater value, the knowledge of the kingdom. Jesus is once again emphasizing the importance of pursuing the knowledge of the kingdom, the knowledge of the word of God.
In this story, a merchantman finds an expensive pearl, a pearl of great value, something he has been seeking and looking for all his life, and he gives up everything, he sells all his other possessions, just to take ownership of this magnificent pearl.
This is the picture of someone who discovers the kingdom of God, the kingdom that Jesus came to bring to men, the knowledge of the kingdom, and seeing the great value of it, he gives up his other desires to gain it for himself.
The knowledge of the kingdom, the knowledge of the word of God, is like a hidden treasure. It must be looked for as one would search for hidden treasure.
Proverbs 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
Proverbs 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
The Parable of the Net
Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.
Matthew 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
The kingdom of God is compared in this parable to a net that was cast into the sea and caught a large number of fish of all varieties, some good, some bad. When the net was full it was drawn to the shore and the good fish were put into vessels and the bad ones were thrown away.
This is like the parable to the tares, where the angels, the reapers, at the end of the world are sent to separate the bad people from the good, to place the good into safe keeping, and to throw the bad into the furnace of fire, depicting hell fire, where there shall be great torment and vehement anger.
Again, this is an exhortation to live godly lives in this life, while the opportunity is available, serving the Lord with sincerity.