Small Beginning, Grand Fulfillment

Author: Joseph

Date: September 20, 2020

The parables of the mustard seed and of the leaven in three pecks of flour both resemble how the Kingdom of God began and how it was prophesied by Yeshua to grow and eventually lead to an eternal kingdom. What is important to note is that although the there are many parables about the kingdom of God, there is a significant meaning to each one that is unique.

In the parable of the mustard seed, Yeshua says that a man planted a small mustard seed in his field and then it grew and became larger than all the other plants and even the birds came and nested in its branches (Matthew 13:31-32). The mustard seed, being a single entity represents Yeshua. He was the initiator of the kingdom of God (mustard seed) Who was killed (planted) and rose again (became a tree) and Whose kingdom is greater than any other kingdom of the world (cf. Ezekiel 17:22-24; God prophesied that a “young sprig” would come from the dynasty of Judah and become greater than its former kings so much that all the kingdoms of the world – other “trees” – would know that He is God. It was a prophecy about Yeshua from which Matthew 13:32 references a tree “larger than the garden plants” which the “birds of the air come and nest in its branches”). The kingdom of God that sprouted from Yeshua grew just as the mustard seed and now surpasses more than 2000 years with a multitude of believers who came after the twelve disciples of Yeshua. The kingdom of God is now like a grand tree that began with a small, humble mustard seed.

The parable of the leaven and the bread also directly correlate to Yeshua initiating the kingdom of God. In this parable, a woman hides leaven in “three pecks of flour until it was all leavened” (Matthew 13:33). Yeshua, the initiator of the kingdom of God, is represented here by the leaven, which is buried in three pecks of flour (representing three days in the tomb after His crucifixion). Yeshua’s death, burial for three days, and then subsequent resurrection was the beginning of the kingdom growing into something much bigger. His conquest over death during those three days is what established eternal life for all those who would become a part of His kingdom. Believers join in Yeshua’s death and resurrection to eternal life (Romans 6:5-9; cf. John 11:25); we, the people of His kingdom, rise together with Him like leavened flour.

The kingdom of God began through Yeshua coming to earth and living among us. It continued to grow through the twelve disciples and then multiplied after Yeshua ascended into heaven and released His Holy Spirit to continue His work and enable the disciples that remained. The disciples multiplied by the thousands during Pentecost and then widened their outreach among Israel and the nations surrounding them. The kingdom of God continued to expand throughout history and still does to this day, with many putting their faith in God who believe in the testimony of Yeshua and the message of His kingdom.

The kingdom of God will continue to expand among people in this world and will ultimately come to fulfillment one day in the future. The mustard seed is now a tree that continues to grow. The leavened flour is still rising. There is still time before the grand fulfillment of these things comes to pass. We must continue to bring others to Yeshua and join us in His kingdom before the opportunity for them to enter the kingdom ends.

"The kingdom of God... will ultimately come to fulfillment one day..."

What are you doing today to spread the good news and to be used by God as His messenger of faith? Our opportunity to do this will not last forever. Take each day as an urgent opportunity to reach out to others so that they can take joy when the day of the Lord finally comes and His kingdom is brought into its grand fulfillment.

Matthew 13:31 – 33

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright by The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org).