What do we have to do to grow the kingdom of God?
Luke 13:18 – 21
Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz
Luke 13:18 So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I
compare it? 19 “It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own
garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”
Luke 13:20 And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 “It
is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all
leavened.”
In Luke 13:18–21, we encounter two concise, one-sentence parables. The first concerns
a mustard seed that grows into a large plant, offering shelter to birds. The second
describes a woman kneading yeast into dough—an amount that would equal
approximately 148 pounds (67.13 kg) today. These parables are interconnected in a
profound way, and examining them together reveals their deeper significance.
In the Near East during Jesus’ time, the mustard seed was considered the smallest of
seeds. Yet, from this tiny seed grew a substantial shrub, providing shade during the
scorching summer heat. Birds would nest in its branches, seeking refuge from the sun.
This imagery serves as a powerful metaphor for God’s protective care—available to
those who recognize and trust in Him. Sadly, many fail to perceive God’s efforts to
safeguard them.
Jesus, represented by the mustard seed, initiated the Kingdom of God, which grows
and offers shelter to all who follow Him. At first glance, this parable might suggest that
the Kingdom expands without human effort. However, the second parable provides
essential balance.
An excellent example of God’s attempts to protect us is the story of a man who was
in his house when a flood started to occur. The water started to rise above the
foundation of the house and started to come into his living room. When he looked out
the window, everything looked like a gigantic sea, and he had no way to escape. Well,
actually, he did. He went to the second level of his house and was able to get out a
window, and he stood on his roof. The flood kept climbing toward the roof of the
house. So the man looked up to God and asked God in prayer to save him.
Soon after the man saw a boat, more like a canoe, with a motor coming toward him.
The man in the boat said to the man on the roof, I will save you. But the man was not
sure about the canoe and didn’t know this person, so he declined. He then looked up
again to God in heaven and said, God, please save me from these waters. I would
rather not drown and die. A few minutes later a helicopter showed up, a rope was
tossed out, and the man was told to climb the rope. The man didn’t want to climb the
rope, and he said, No, thank you. I’ll be saved in another way. He then looked up to
God and said, God, why are you not saving me? This time God responded to him by
saying, I sent you a boat, and I sent you a helicopter to save you, and you didn’t take
either. You’re on your own.
God is trying to protect us, and that’s what Jesus was saying here. He was the mustard
seed that was planted and would blossom, and it would give us God’s protection for
all those who follow him. But when I read this, I thought, Wait a minute, the mustard
seed quick parable indicates that we don’t have to do anything for the kingdom to get
this protection.
The parable of the woman kneading yeast into dough conveys intentional action. Yeast
must be worked thoroughly into the dough for it to permeate completely. This
symbolizes the active role of believers in spreading the Kingdom of God. While Jesus
plants the seed, it is our responsibility to ensure the message reaches the world. The
Kingdom does not advance passively; it requires engagement, teaching, and witness.
The mustard seed is indivisible, suggesting that the Kingdom of Heaven is unified and
cannot be fragmented. Yet, the institutional church today is deeply divided—a reality
that contradicts the Kingdom’s nature. Internal divisions, which began as early as the
Jerusalem Council (circa 48 CE), have persisted and hindered the Gospel’s global
spread. True growth demands unity, rooted in Christ’s love (agape), rather than selfinterest
or political maneuvering.
Until the church transcends denominational barriers and embodies genuine unity, the
Kingdom’s expansion will remain impaired. Scripture affirms that Jesus will not return
until the Gospel is proclaimed throughout the world (cf. Matthew 24:14). The church
is the vehicle for this mission, and believers must reclaim the simplicity of Jesus’
message: love God and love one another. This requires courage to challenge leadership
when priorities drift toward power rather than purpose.
The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast together present a holistic vision: the
Kingdom of God is divinely empowered yet demands human cooperation. Jesus
initiates the Kingdom, but its flourishing depends on our active participation and
commitment to unity. Only then can the Gospel permeate the world as intended,
restoring creation to the beauty God originally designed.
