Kingdom Parables

Jesus taught several parables about the kingdom of God, its unexpected ways of expansion, and its status in the world - Mark 4:21-34. 

The gospel of Mark provides only a few examples of the many parables taught by Jesus, his primary method of teaching (“Apart from a parable he did not speak to the crowds”). The dominant theme in them is the kingdom, the reign of God that commenced in Christ’s ministry and has continued since as the gospel is proclaimed - [Hay harvest photo by Luca on Unsplash].

Jesus taught the Jewish people in parables, but only as they “were able to hear,” which stresses the responsibility of the listener to hear and heed his words. Those who had “ears to hear” acquired insight into the parables, though he gave explicit explanations only “privately, to his own disciples.”

THE LAMPSTAND

This is a single parable comprised of two stories linked by the repeated clause, “he was saying to them.” Taught together, they highlight aspects of the Parable of the Sower and explain why Jesus taught in parables.

• (Mark 4:21-25) - “And he was saying to them: Does the lamp come that under the measure it should be put or under the couch? Is it not that upon the lampstand it may be put? For it is not hidden, save that it may be made visible. Neither did it get hidden away, but that it might come into a place where it could be seen. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. And he was saying to them: Be taking heed what ye are hearing, with what measure you measure it will be measured to you and added to you; for he that has, it will be given to him, and he that has not, even what he has will be taken from him.”

The typical first-century lamp was an oil vessel with a floating wick. Many things could be used as “lampstands” to better illuminate a room, including something as simple as an overturned basket.

The “measure” translates a Greek term, modios (Strong’s - #G3426), which is a transliteration of the Latin word modius, the Roman grain measure of approximately eight quarts or one peck.

But the size and shape of the lampstand are irrelevant to the story. Whether one conceals a lamp under a bushel basket or a couch, the point is the same. No one would do such a thing. to hide a lit lamp made no sense.

Moreover, his question expects a positive answer and provides a clue to the parable’s meaning (“A lamp is not brought to be put under a measure, is it, or under a bed?”). Light is provided so those who enter a house are not left in darkness. Light reveals what was hidden in darkness.

Jesus referred to a “lamp that does not come.” The verb indicates the hypothetical lamp represents Jesus, the light-bearer. The parable is not about judging others but about the man who has “ears to hear.” He must listen carefully because the standard for judging is the teaching of Jesus.

The “measure” one gives to hear is the measure of what one receives. Individuals receive God’s blessing in accordance with how they receive or respond to the word when they encounter it.

GROWING IN SECRET

The next story addresses the question: How can Jesus proclaim the kingdom yet not work more actively to bring it about? It arose because he did not implement the Kingdom in the manner expected by so many.

• (Mark 4:26-29) - “And he was saying: Thus is the kingdom of God. As a man may cast seed upon the earth, and be sleeping and rising night and day, and the seed is sprouting and lengthening itself, how he knows not. Of itself, the earth bears fruit; first, a blade, then, an ear, after that, full corn in the ear. But as soon as the fruit yields itself up, immediately, he sends forth the sickle because standing by is the harvest.”

This is told from the perspective of the first-century farmer who would not understand how seeds germinate and grow. He only knew that harvest resulted after sowing seeds. After planting, the farmer did little until the time of harvest. In the interim, the seeds germinated and grew of their own accord.

Jesus likens the Kingdom to something banal, not to something mighty or grand, namely, to seeds. The mundane activities of planting and harvesting portray the paradox of the Kingdom. Jesus sows the initial seed, an action that does not produce the spectacular results desired by many, nor ones that are easily observed.

[Photo by Ant Rozetsky on Unsplash]

He also likens the Kingdom to the process of growth. Within itself, the seed contains life-giving power. Once planted, it sets in motion the process that culminates in a large harvest, and at the appropriate season. The farmer cannot hurry the final harvest, but it does come to those who wait patiently for it.

The inauguration of the Kingdom began inauspiciously in the person, words, and deeds of Jesus. The “harvest” will come when the task of gospel proclamation is completed (“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth, for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” - Matthew 24:14).

THE MUSTARD SEED

The “mustard seed” is a proverbial representation of something that is especially small. It is approximately 1 millimeter in diameter. Later, Jesus also used it to represent a small amount of faith - (Matthew 17:20 - “Faith as small as a mustard seed”).

• (Mark 4:30-32) - “And he was saying: How shall we liken the kingdom of God, or in what parable shall we put it? As a grain of mustard seed, which, whensoever it may be sown upon the earth, is less than all the seeds that are upon the earth. And as soon as it is sown, it springs up and becomes greater than all garden plants and produces large branches so that under the shade thereof the birds of heaven can find shelter.”

The “mustard seed” is small and unimpressive to the human eye. But from it, a shrub grows that measures up to five meters in height. And his question indicates what this parable is about (“With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?”).

Many Jews expected the Messiah to usher in the Kingdom with powerful signs, and perhaps with military might. But his ministry was small and unimpressive, though, in the end, it would become the full Kingdom of God and fill the entire earth.

The description, the “birds of the air,” refers to ritually impure birds, like ravens and hawks. The Kingdom attracts individuals considered to be “unclean” outsiders by the religious insiders.  The reference may anticipate the future opening of the gospel to the Gentiles - (Psalm 104:12, Ezekiel 17:23, 31:6, Daniel 4:9-21).

WITH MANY PARABLES

The version of the parable in Matthew adds a quotation from the Psalms (“All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet” – Psalm 78:2).

• (Mark 4:33-34) - “And with many such parables as these, he was speaking to them the word, according as they were able to hear. But without a parable was he not speaking to them. Privately, however, to his own disciples was he explaining all things.”

He taught in parables, but only as they “were able to hear.” This stresses the responsibility of the listener to heed his words, for only those “with ears to hear” are willing to hearken to his teachings.

A key lesson from his parables is that the “Kingdom of God” does not come in obvious or expected ways. Additionally, it has been progressing in the world ever since the ministry of Jesus began in the obscure territory of Galilee, whether anyone understood it then or now.

The kingdom advances in the world, largely unseen, whenever the “seed” is sown. As the gospel is proclaimed, hostile “territory” is conquered, and citizens are added to the Kingdom. This process will consummate at the end of the age when God’s sovereign rule is fully established, and He subjugated all the enemies of His Messiah.

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