Todays readings are Matthew 8:14-13:35

In this section of Scripture, we see Jesus teaching, preaching, performing miracles and telling parables. In the midst of this we see Him begin to address the hypocrisy of established religion. This ticks off more than a few folks and a rift begins to grow. But more importantly, the events that lead to the Cross are set in motion.

The section of the readings that I chose to research, review, remember and respond to today comes right at the end of our readings, Matthew 13:31-33.

These three verses contain two short parables about the Kingdom of heaven. In the first, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”

In the second, He compares the Kingdom of heaven to yeast:

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

What strikes me about this is that both a mustard seed and yeast show growth, but they show it in two completely different ways. In fact, I think they show two completely different kinds of growth.

A mustard seed grows outwardly. It gets bigger and brings forth limbs, branches, leaves, buds and fruit.

Yeast grows inwardly, by changing the nature of what it effects.

The Kingdom of heaven involves both of these things. It grows outwardly, bringing about more disciples, bigger numbers, more people believing, giving serving and being served. But the Kingdom of heaven can’t be only that. In order for it to be that, there has to be the yeast side to it. It must grow inwardly as well. This happens not when the church (the Kingdom of heaven on earth) grows in numbers, when when the church grows in faith and faithfulness.

And that is what we are about during this Lenten season at St. Matthew. On Sundays we are working our way through the book of James for the purpose of maturing spiritually. Every day during Lent we are turning to God’s Word–to refelct, reseach, review, remember and respond–so that Word of God, like yeast, can come inside of us and change us and grow us inwardly.

What Biblical truths does God show me in these verses?
The Kingdom of God grows outwardly in number.
The Kingdom of God grows inwardly in faith and faithfulness.

Since God tells us in the book of James to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers, how can I apply these Biblical truths to my life?

By being in the Word, I will allow God to use that Word like yeast in my life, growing and changing me from within. That growth from within will allow God to use me in witness, giving and service to grow the Kingdom outwardly.