Description
What is the kingdom of heaven? In Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, Jesus addresses this question using a series of short parables about everyday objects and their functions. Mustard seeds, yeast and pearls are small. A field and net don’t seem to be anything remarkable. However, Jesus uses these things to convey the significance and pricelessness of God’s promises to faith and life.
The parables of the mustard seed and yeast appear in Mark and Luke, but the “pearl of great price”, hidden treasure” and the parable of the net are found only in Matthew although there is the story of the great catch of fish in Matthew Chapter 4. Matthew enjoys telling these parables because it shows Jesus as the one who subverts the norms, using everyday things to teach the amazing truth of the kingdom of heaven.
Yet how do we relate to these parables let alone understand the kingdom or heaven, especially if we are explaining this to people who are not in church. We may be able to buy mustard seeds in the spice section of the supermarket, but would we recognise a mustard bush? Most of us don’t bake bread regularly, and what is a large measure of flour? As for sacrificing everything to gain a big pearl – we can probably make a bigger one, and if we needed to purchase a field with a treasure, some could take out another mortgage.
But the most puzzling thing in the reading is the “kingdom of heaven”. Some might prefer to say, “the reign of Christ”, steering away from the concept and fallibility of kings. Apart from the idea of heaven as a place we hope we’ll end up, we understand that kingdom is a form of government, and put together with seeds, yeast, pearls and buried treasure – there seem to be a cultural disconnect.
However, we are post Pentecost people. Just as Jesus used everyday 1st Century things, we as 21st Century people have the gift of the Holy Spirit to work in us and through life’s events to witness the kingdom of heaven. Perhaps identifying what we treasure most can help us to understand what Jesus was saying. What are we prepared to give up so to gain what Jesus offers – and it may not be about things. Perhaps the kingdom of heaven is the joy of remembering relationships matter more than things and ultimately growing our relationship with Jesus who reaches out to us is the most important. It will help us to navigate the storms of life and give us confidence to face the future and what it holds. It is knowing God who know us and understand us, and whose Son died so we could live the kingdom of God now and into the future.
