In Matthew 19:3-12, Jesus addresses the Pharisees’ question on divorce, grounding His response in God’s original design for marriage while introducing celibacy as a kingdom-oriented choice. Amid first-century Jewish debates over divorce, particularly regarding Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Jesus clarifies that Moses’ allowance for divorce was due to the condition of human hearts, not God’s intent. The phrases “become one flesh,” “divorce,” and “made themselves eunuchs” reveal Jesus as Messiah and King, restoring divine purpose and illuminating the redemptive, eternal Kingdom of God.
Key Words and Phrases
“Become One Flesh” – Drawn from Genesis 2:24, “become one flesh” (v. 5) uses Hebrew basar echad (H1320, basar for flesh; H259, echad for one), denoting a profound physical, emotional, and spiritual unity. In Greek, Matthew employs sarx mia (G4561, sarx; G3391, mia), emphasizing composite oneness, akin to the Trinity’s relational nature. This union reflects Christ’s covenant with His Church Ephesians 5:25-32. Jesus’ command, “let no man separate” (v. 6), asserts His kingship, restoring creation’s design and foreshadowing the eternal bond with His Bride in the Kingdom.
“Divorce” – The Greek apolyō (G630, “to release” or “send away”) defines divorce (v. 7). Citing Deuteronomy 24:1, the Pharisees reference Moses’ provision. Jesus clarifies that Moses permitted divorce due to sklērokardia (G4641, “hardness of heart,” v. 8), reflecting human sinfulness, not God’s original intent. By restricting divorce to porneia (G4202, immorality, v. 9), Jesus reestablishes divine standards, showcasing His authority as Messiah to interpret the Law and His redemptive grace for broken relationships.
“Made Themselves Eunuchs” – (v. 12) employs eunouchizō (G2134), indicating voluntary celibacy for kingdom purposes. Historically, eunouchos (G2135) referred to castrated or celibate individuals. Jesus presents celibacy as a gift (dedotai, G1325, “given,” v. 11), mirroring His own life and total devotion to God. This anticipates the eschatological reality where marriage ceases Matthew 22:30, emphasizing undivided service to the King.
Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ Example
By clarifying God’s intent against Moses’ concession due to hardened hearts, Jesus reveals His present and future lordship. As King, He upholds marriage as a reflection of His covenant with the Church, addresses divorce as a response to human weakness, and honors celibacy as a kingdom calling. These teachings display God’s faithfulness, mercy, and holiness, aligning with His redemptive plan through Christ. The “one flesh” union mirrors Christ’s unity with believers, divorce highlights His hatred of disunity and destruction of broken relationships, and celibacy His sufficiency. His lordship empowers believers to embody these callings now, awaiting their fulfillment at His return.
Conclusion
Matthew 19:3-12 calls Christians to view marriage and celibacy as kingdom vocations under Christ’s lordship. By distinguishing God’s intent from human concessions, Jesus urges believers to reflect His covenantal love. Disciple-makers must guide others to honor both paths, fostering a community that embodies the Kingdom’s eternal nature. Jesus reigns now, transforming lives, and will consummate His eternal Kingdom.
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
One Flesh, One Purpose
The gym hummed with the rhythm of clanging weights and the steady thud of sneakers on treadmills. Rabecca adjusted her grip on the dumbbells, her breaths sharp as she powered through another set. At twenty-nine, her lean frame reflected discipline, but her eyes carried a quiet restlessness. She glanced at the clock—6:15 PM, June 17, 2025—then at Penny, her mentor, who was spotting her with a steady gaze.
“Ten more, Becs,” Penny said, her voice warm but firm. “Focus.” Rabecca’s arms burned, but it was her heart that felt heavier. She’d been wrestling with a question that no workout could sweat out: Should I settle? The guy she’d been texting, Mark, was kind, successful, but divorced. Her friends urged her to “be realistic,” but the thought of compromising her dream of a God-ordained marriage gnawed at her.
As they moved to the stretching mats, Rabecca’s thoughts spilled out. “Penny, I’m almost thirty, and I’m still single. Mark’s great, but he’s been divorced. Said he’d messed up the relationship but he’s changed since then. I keep wondering if I’m being too picky, if I should just… lower my standards.”
Penny sat cross-legged, her gray-streaked braid swinging as she leaned forward. “Becs, let’s talk about what Jesus says in Matthew 19. You know the part about marriage and divorce?” Rabecca nodded, wiping sweat from her brow. “Jesus quotes Genesis—‘the two shall become one flesh.’ It’s not just about bodies uniting; it’s a soul-deep bond, a reflection of Christ and His Church. God designed marriage to mirror His covenant love, not to be a fallback plan.”
Rabecca’s shoulders slumped. “But what about divorce? Mark’s ex left him. Jesus said divorce was allowed because of ‘hardness of heart,’ right? Doesn’t that mean it’s okay sometimes?”
Penny’s eyes softened, but her tone held conviction. “Jesus clarified that Moses permitted divorce because people’s hearts were stubborn, not because it was God’s best. Divorce is a concession to human brokenness, not the ideal. You’re not just looking for a husband, Becs—you’re seeking God’s design, a man who’ll pursue that ‘one flesh’ unity with you under Christ’s lordship.”
Rabecca stretched her hamstrings, her mind racing. “What if that man never comes? I don’t want to be alone forever.”
Penny smiled, her face radiating quiet strength. “Jesus also talked about those who choose to be ‘eunuchs’ for the sake of the Kingdom—people who embrace singleness to serve God fully. It’s not a consolation prize; it’s a calling, just like marriage. Think of Jesus Himself—single, yet complete in His devotion to the Father. Right now, your singleness is a gift to live kingdom-minded, to grow in His likeness, serving others without distraction.”
Rabecca’s eyes stung, not from sweat but from a stirring within. She thought of Jesus, the King who lived fully for God, whose love was enough. “So, I keep praying for the right man, but… also use this time to be more like Him?”
“Exactly,” Penny said, standing. “Whether married or single, your life can reflect Christ’s commitment and love. Pray for a husband who shares that vision, but don’t settle for less than God’s design. And while you wait, let your singleness shine for the Kingdom—mentor kids at church, lead that Bible study. Be like Jesus, Becs, in every choice.”
As they left the gym, Rabecca felt lighter. The weight of her fears hadn’t vanished, but a new resolve burned within—to pursue Christ’s heart, to trust God’s timing, and to live her singleness as a testimony to the King’s present and eternal reign.
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
Introduction
In this essay we will discover Jesus’ prophecy of the gospel of the kingdom being preached to all the nations before His return. We will discuss how Jesus started this multiplicative chain reaction to facilitate global evangelization, the message He used, and the people He chose to spread His message. We will also look at the tension between urgency and sustainability.
Key Words and Phrases
The gospel of the kingdom – When Jesus and His disciples preached “the gospel of the kingdom,” He had yet to be crucified and resurrected. Although these two events are essential elements of the gospel, Jesus’ gospel was the gospel of the hour. Basically, it was that God’s love was on display through the sending of His Son, the awaited Messiah King to redeem His people from their sins. It was a gospel that was preached at the time, and then later inaugurated by Jesus Christ’s redeeming work on the cross and demonstration of His sovereignty by His resurrection, but would be completely manifested in the final consummation of His kingdom at His return, when salvation and judgment are fully revealed and all things are brought under His headship. God’s expectation for response to this gospel message was to “repent and believe.” (Mark 1:14-15) In other words, trust that the awaited King has arrived and align our lives with His ways. The ways of the kingdom. This gospel of the kingdom is much like the kingdom itself; preached as a very present reality and yet waiting for future fulfillment.
In the whole world – Whole – ὅλος (Strong’s G3650 – holos) all, whole, completely. World – οἰκουμένη (Strong’s G3625 – oikoumenē) the inhabited earth or the portion of the earth inhabited by the Greeks, in distinction from the lands of the barbarians or the Roman empire, all the subjects of the empire or the universe. In this particular case, as Jesus is looking to the end and includes “all nations,” the whole inhabited earth fits the translation best.
As a testimony to all the nations – Testimony – μαρτύριον (Strong’s G3142 – martyrion) to be testified, testimony, witness. Nations – ἔθνος (Strong’s G1484 – ethnos) a tribe, nation, people group. This is the word in which we derive “ethnic” from.
Then the end will come – End – τέλος (Strong’s G5056 – telos) the end, the last in any succession or series, eternal. In context Jesus is talking about His return and the end of mankind in this present realm. (Matthew 24)
Messianic Model – His Gospel was the Gospel of the Kingdom
As stated earlier, this was the gospel Jesus preached. He preached it in many ways, from the parables, to the Sermon on the Mount (Kingdom Values), to private sessions with His disciples explaining the kingdom of God. It was His primary message from the beginning (Matthew 4:17) and the end (Acts 1:3). He not only preached it, He lived it. He is the kingdom of God personified. When the religious leaders asked about the kingdom, He could truly say “behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21) He lived and preached the gospel of the kingdom to His death (and after His resurrection) and expects us to do the same until He returns.
Key Theological Implications
When we talk about the gospel in context of the kingdom as Jesus did, it becomes more than just the forgiveness of sins (although this is an essential part of the gospel). The gospel Jesus preached was about the realm and rule of an almighty, all knowing, completely sovereign Divine King that stepped into human history as a man. He came not only to redeem us of our sins but to exert His authority over all who receive Him and become His subjects and co-regents. He also showed us an example of what it looks like to live as a steward made in God’s image and what kingdom work and character look like. In the present, mankind has a choice to make Him Lord and inherit eternal life but one day every knee will bow and call Him Lord. (Philippians 2:10–11)
Contemporary Spiritual Significance
One of the essential elements missing from the gospel that is preached today is the Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. If Jesus is not Lord, there is no reason to be sorry for my sins and ask for forgiveness. There is no need to repent, to change my thinking and way of life to align with His design. We are left with a subjective emotional response that acknowledges Jesus as a good moral teacher but not someone who has all authority in my life (let alone all creation). We must preach the gospel Jesus preached and lived and died for or we are not preaching the gospel at all. Usually, when people refer to a false gospel, they are talking about adding a merit system (works) to what is being preached. This is what the Apostle Paul was fighting in Galatians. But the other end of the pendulum swing is a gospel that fails to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord through discipleship (a willingness and effort to bring my life under subjection to His rule). Both ends of the spectrum are just as dangerous and just as false.
Another facet of proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom is a sense of urgency as people are perishing by the thousands daily. We have the model of the Master and His self-proclaimed mission “to seek and to save that which is lost.” (Luke 19:10) We should be sharing with everyone in our relational network and those who cross our paths. However, this is a lifetime pursuit. We need to accept that we have capacity issues and must steward the ministry God has given us. This will take time. Being motivated by guilt or thinking that your efforts alone will usher people into the kingdom are both faulty thinking. We are co-laboring with God and He does the heavy lifting.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
The Transformative Power of the Gospel of the Kingdom
Many people who see themselves as Christians lack transformative power in their lives because they see Jesus as a Savior but not as Lord. The Bible is quite clear on the evidence of new life in Christ;
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:6)
This is not just intellectual acknowledgement or something to happen in the future. It is a reality that our lives are being conformed to as we exercise our faith in Christ. (Romans 2:12, 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18)
Not only are we seeking to understand the gospel of the kingdom for salvation but we are to preach the same to help others come into the kingdom of God. Alignment with His Word and ways happens as we both seek to comprehend and proclaim it on a regular basis.
Conclusion
As we follow Jesus’ ministry we can see that not only did He preach and teach the gospel of the kingdom, He lived it. Now we are His messengers to a lost and dying world in this generation. It is our responsibility to proclaim it in its purity and sense of urgency and stewardship of our efforts for a lifetime or until His return. As we make disciples who embrace His call to spread the good news of the kingdom, we will see global evangelization become a reality. And when the end comes may we be found living a life worthy for our King.
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
In the Living Room of Lot 27
The rain had come early that evening, tapping the tin awnings of the Willow Pines Mobile Home Park like a quiet reminder that everything in this world was temporary. Inside Lot 27—a double-wide that smelled faintly of coffee, old hymnals, and last night’s fried tortillas—a small circle of folding chairs framed the living room. The carpet was worn where countless feet had traced the same hopeful path week after week.
Mary, their leader, set her Bible on the low table between a half-dead succulent and a stack of napkins someone had folded into triangles. The others filtered in: Hector from Lot 32, limping slightly from decades on the maintenance crew; June from the corner unit, her hands always shaking a bit from nerves she never confessed; Darius from across the lane, tall, quiet, carrying the weight of a man who had recently learned his son wanted nothing to do with him.
And then there was Allison—youngest in the group, barefoot, sitting cross-legged on the sofa with a notebook balanced on her knees. She was the one who had asked the question last week, the one nobody had quite known how to answer.
Tonight she repeated it, her voice soft beneath the patter of rain.
“So… if Jesus hadn’t died yet, how could He preach the gospel?” She glanced around, almost apologetic. “I mean, isn’t the gospel the cross?”
The room fell still. Outside, a dog barked twice, then silence again.
Mary leaned back in her chair, fingers steepled. “Let’s talk about that.”
The others shifted uncomfortably. The question had lodged in all their minds, scratching at old assumptions.
Hector broke the silence first. “I always thought the cross was the gospel. Forgiveness, washed clean, and all that.” His voice trembled with the exhaustion of someone who had prayed that cleansing over his grown children for years without seeing it take root.
June nodded vigorously. “Same. The idea of the kingdom… I don’t know. Sounds like something for heaven later. Not for right now.”
Darius said nothing at first. Then, quietly: “But Jesus preached something before He died. He preached it with authority.” He stared at his hands. “Maybe we’ve just trimmed Him down to the parts that feel safe.”
Allison’s pen hovered in the air.
Mary watched them each, sensing not confusion but hunger—people who wanted Jesus, but weren’t always sure what that meant beyond asking Him to rescue them at the end.
“Let’s look at what Jesus actually said,” she murmured.
She opened her Bible to Mark 1 and read slowly, deliberately:
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”
The word kingdom seemed to hang in the air like incense.
“The gospel Jesus preached,” Mary said, “wasn’t less than forgiveness—but it was more. He was announcing that God’s long-promised King had arrived. That His rule—His ways, His authority, His love—was breaking into the world right now.”
She looked at Allison. “It was the gospel of the kingdom. The gospel of the hour. The King is here—align your life with Him.”
Darius inhaled sharply, as if something inside him had just clicked into place.
“But He hadn’t died yet,” Allison repeated, searching for clarity.
“No,” Mary said. “Not yet. But His coming was already good news. His cross and resurrection would inaugurate the fullness of redemption—but even before that, He was calling people to turn from their broken kingdoms and step into His.”
She paused, letting them digest the weight of it.
“Jesus wasn’t just telling people what He would do for them. He was inviting them to become like Him.”
A gust of wind rattled the thin windows. June hugged a blanket around her shoulders.
“But how do we live that?” she whispered. “Here? In this place?”
Mary smiled—not condescendingly, but with the gentle confidence of someone who had seen the kingdom come in trailer parks, hospital rooms, addiction groups, and quiet prayers whispered in the middle of the night.
“The same way Jesus lived it,” she said softly. “By surrendering every part of ourselves to the King who loves us. By letting His rule begin inside us long before He returns to rule the whole world.”
She pointed to Darius. “Forgiving someone who’s wounded you—that’s the kingdom.”
To Hector. “Serving people who never say thank you—that’s the kingdom.”
To June. “Learning to trust God with your fears—that’s the kingdom.”
And then to Allison. “Choosing to obey Jesus because you love Him, not because you’re afraid of messing up—that is the kingdom.”
Allison’s eyes glistened. For years she had asked Jesus to forgive her but had never realized He also invited her to follow Him, to imitate Him, to carry His character into every conversation and corner of her life.
To become like Him.
“But it’s overwhelming,” June said. “The whole world… nations… testimonies… urgency…” She gestured vaguely, as though swatting away invisible pressure.
Mary nodded. “There is urgency. Jesus said this gospel—the gospel of the kingdom—would be preached to all nations before the end. Every people group. Every corner of the inhabited earth.”
She leaned forward, voice low and steady.
“But urgency doesn’t mean frantic striving. Jesus didn’t call us to save the world in one night. He called us to be faithful. To plant. To water. And to trust God with the growth.”
Hector exhaled with relief, like a weight sliding off his shoulders.
The rain softened. A warmth—not from the rattling heater vent, but something deeper—settled over the room.
For the first time since the group began meeting, they were not just learning about Jesus. They were imagining what it would mean to live the life He lived.
To speak and act and forgive and love as He did. To embody the kingdom—not later, but now.
Allison finally spoke, her voice a quiet flame.
“If Jesus preached the kingdom before the cross… then maybe following Him means more than waiting for heaven. Maybe it means letting Him reign in me tonight.”
Mary’s smile widened.
“That,” she said, “is the beginning of becoming like Jesus.”
The clock on the wall ticked softly. Someone’s coffee grew cold. The dog outside barked again, then fell quiet.
Mary folded her hands.
“Friends… the King has come. And He’s coming again. Between those two arrivals is our whole life. What will we do with it?”
No one answered with words. But around the circle, small signs of surrender bloomed—Hector’s jaw unclenching, June’s shoulders relaxing, Darius lifting his gaze for the first time all night.
And Allison, scribbling one final line in her notebook:
Let His kingdom come—in me first, and then through me.
The rain stopped.
And inside Lot 27, the gospel of the kingdom continued its quiet, unstoppable spread—one surrendered heart at a time.
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Matthew 25:14-30)
Also read Luke 19:11-27
Introduction
The Parables of the Talents and Minas both point to the King’s expectations for His Co-Regents to multiply what they have been given for the sake of His kingdom and glory. In this essay we will look at both the rewards of wise investment and the consequences of inaction. We will also investigate the potential “resources” the Master has entrusted to us and how to multiply them.
Key Words and Phrases
“For it is just like…” – In the context of Matthew 25 Jesus first starts with a different parable; “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins…” Jesus is explaining the kingdom. The Parable of the Ten Virgins emphasizes the need to be ready for Christ’s return by being vigilantly prepared. Jesus continues to talk about the kingdom of God in the Parable of the Talents using the pronoun “it” to refer back to the kingdom He is still describing in parabolic fashion.
“They supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately…” – Luke sets the stage for Jesus’ Parable of the Minas with this statement. He uses it as a transition and explanation on why Jesus is telling the parable. The parable of the Minas is both instructive of “when” the kingdom will be coming and “what” we should be doing as we wait for its arrival.
Talents – τάλαντον (Strong’s G5007 – talanton) A sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency. A talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds (91 kg) So ten talents would be worth approximately $120,320,000 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).
Minas – μνᾶ (Strong’s G3414 – mna) In the NT, a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100 pounds, a pound equalled to 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm) So ten minas would be worth approximately $60,028,800 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).
“Each according to his own ability…” – This is an interesting distinction Jesus makes between the two parables. In the Parable of the Minas, each is given the same amount (Ten Minas). In the Parable of the Talents, each steward is apportioned an amount based on their abilities or managerial skills.
Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ example
Jesus’ parables of the Talents and Minas cover two basic principles; Stewarding God’s kingdom resources and being ready to give an account for that stewardship on a moment’s notice. Jesus modeled both of these principles in an exemplary manner. He was always ready to do what the Father wanted done when He wanted it done. Jesus had perfect compliance and stewardship and His timing was completely synchronized with the Father.
Jesus’ Complete Obedience to the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 6:38; 8:29; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8)
Stewardship According to the Father’s Will (John 4:34; 12:49; 17:4)
Jesus’ Perfect Synchronization with the Father (John 2:4; 7:6; 7:30; 12:23; 13:1)
Key Theological Implications
Understanding our identity and purpose is essential to making any sense of these two parables. They emphasise God’s expectation for us to steward and multiply what He has given us. We must go back to the beginning for our first clues.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28)
We were designed from the very beginning to be “like” God, created in His image. This is our identity. As we look further at His plan we see it also includes a creative element (be fruitful and multiply) and a stewardship element (fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over). This is our purpose. Of course once sin entered the picture, we were subject to confusion and abuses that derailed our understanding and application of our identity and purpose. Every event in history either proves our absolute failure to embrace God’s intentions for us or examples of people totally dependent on Him to bind, nurture, and direct His poor fallen people.
This can be seen in the Old Testament from the Tower of Babel to the flood to the waywardness of God’s chosen nation (Israel) and the murders of His spokesmen. We need go no further than the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ in the New Testament. We have mismanaged the creation and God’s kingdom from the start.
Part of Jesus’ mission was to restore our original identity and purpose. From “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) to His definition of discipleship, “A disciple is not above His teacher but when he is fully trained he becomes like the teacher” (Luke 6:40). He became everything we were meant to be and provided a model for what being a good steward looks like.
Jesus’ parables remind us that we are God’s stewards and we have been entrusted with His creation. God expects us not only to maintain what has been created but to “be fruitful and multiply” what He has given. This extends from the relationships in our lives, our property, our gifts and talents, our personalities, our time, even down to every breath we take. We are to have dominion and multiply all that He has given us for the sake of His glory. This is the way of the King and His kingdom.
Contemporary Spiritual Significance
As we survey all that God has entrusted to us and align ourselves with the example Jesus set during His time on earth, we are challenged to make good on the gifts God has given us. We are to be good stewards with the realm and capacity He has provided and even bring increase to what we have. When we align ourselves with God’s original intentions, we obey His first commands and reap incredible benefits at the same time.
The Transformative Power of Being Fruitful and Multiplying
God’s design for us was meant to help us thrive under the responsibility to create, manage, lead, and nurture. We were placed in a supreme place of significance in His creation with a purpose. Our identity as image bearers reflects the very purpose of God. Alignment with these principles and activities makes life adventurous, fulfilling, and meaningful. Drifting from the original mandate and design of God causes us to become unmoored and confused as to why we were created and what we were meant to do. Jesus finished the work He was given. (John 17:4) Paul finished his work. (2 Timothy 4:6-8) In the parables the servants finished their work and received praise and reward from the Master; “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” Now we too are challenged to finish the work set before us. (Ephesians 2:10)
Conclusion
Jesus is describing not only the King’s expectation in these two parables but gives direction for the kingdom’s citizens. We are to be faithful stewards of the gifts He had given and to multiply them for His glory. Obedience brings great praise, reward, and more responsibility. Failure has disastrous consequences.
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
Ducks, Devotion, and Discipleship
The decoys bobbed like dark apostles in the pre-dawn gray, their silhouettes sharp against water that held the last of the night. Chad watched them through the brush screening, his breath condensing in small clouds that disappeared into the Louisiana cold. Beside him, Burt sat rigid as a heron, his shoulders hunched forward.
They’d been out here since four-thirty, wedged into the blind Chad had built on the property his grandfather left him—a slip of wetland that flooded reliable every winter, pulling pintails and teal down from the sky. The coffee in Chad’s thermos had gone lukewarm an hour ago. The two hadn’t spoken in forty minutes.
“So,” Chad said finally, his voice low and gentle. “You want to tell me what’s actually going on, brother?”
A flight of coots chattered past, too far out. The eastern sky was starting to leak orange at its edges.
Burt’s hands worked the stock of his shotgun, thumb tracing the checkering pattern over and over. The silence stretched until it felt like something physical between them.
“I’m not ready,” Burt said finally, his words barely audible.
“For what?” Chad asked, though he already knew.
“What you’re asking. Discipling someone.” Burt’s voice was tight. “Danny asked me two months ago if I’d meet with him weekly. I keep putting him off.”
Chad waited, letting the question form itself.
“Because what if I mess it up?” The words came faster now, pressure releasing. “What if I tell him something wrong, or I can’t answer his questions, or—what if he ends up worse because of me? I’m barely keeping my own head above water most days. How am I supposed to pull someone else up?”
Chad poured himself another cup of coffee, the thermos cap catching the growing light. He took a sip, let the warmth settle.
“There’s this parable,” he said. “The talents. You know it?”
“Yeah.”
“Walk me through it.”
Burt exhaled slowly. “Rich man goes on a trip. Leaves money with three servants. Different amounts—five talents, two talents, one talent. First two double what they’re given. Last guy buries his in the ground.”
“Why’d he bury it?”
“He was afraid.”
“That’s right.” Chad’s voice carried no judgment, just invitation. “Master comes back, and that servant’s got his excuses ready. ‘I knew you were a hard man,’ he says. ‘I was afraid of losing it, so I kept it safe.'”
Burt was quiet, watching the water.
“And the master calls him wicked,” Chad continued softly. “Not for lacking ability—for lacking action. For choosing fear over faithfulness.”
A crow called from the tupelos behind them, harsh and certain.
“But here’s what I want you to hear, Burt. Really hear.” Chad shifted to face him more directly. “The master didn’t give everyone the same amount. It wasn’t about equal distribution—it was according to ability. The guy with five talents could handle five. The guy with two? That was his measure. Even the one-talent man had exactly what he could steward if he’d just tried.”
Burt’s face had gone pale in the growing light.
“I’m not asking you to be me,” Chad said. “I’m not asking you to teach seminary classes or lead a ministry. I’m asking you to be faithful with what God’s already given you. One talent. One guy. One hour a week.”
“But what if—”
“What if you fail?” Chad’s tone was kind. “Brother, the failure’s already happening. That talent’s already in the ground.”
The words landed soft but solid.
“You know what the master told that servant?” Chad continued. “‘At least you could’ve deposited it and earned interest.’ The bare minimum would’ve been better than nothing. Meeting with Danny once a week over coffee—just showing up, being honest about your own struggles, pointing him toward Jesus when you can—that’s not nothing. That’s something. And something beats a hole in the ground every time.”
Burt’s eyes were wet. “I just don’t want to let him down.”
“So don’t let Jesus let him down.” Chad’s hand found Burt’s shoulder. “That’s what discipleship is. Not you being perfect. You being faithful to what you’ve got. You being willing to multiply what God’s given you, even when it feels small.”
Movement on the water—a small raft of teal, still too distant.
“Jesus finished the work He was given,” Chad said quietly. “Not anyone else’s work. His. And He did it perfectly, so we could do ours imperfectly and still hear ‘well done.’ That’s grace, brother. You get to steward what you’ve been given, and Jesus covers the rest.”
Burt nodded slowly, something loosening in his posture. “I want to be like that. Like Jesus. Finishing what I’m given instead of running from it.”
“Then start with Danny,” Chad said simply. “Text him this afternoon. Set up coffee for this week. Don’t wait until you feel ready—you’ll never feel ready. Just be faithful with the one.”
The sky had turned from orange to pale blue, darkness retreating to the treeline.
“Okay,” Burt said. “Okay. I’ll text him today.”
A whistle of wings—sudden, close. Both men looked up as a pair of mallards cupped their wings and dropped toward the decoys, their approach steep and committed. Chad’s hand moved to his call, but he didn’t blow it. The birds were already coming, already convinced.
They landed in a splash of white water, settling among the decoys like they’d always belonged there.
“Legal light in two minutes,” Chad whispered.
They waited together in the blind, two men with different measures but the same call, watching the sky fill with possibility as morning broke clean and cold across the Louisiana marsh. The decoys rocked gently in the wake of the real ducks.
Burt checked his safety, and for the first time in weeks, his hands were steady.
And Chad watched the sky, praying silently that his friend would find the courage to multiply what he’d been given—one conversation, one get-together, one faithful step at a time.
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT AND DUG A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. “When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. “The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. “Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. “But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ “But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” (Matthew 21:33-44)
Introduction
In Jesus’ parable of the unworthy stewards we see not only a gross misunderstanding of ownership but also the preposterous actions of servants to wrest land and proceeds from its rightful owner. In this essay we will explore the motivations and faulty thinking of the stewards and its consequences. We will also examine Jesus’ actions as a faithful steward and how His example applies to us today.
Key Words and Phrases
Owner – κύριος – kyrios (Strong’s G2962)
Meaning Lord, lord, master, sir, Sir. The “owner” was not only the rightful owner of the property but had authority over the renters.
Rented – ἐκδίδωμι – ekdidōmi (Strong’s G1554)
Meaning to give out of one’s house, power, hand, stores, to give up or give over, to let out for hire
Wretches – κακός – kakos (Strong’s G2556)
Meaning to be troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful
“and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons” –
The phrase encapsulates not only the expectations of the landowner in the parable but of the King telling the story.
Messianic Model – Jesus the Rightful Owner and Righteous Steward
Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23 to affirm the unknown author’s prophecy of the rejection of the Messiah by the “builders.” This was being fulfilled in real time as He rebuked the Jews. They rejected the Chief Corner Stone. As we have seen in previous kingdom passages, the kingdom was given to the Son by the Father (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 28:18, Luke 22:29). The Son was the perfect steward of what was entrusted to Him (John 5:19, 17:4-6, Revelation 5:9-10). He is a model and gives us co-regency in His kingdom (Luke 12:32, 22:29). And after all things are accomplished under His stewardship, He will give the kingdom back to His Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
Key Theological Implications
Stewardship in the kingdom should not be a strange or new concept to us as Bible believing disciples of Jesus. We were created in God’s image to have dominion over His creation from the beginning (Genesis 1:26-28). However, we have wrestled with God over true ownership from the very beginning (Genesis 3:1-7). Through history there have been those who understood and embraced their responsibilities as co-regents in God’s kingdom (Deuteronomy 34:10-12, Acts 4:33,13:22) and others who abused their position as stewards and tried to take God’s kingdom for their own (1 Samuel 22:17-19, 1 Kings 21:1-16, Matthew 25:24-30).
This kingdom stewardship or abuse thereof, is what Jesus is addressing with the religious leaders. He exposes their hearts in a story that they initially don’t identify as a scathing rebuke from Jesus for themselves. They don’t connect the stewards’ absolute delusional efforts to acquire the vineyard with their own equally deranged efforts to hijack God’s kingdom. The stewards in the story actually think they will receive the son’s inheritance by killing him. This would be the exact thinking of the religious leaders later when they murdered the Son of God.
But the lesson of the parable is not lost on those who abuse kingdom stewardship. It is also instructive for those who want to honor and serve their Master. We are charged with the care of the vineyard (the kingdom), to nurture and protect it as good and faithful farmers. And the Master has an expectation that we will multiply and give the proceeds back to Him (as also alluded to in the parables of the Talents, Minas, and Hired Workers). We know from Scripture that Jesus set the ultimate example as a steward in the kingdom through His life, death, and resurrection. He became that “grain of wheat” (John 12:24) that dies and then produces a crop. He was the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) of a bumper crop being brought before the Father.
Contemporary Spiritual Significance
Good leadership is often learned from bad examples. Such is the case as we read this account of Jesus’ rebuke for the religious leaders of the day. We see what they did wrong and we elect to go in the opposite direction to do what is right. In this case, right looks like being a good steward in the kingdom of God and bringing the produce back to the rightful owner. The King has an expectation for multiplying His goodness and righteousness and His loyal subjects joyfully meet those expectations with wisdom, faith, and love.
The Transformative Power of Being Good Stewards
God designed us to be good stewards. When we were created in His image, we were created to “rule” like He does, with His attributes. As we do so, we take on more and more His characteristics which include but are not limited to;
Diligence
Patience
Nurture
Intentionality
Gentleness
Wisdom
Endurance
Assurance
Loving
Generous
Etc.
Conclusion
Many of the Jews and religious leaders of the day rejected Jesus’ rightful ownership of the kingdom of God. They essentially tried to hijack what was God’s and selfishly obtain it for themselves. Rulership, responsibility, and production are not wrong values unless we try to move out from beneath the umbrella of God’s authority and run things our way. Jesus issues a stern rebuke to His generation and a sober warning to subsequent generations of God ordained co-regents. Yes, we are meant to lead and rule in the kingdom. But always the way the Master directs and for His glory.
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
When Leaders Fail
The windshield wipers carved desperate arcs through the November rain as Sarah gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white against the black leather. In the passenger seat, Claire dabbed at her mascara with a crumpled tissue, her shoulders shaking with each suppressed sob.
“Twenty-three years,” Claire whispered, her voice barely audible above the rhythmic thrum of rain. “Twenty-three years I’ve sat in those pews, Sarah. I taught Sunday school in the basement where he—” Her words dissolved into a choked gasp.
Sarah’s jaw tightened as she navigated the familiar streets that suddenly felt foreign. The elder’s monotone announcement still echoed in her mind: inappropriate conduct with multiple women… resignation effective immediately… asking for privacy during this difficult time. The clinical language couldn’t sanitize the devastation left in its wake.
“I can’t do this anymore,” Claire said, crumpling the tissue into a tight ball. “I can’t sit there pretending everything’s holy and sacred when the man who performed the marriage for my daughter and her husband, who baptized my grandson—” She pressed her fist against her mouth, stemming another wave of tears.
“Claire—”
“No, Sarah. I’m done. I’m done with church, done with trusting people who claim to speak for God, done with—” Claire’s voice cracked. “How could I be so blind? All those years, I defended him when people whispered about his ego, his need to control everything. I made excuses.”
Sarah pulled into Claire’s driveway but didn’t turn off the engine. The rain intensified, drumming against the roof like impatient fingers. She stared at the modest ranch house where she’d shared countless cups of coffee with this woman who’d become more than a mentor—a spiritual mother.
“Do you remember,” Sarah said slowly, “that parable Jesus told about the vineyard?”
Claire’s laugh was bitter. “A Bible story? Really, Sarah? After what we just heard?”
“The landowner plants this beautiful vineyard,” Sarah continued, ignoring the edge in Claire’s voice. “He builds walls, installs equipment, creates everything the tenants need to succeed. Then he goes away and trusts them to care for it.”
“Sarah, I don’t—”
“But the tenants forget it’s not theirs.” Sarah’s voice grew stronger. “They start thinking they own it. When the owner sends servants to collect what’s owed, they beat them. Kill them. Finally, he sends his own son, thinking surely they’ll respect him.”
Claire turned in her seat, studying Sarah’s profile. The younger woman’s dark eyes reflected something deeper than grief—a fierce determination that hadn’t been there an hour ago.
“They killed the son too,” Claire said quietly. “Thinking they’d inherit everything.”
“Yes.” Sarah finally looked at her friend. “But here’s what I keep thinking about—the vineyard was never the problem. The vines didn’t become corrupt because the stewards were wicked. The soil didn’t turn bitter because the workers were faithless.”
Claire’s tears had stopped, but her voice remained fragile. “Pastor Mitchell wasn’t just a bad steward, Sarah. He was supposed to be different. Called by God. Set apart.”
“And maybe he was, once. But somewhere along the way, he forgot whose vineyard he was tending.” Sarah turned in her seat to face Claire fully. “The thing is—we’re not just victims here, Claire. We’re workers too. Tenants in the same vineyard.”
“What do you mean?”
Sarah’s eyes grew distant. “All those people we ministered to together. The young mothers you encouraged when they felt overwhelmed. The teenagers I counseled through breakups and college anxiety. The meals we cooked for grieving families. That wasn’t Pastor Mitchell’s work—that was ours. The Master’s work, through us.”
Claire shook her head. “But how can I face them? How can I tell people to have faith when my own is hanging by a thread?”
“Because,” Sarah said, reaching over to grasp Claire’s weathered hand, “our faith was never supposed to be in Pastor Mitchell. It was supposed to be in the Son who the wicked tenants killed—and who rose again anyway. The one who became the cornerstone after being rejected by the builders.”
The rain had gentled to a whisper against the windows. Claire stared at their joined hands—her seventy-year-old fingers intertwined with Sarah’s thirty-five-year-old ones, representing decades of shared service and separate storms weathered.
“I feel so foolish,” Claire admitted. “Like I should have seen the signs, should have spoken up when something felt off in my spirit.”
“Maybe. But wallowing in that guilt won’t help the vineyard heal. And it won’t honor the Master who trusted us with it.” Sarah’s grip tightened. “Claire, you taught me that Jesus didn’t just come to save us—He came to show us how to live. How to serve. How to be faithful stewards even when other stewards fail spectacularly.”
“But what if I can’t? What if I’m too old, too hurt, too disillusioned?”
Sarah smiled for the first time that morning, though tears still tracked down her cheeks. “Then you remember that the Master’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. That He chose foolish things to confound the wise. That He delights in using broken vessels because it makes His glory shine brighter.”
Claire was quiet for a long moment, watching the rain create rivulets down the passenger window. Finally, she spoke: “The youth group still needs someone to coordinate the Christmas outreach program.”
“And Mrs. Henderson’s cancer treatment starts next week. She’ll need rides to appointments.”
“The Johnson family just had their third baby. They could use meal trains.”
“See?” Sarah squeezed Claire’s hand. “The vineyard’s still there, Claire. Still needs tending. Still belongs to the same Master it always has.”
Claire nodded slowly, wiping her eyes with her free hand. “I suppose if we abandon our posts now, we’re no better than those wicked tenants.”
“Worse, maybe. Because we know better. We know that our hope was never supposed to rest in human leaders—no matter how charismatic or seemingly godly.” Sarah’s voice carried a conviction that seemed to surprise even her. “Our hope is in the Chief Cornerstone, the one who was rejected and yet became the foundation of everything that matters.”
They sat in comfortable silence as the storm moved eastward, leaving behind the clean scent of washed earth and the promise of clearer skies. The crisis hadn’t passed—there would be months of difficult conversations, institutional rebuilding, and personal healing ahead. But somehow, in the space between heartbreak and hope, they’d found their footing again.
“Sarah?” Claire’s voice was stronger now, tinged with the maternal authority that had guided so many through spiritual storms.
“Yes?”
“Next Sunday, when we walk back into that sanctuary—we’re not going to be the same women who walked out today.”
Sarah nodded, understanding the weight of the moment. They would return as stewards who’d been tested and refined, who understood more deeply that their ultimate allegiance belonged not to human institutions or charismatic leaders, but to the Master of the vineyard Himself.
“The funny thing about cornerstones,” Sarah mused as Claire opened the car door, “is that they have to bear the weight of the entire structure. Everything else can crumble, but if the cornerstone holds, the building can be rebuilt.”
Claire paused, one foot on the driveway, rain misting her gray hair. “Twenty-three years,” she repeated, but this time without bitterness. “Twenty-three years of learning to distinguish between the vineyard and the stewards. Maybe it took this heartbreak to finally understand the difference.”
As Sarah drove away, she caught sight of Claire in her rearview mirror—shoulders squared, walking toward her front door with the measured pace of someone who’d remembered her true calling. The vineyard was still there, still fruitful, still belonging to the Master who’d never abandoned His post, even when His under-shepherds had wandered astray.
The cornerstone would hold. Everything else could be rebuilt.
AI used for formating original thoughts and observations from the Scriptures.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is He, Sir?” he replied. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” “You have already seen Him,” Jesus answered. “He is the One speaking with you.” “Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus. Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
My Thoughts
All they needed to do was to fess up. The religious leaders were so proud they couldn’t even see their own errors and weaknesses. They were in the presence of a person who received a miracle and the Miracle Worker and they were afraid to be seen as inferior, weak, or imperfect. This is a serious case of pride. I mean, who doesn’t at least say, “Well nobody’s perfect.” The audacity of these guys is off the charts.
But before we pick up stones to hurl at them, let’s do a little self reflection. Have we ever made our last stand on the hill of “Not Me?” Have we ever said, “I would never do that!” I think of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans as they were probably thinking, “Well…I’m not that bad.”
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. (Romans 2:1)
OUCH!
See, the problem is that we’ve been hiding our sin since the Garden of Eden. First behind fig leaves and now through elaborate sophisticated schemes in order to deflect guilt and blame someone else. It’s not just a Pharisitical problem. It’s an everybody problem. It’s the grotesque side effect of sin. It’s the “Not Me!” syndrome.
So what does this have to do with disciple making? Well, there are some things we disciple into people and there are some things we disciple out of people. This is one of those we disciple out. It starts with helping them confess their sins when we share the gospel. It’s part of coaching people in transparency so that they have a clear understanding of who they are and who they are becoming in Christ. It’s teaching people how to be life long learners and to never be such an expert that they can’t humbly admit they don’t know or they made a mistake.
And our very first step as disciple makers is to personally confess, “I’m Blind Too.”
My Story
I was attending an Army School, Operations and Intelligence, for NonCommissioned Officers. It was pretty evident, based on the language and conduct of my fellow NCOs, that I was probably the only Christian. One day one of my classmates made the outlandish statement that the Bible was written in three languages; Hebrew, Arimaic, and Greek. I argued vehemently that it was only two; Hebrew and Greek.
Most of you know where this is going.
When I got back to my home station, I attended our local gathering. The preacher begins his sermon with; “The Bible is written in three different languages…” I’m sure those sitting around me thought I was having a stroke with how pale my face had suddenly turned. I reflected on my attitude during the course and my pagan buddy who knew more about the Bible than I did. I was so proud and so sure I had all the answers, that I had not only acted a fool but actually ruined a good opportunity to witness to the guy. Even a broken clock can be right twice a day.
Stay humble and stay teachable.
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;
When was the last time you told someone you made a mistake or said you were wrong?
Ask those you are discipling if they ever struggle with the “Not Me!” syndrome.
Do a Bible study on humility or teachability.
The truth is that we all have our weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures. Walking in the truth means admitting these to others and being willing to change. And the reality is that if we do so, most people will have more respect for us being honest and not hiding behind the facade of perfection.
Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added
Confiesa la verdad – #145
¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver cómo el orgullo puede interponerse en el camino del perdón.
Así que, ¡empecemos!
Juan 9:35-41
Cuando Jesús se enteró de que lo habían expulsado, encontró al hombre y le preguntó: «¿Crees en el Hijo del Hombre?». Él respondió: «¿Quién es, Señor? Dímelo para que crea en Él». Jesús le contestó: «Ya lo has visto; es el que está hablando contigo». Él dijo: «Señor, creo». Y lo adoró. Entonces Jesús declaró: «He venido a este mundo para juicio, para que los ciegos vean y los que ven se queden ciegos». Algunos de los fariseos que estaban con Él oyeron esto y le preguntaron: «¿Acaso nosotros también somos ciegos?». Jesús les respondió: «Si fueran ciegos, no tendrían culpa. Pero como dicen que ven, su culpa permanece».
Mis Pensamientos
Lo único que tenían que hacer era confesar. Los líderes religiosos eran tan orgullosos que ni siquiera podían ver sus propios errores y debilidades. Estaban en presencia de una persona que había recibido un milagro y del Hacedor de milagros, y tenían miedo de ser vistos como inferiores, débiles o imperfectos. Este es un caso grave de orgullo. Es decir, ¿quién no dice al menos: “Bueno, nadie es perfecto”? La audacia de estos hombres es increíble.
Pero antes de que los juzguemos, reflexionemos un poco sobre nosotros mismos. ¿Alguna vez nos hemos aferrado a la idea de “Yo no soy así”? ¿Alguna vez hemos dicho: “¡Yo nunca haría eso!”? Pienso en lo que el apóstol Pablo escribió a los romanos, quienes probablemente pensaban: “Bueno… yo no soy tan malo”.
Por lo tanto, no tienes excusa, tú que juzgas a los demás, porque al juzgar a otro, te condenas a ti mismo; pues tú que juzgas practicas las mismas cosas. (Romanos 2:1)
¡Ay!
El problema es que hemos estado ocultando nuestro pecado desde el Jardín del Edén. Primero detrás de hojas de higuera y ahora a través de elaborados y sofisticados planes para desviar la culpa y culpar a otros. No es solo un problema de los fariseos. Es un problema de todos. Es el grotesco efecto secundario del pecado. Es el síndrome de “¡Yo no soy así!”.
Entonces, ¿qué tiene que ver esto con el discipulado? Bueno, hay cosas que inculcamos en las personas a través del discipulado y hay cosas que erradicamos. Esta es una de las cosas que erradicamos. Comienza ayudándoles a confesar sus pecados cuando compartimos el evangelio. Es parte de guiar a las personas hacia la transparencia para que tengan una comprensión clara de quiénes son y en quiénes se están convirtiendo en Cristo. Es enseñar a las personas a ser aprendices de por vida y a nunca ser tan expertos como para no poder admitir humildemente que no saben o que cometieron un error.
Y nuestro primer paso como discipuladores es confesar personalmente: “Yo también soy ciego”.
Mi Historia
Estaba asistiendo a una escuela del Ejército, de Operaciones e Inteligencia, para suboficiales. Era bastante evidente, por el lenguaje y la conducta de mis compañeros suboficiales, que probablemente yo era el único cristiano. Un día, uno de mis compañeros hizo la extraña afirmación de que la Biblia estaba escrita en tres idiomas: hebreo, arameo y griego. Yo discutí con vehemencia, asegurando que solo eran dos: hebreo y griego.
La mayoría de ustedes ya se imaginarán cómo continúa la historia.
Cuando regresé a mi base, asistí a nuestra reunión local. El predicador comenzó su sermón diciendo: “La Biblia está escrita en tres idiomas diferentes…”. Estoy seguro de que los que estaban sentados a mi alrededor pensaron que me estaba dando un ataque al ver lo pálido que me puse de repente. Reflexioné sobre mi actitud durante el curso y sobre mi compañero, que no era creyente, pero que sabía más de la Biblia que yo. Estaba tan orgulloso y tan seguro de tener todas las respuestas que no solo hice el ridículo, sino que también desperdicié una buena oportunidad para compartir mi fe con él. Hasta un reloj averiado da la hora correcta dos veces al día.
Manténganse humildes y dispuestos a aprender.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que le dijiste a alguien que habías cometido un error o que te habías equivocado?
Pregúntales a las personas a las que estás discipulando si alguna vez luchan contra el síndrome de “¡Yo no fui!”.
Realiza un estudio bíblico sobre la humildad o la disposición a aprender.
La verdad es que todos tenemos nuestras debilidades, defectos y fracasos. Vivir en la verdad significa admitirlos ante los demás y estar dispuestos a cambiar. Y la realidad es que, si lo hacemos, la mayoría de las personas nos respetarán más por ser honestos y no escondernos tras una fachada de perfección.
Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.
Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com
Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:24-30)
Introduction
The Parable of the Tares in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 is a vivid illustration of the Kingdom of Heaven, delivered by Jesus to reveal the coexistence of good and evil in this age and the certainty of divine judgment at its end. Set within a series of kingdom parables, it addresses the reality of opposition within God’s redemptive plan, emphasizing Christ’s sovereign authority as the Son of Man.
Key Words and Phrases
Tares – the Greek term zizania (Strong’s G2215) refers to a weed, likely darnel, resembling wheat but toxic and fruitless. Etymologically, its precise origins are unclear, but it denotes something counterfeit, sown by the enemy (the devil, v. 39) to disrupt the harvest.
The End of the Age – The term sunteleia (Strong’s G4930), meaning “completion” or “consummation,” paired with aionos (Strong’s G165), “age,” points to the climactic end of the present world order. Together, these terms frame a narrative of deception within the kingdom and its ultimate resolution under Christ’s judgment.
Theological Significance
The parable reveals the Kingdom of God as a mixed reality in this age, where the “sons of the kingdom” (v. 38) coexist with the “sons of the evil one.” Christ, the Son of Man (v. 37), is the sovereign sower, planting truth while permitting the devil’s tares to grow—a testament to His patience and wisdom (2 Peter 3:9). This reflects divine attributes of forbearance and justice, as premature uprooting risks harming the wheat (v. 29). The “end of the age” signals Christ’s return, when angels execute His judgment, casting tares into the “furnace of fire” (v. 42) while the righteous “shine forth as the sun” (v. 43). This eschatological separation fulfills prophecies like Daniel 12:3, underscoring Christ’s role as the messianic King who consummates God’s redemptive plan. Jesus’ call to “endure to the end” in Matthew 24:13 complements this, promising salvation to those who persevere through trials, linking present faithfulness to eschatological reward.
Christological Fulfillment
The parable portrays Jesus as the authoritative Son of Man, a title echoing Daniel 7:13-14, with dominion over the world (v. 38). His lordship is not merely future but active now, as He sows truth and oversees the kingdom’s growth despite opposition (Matthew 28:18). The tares reveal the enemy’s futile attempt to undermine Christ’s reign, yet His patience ensures the salvation of many. At the “end of the age,” His kingship culminates in judgment, purifying His kingdom and establishing eternal righteousness, fulfilling Revelation 19:11-16.
Transformative Power for Believers
For contemporary Christians, the parable offers hope and guidance. It calls disciples to trust Christ’s present lordship, resisting discouragement amid evil’s presence (John 16:33). Disciple-makers should warn of judgment, encourage endurance, and leave separation to God, fostering communities of grace. The promise of shining “as the sun” inspires believers to live righteously, reflecting Christ’s light now while awaiting His eternal kingdom.
Conclusion
The Parable of the Tares reveals Jesus as the sovereign King, patiently overseeing His kingdom’s growth and decisively judging at the end of the age. The terms zizania and sunteleia aionos illuminate the tension between deception and divine consummation, pointing to Christ’s redemptive and judicial authority. His lordship, real now and fully realized in eternity, transforms believers to live faithfully, embodying the expansive, eternal nature of God’s kingdom.
Disciple-Makers Short Story
To Judge or Not to Judge
The kitchen island gleamed under the warm glow of a pendant light, its quartz surface cluttered with empty coffee mugs and a half-eaten tray of Pam’s homemade oatmeal cookies. The Wednesday night Bible study group had dispersed, their laughter and chatter fading into the crisp autumn night. Eric and Shandra lingered, their chairs pulled close to the island, while Pam and Dennis moved with quiet familiarity, rinsing dishes and wiping crumbs. The air held a gentle weight, the kind that settles when hard questions wait to be asked.
Eric’s fingers traced the rim of his mug, his brow furrowed. Shandra sat beside him, her hands folded tightly, her eyes darting between her husband and the older couple. The silence stretched until Eric finally spoke, his voice low but steady. “My brother, Jake… he’s getting married next month. To a guy. My family’s all going, and they keep saying Jesus would be there, you know, loving everyone, not judging. But I’m not sure. Shandra and I—we’re torn.”
Shandra nodded, her voice softer, almost hesitant. “We’ve been reading Matthew 13, the parable about the wheat and the tares. And then there’s that part about not throwing pearls before swine, and knowing a tree by its fruit in Matthew 7. It’s confusing. Are we supposed to go and show love, or… or are we supposed to step back?”
Pam set down a dish towel, her eyes kind but searching, and leaned against the counter. Dennis, drying a mug, glanced at her before settling into a chair across from the young couple. “That’s a real tension you’re feeling,” Pam said, her voice steady like a teacher guiding a student through a knotty problem. “It’s good you’re wrestling with it. Shows you’re listening to the Spirit and wanting to obey God’s Word.”
Eric shifted, his jaw tight. “My family says judging is wrong, period. They point to that parable—how the landowner says to let the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest. They say it means we leave all judgment to Jesus. But then I read about not throwing pearls before swine, and I wonder… are we supposed to be okay with everything? Just go along?”
Dennis set the mug down, his weathered hands folding on the island. “Let’s unpack that parable first,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “The wheat and tares—it’s about the kingdom, the world, not just one person’s choices. Jesus is saying the final judgment, the one that separates the righteous from the unrighteous, that’s His job, not ours. The angels will sort it out at the end. But that doesn’t mean we’re blind to what’s happening now.”
Pam nodded, picking up the thread. “There’s a difference between judging to condemn and judging to discern. Condemning someone’s soul—that’s God’s territory. But discerning? That’s wisdom. That’s what Jesus means when He talks about knowing a tree by its fruit. You look at someone’s actions, their patterns, not to write them off, but to understand their heart.”
Shandra’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but her brow remained creased. “So, are you saying we shouldn’t go to the wedding? Because it’s… I don’t know, approving something we don’t believe is right?”
Eric cut in, his voice sharper. “But if we don’t go, aren’t we just pushing Jake away? I want him to know I love him. I want him to see Jesus in me. Isn’t that what Jesus would do—show up, love people, like He did with sinners?”
Dennis leaned back, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Let’s think about Jesus for a second. He ate with tax collectors and sinners, sure. But He never just went along to get along. Every time He sat with them, He was calling them to something higher—repentance, transformation. He didn’t condemn them, but He didn’t celebrate their sin either. He loved them enough to speak truth.”
Pam reached for a cookie, breaking it in half and offering a piece to Shandra, who took it absently. “Think about the pearls before swine,” Pam said. “It’s not about calling someone a pig—it’s about knowing what’s precious. Your faith, your witness, that’s the pearl. You don’t throw it away by pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. But you also don’t hoard it by cutting people off. It’s a balance.”
Eric’s eyes flicked to the open Bible on the island, its pages marked with Shandra’s neat underlines. “So, what does that look like for us? Do we go or not?”
Dennis took a slow breath, his gaze steady. “Here’s the thing. You’re not God. You don’t get to decide Jake’s eternal fate—that’s the harvest, and it’s in Jesus’ hands. But you are called to be wise, to be a light. Going to the wedding might feel like love to your family, but what’s it saying? Is it celebrating something that goes against what God calls good? Are there other ways to communicate your love for your brother without endorsing his gay marriage?”
Shandra’s voice trembled slightly. “I just keep thinking… what would Jesus do? I want to be like Him. I want Jake to see that, to want that too.”
Pam’s smile was warm, her eyes glistening. “That’s the heart of it, Shandra. Wanting to be like Jesus—it’s not just about what you do, but why. Jesus loved people enough to meet them where they were, but He never left them there. He always pointed them to the Father. He did fellowship with tax collectors and prostitutes but He never celebrated their actions. He had a clear call for repentance and desire for them to enter the kingdom of God. If you don’t go, it’s not about rejecting him—it’s about holding fast to what’s holy, trusting God to work in his heart.”
Eric rubbed his face, exhaling heavily. “So, we pray for wisdom. We figure out how to love Jake without endorsing what we don’t believe. But how do we know what’s right?”
Dennis chuckled softly, a sound of empathy rather than amusement. “You’re already doing it. You’re here, asking, wrestling. That’s what disciples do. You seek God’s heart. You read His Word. You pray. And you trust the Spirit to guide you. James 1:5—God gives wisdom generously to those who ask.”
Pam reached across the island, her hand resting lightly on Shandra’s. “And you keep loving Jake. Not the shallow love that says everything’s fine, but the deep kind—the kind Jesus showed. The kind that prays for him, that speaks truth gently, that stays faithful even when it’s hard. Celebrate birthdays, thanksgiving, Christmas with family. You can associate at those kinds of events without approving of their marriage.”
The kitchen fell quiet again, the only sound the faint hum of the refrigerator. Eric and Shandra exchanged a glance, their hands finding each other’s under the island. The weight of the decision still hung heavy, but there was a flicker of clarity in their eyes, a resolve to seek not just answers, but to honor the One who embodied love and truth in perfect measure.
As Pam and Dennis walked them to the door, the cool night air greeted them, carrying the scent of fallen leaves. Eric paused, turning back. “Thanks,” he said simply. “For helping us see… that being like Jesus is not just going along with our culture because we are afraid to appear judgmental. We need to live out our convictions and still demonstrate the love of Christ.. It’s about getting wisdom from Him to do that.”
Dennis clapped a hand on his shoulder. “That’s the goal, brother. It’s not easy but stay strong and pursue His guidance through the Word and the Spirit.”
And as the young couple stepped into the night, the stars above seemed a little brighter, a quiet reminder that the harvest would come—but for now, their call was to love, to discern, and to walk humbly in the footsteps of their Savior.
So once again they asked the man who had been blind, “What do you say about Him, since it was your eyes He opened?” “He is a prophet,” the man replied. The Jews still did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until they summoned his parents and asked, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he can now see?” His parents answered, “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. But how he can now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
My Thoughts
Fear is such a powerful motivator. It can be leveraged for good and evil. For instance; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). But fear can also be very destructive, especially the fear of people. In this case, to acknowledge Jesus having healed their blind son, they would have to forfeit their community. They were afraid of getting kicked out of the synagogue. It would be like being excommunicated from your beloved church. You would lose all of your closest friends and maybe even some of your relatives. These days it may not seem like that big of a deal, we’d just go down the street and find another church. But that’s because most people don’t view the church the same as these people viewed the synagogue. It was their spiritual family, the avenue for hearing God’s Word, and might have had something to do with their livelihood as well. (www.kesherjournal.com)
Fear of losing your fellowship with family and other believers is almost an irresistible current. Like I said, it can be used for good and for evil. But when given a choice, people or God, the choice should be obvious. I found as a disciple maker that even though the answer should be simple, it’s not always easy. The tug of community is a strong pull and God usually tests our loyalties in this area. Jesus felt this pull many times with family and friends. He passed the test each time by knowing the right hard to do rather than choosing the wrong easy. He required the same of His disciples (Matthew 12:48–50, Mark 10:6–9, Luke 14:26–27, John 19:26–27).
Here’s where it gets tricky as a disciple maker; Are you setting people up to be loyal to you or to God? Are you disappointed when someone you are discipling chooses to go against your counsel because they believe God is calling them to do something different? Do you see people as your possessions or as God’s precious sheep in His flock and you are an undershepherd? These questions need to be answered because as a mentor, servant, friend, God will test both you and them to see where the supreme love lies. God will not be second.
My Story
Losing our spiritual family is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. Deb and I felt like God was calling us in a different direction and it caused a lot of friction. Thirty year friendships were being tested. There were mistakes and hurt feelings on both sides of the conflict. It was a “Paul & Barnabas Moment” (Acts 15:36-41). But I felt like I needed to risk the relationships rather than resist the calling of the Holy Spirit. My loyalties were to Jesus first.
I like to say that God is obligated to test our loyalties to Him. It is the only way to see if we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). These tests often come with plenty of misunderstandings, bruised egos, and anger. But we have to trust that God has our and the offended party’s best interest at heart. If we feel like God is calling us to something different, we need to obey God rather than fear the loss of relationships, no matter how dear they are to us. And we need to facilitate that separation in the most loving and peaceful manner possible (Romans 12:18).
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas and questions;
When was the last time you disappointed family or friends to obey God?
Read Matthew 12:48–50 together and ask those you are discipling how they would apply the passage.
What would you fear most if you were asked to leave your church?
Fear is a God given emotion but like any other emotion, the enemy can leverage it for evil. Let’s let our loyalties to God be our chief motivation when it comes to our relationships with others.
Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added
¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver cómo una pareja mayor decidió temer la relación equivocada.
Comencemos.
Juan 9:17-23
Así que volvieron a preguntarle al hombre que había sido ciego: «¿Qué dices de él, ya que te abrió los ojos?». «Es un profeta», respondió el hombre. Los judíos seguían sin creer que el hombre había sido ciego y había recuperado la vista, hasta que llamaron a sus padres y les preguntaron: «¿Es este tu hijo, el que dices que nació ciego? ¿Cómo es que ahora ve?». Sus padres respondieron: «Sabemos que es nuestro hijo y que nació ciego. Pero cómo ahora ve o quién le abrió los ojos, no lo sabemos. Pregúntenle a él. Tiene edad suficiente para hablar por sí mismo». Sus padres dijeron esto porque tenían miedo de los judíos, pues estos ya habían decidido que cualquiera que confesara que Jesús era el Cristo sería expulsado de la sinagoga. Por eso sus padres dijeron: «Tiene edad suficiente. Pregúntenle a él».
Mis Pensamientos
El miedo es un motivador muy poderoso. Puede usarse para bien o para mal. Por ejemplo: «El temor del Señor es el principio de la sabiduría» (Proverbios 9:10). Pero el miedo también puede ser muy destructivo, especialmente el miedo a las personas. En este caso, para reconocer que Jesús había sanado a su hijo ciego, tendrían que renunciar a su comunidad. Tenían miedo de ser expulsados de la sinagoga. Sería como ser excomulgados de su amada iglesia. Perderían a todos sus amigos más cercanos y tal vez incluso a algunos familiares. Hoy en día puede que no parezca gran cosa; simplemente iríamos a la calle y buscaríamos otra iglesia. Pero eso se debe a que la mayoría de la gente no ve la iglesia de la misma manera que estas personas veían la sinagoga. Era su familia espiritual, la vía para escuchar la Palabra de Dios, y podría haber tenido algo que ver también con su sustento. (www.kesherjournal.com)
El miedo a perder la comunión con la familia y otros creyentes es casi una corriente irresistible. Como dije, se puede usar para bien y para mal. Pero cuando se da la opción, entre las personas o Dios, la elección debería ser obvia. Como hacedor de discípulos, descubrí que, aunque la respuesta debería ser simple, no siempre es fácil. La atracción de la comunidad es fuerte, y Dios suele poner a prueba nuestra lealtad en este aspecto. Jesús sintió esta atracción muchas veces con familiares y amigos. Superó la prueba cada vez al saber qué hacer bien, aunque difícil, en lugar de elegir qué hacer mal, aunque fácil. Exigió lo mismo de sus discípulos (Mateo 12:48-50; Marcos 10:6-9; Lucas 14:26-27; Juan 19:26-27).
Aquí es donde la cosa se complica como hacedor de discípulos: ¿Estás preparando a las personas para que sean leales a ti o a Dios? ¿Te decepcionas cuando alguien a quien discipulas decide ir en contra de tu consejo porque cree que Dios lo llama a hacer algo diferente? ¿Ves a las personas como tus posesiones o como las preciosas ovejas de Dios en su rebaño, y tú eres un pastor auxiliar? Estas preguntas necesitan respuesta porque, como mentor, siervo y amigo, Dios los pondrá a prueba a ambos para ver dónde reside el amor supremo. Dios no será el segundo.
Mi Historia
Perder a nuestra familia espiritual es probablemente una de las cosas más difíciles que he experimentado. Deb y yo sentíamos que Dios nos llamaba en una dirección diferente, lo que causó mucha fricción. Treinta años de amistad se estaban poniendo a prueba. Hubo errores y sentimientos heridos en ambos lados del conflicto. Fue un “momento Pablo y Bernabé” (Hechos 15:36-41). Pero sentí que debía arriesgar la relación en lugar de resistir el llamado del Espíritu Santo. Mi lealtad era primero para Jesús.
Me gusta decir que Dios está obligado a poner a prueba nuestra lealtad hacia él. Es la única manera de ver si lo amamos con todo nuestro corazón, alma, mente y fuerzas (Marcos 12:30). Estas pruebas a menudo vienen acompañadas de muchos malentendidos, egos heridos e ira. Pero debemos confiar en que Dios vela por nuestro bien y el de la parte ofendida. Si sentimos que Dios nos llama a algo diferente, debemos obedecerlo en lugar de temer la pérdida de relaciones, por muy queridas que sean. Y debemos facilitar esa separación de la manera más amorosa y pacífica posible (Romanos 12:18).
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora es momento de aplicarlo. Aquí tienes algunas ideas y preguntas:
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que decepcionaste a familiares o amigos al no obedecer a Dios?
Lean juntos Mateo 12:48-50 y pregunten a quienes están discipulando cómo aplicarían el pasaje.
¿Qué temerías más si te pidieran que dejaras tu iglesia?
El miedo es una emoción dada por Dios, pero como cualquier otra emoción, el enemigo puede usarla para el mal. Dejemos que nuestra lealtad a Dios sea nuestra principal motivación en nuestras relaciones con los demás.
Escritura Orgánica – Sin Inteligencia Artificial ni Edulcorantes Añadidos
Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com
And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.” (Mark 4:30-32)
Introduction
The Parable of the Mustard Seed, recorded in Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-34, and Luke 13:18-19, vividly portrays the Kingdom of God’s extraordinary growth from humble origins to global expanse. Jesus, teaching in Galilee and Judea, used this parable to unveil the Kingdom’s dynamic nature to those spiritually eager, emphasizing its expansion under His sovereign rule.
Key Words and Phrases
In Mark 4:32, “grows” is auxanō (G837, Strong’s Concordance), meaning to increase or enlarge, rooted in auxō, which denotes natural or divinely empowered growth. In Luke 13:19, “grew” employs auxanō in the aorist tense, indicating a completed action with enduring impact. Etymologically, auxanō suggests organic vitality and supernatural multiplication, as seen in contexts like spiritual growth (Colossians 1:5-6). In the parable, the mustard seed’s transformation into a tree symbolizes the Kingdom’s exponential growth under Christ’s authority, reflecting His divine power to amplify the insignificant.
Key Theological Implications
The mustard seed’s growth illustrates the Kingdom’s trajectory through Christ’s redemptive mission. As the Messiah, Jesus plants the seed through His life, death, and resurrection, initiating a Kingdom that begins modestly but grows universally (Daniel 2:44). The term auxanō underscores Christ’s omnipotence, transforming the small into the substantial. The Kingdom’s expansion, offering “shade” and “branches” for all nations (Ezekiel 17:23), fulfills messianic prophecies. Christ’s lordship is not only future but operative now, as the Kingdom grows through the Church’s Spirit-empowered mission (Acts 1:8).
Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ Example
The parable reveals Jesus as the patient, omniscient King who nurtures Kingdom growth. His private explanations to disciples (Mark 4:34) reflect His desire for spiritual understanding, while the seed’s growth foreshadows His eternal reign, where all nations find refuge (Revelation 7:9). The present reality of His lordship is evident in the Church’s expansion despite opposition, mirroring the seed’s unlikely transformation. This encourages believers to adopt a growth-oriented mindset, trusting Christ’s sovereign power.
The Transformative Power of the Growth of the Kingdom
For modern Christians, the parable inspires disciple-makers to sow Kingdom seeds faithfully, trusting God for increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). Emulating Jesus, believers should teach with relatable imagery, explain truths to eager learners, and foster inclusive communities where diverse individuals encounter Christ’s love. The imagery of birds nesting in branches challenges disciples to create spaces reflecting the Kingdom’s hospitality. Recognizing Christ’s active lordship empowers believers to live with confidence, knowing the Kingdom’s growth is divinely assured.
Conclusion
The Parable of the Mustard Seed portrays Jesus as the sovereign King who transforms the humble into the glorious. The term auxanō captures this divine growth, pointing to Christ’s redemptive plan and eternal reign. His lordship, active today and culminating in eternity, calls disciples to participate in the Kingdom’s expansion with faith and perseverance. By trusting in Christ’s power, believers reflect the hope of a Kingdom that grows beyond imagination, offering rest to all who seek its shade.
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
The Seed in the Silence
The parking lot stretched out like a cracked, gray canvas, its faded lines barely holding the memory of the bustling days when Juan and Carlos had preached here. Across the street, the refugee center stood quiet, its windows dark, its doors locked. Once, scores of Latin American immigrants had gathered here—laughing, weeping, praying—many were even baptized, their faces alight with new hope. Now, the lot was a ghost town, littered with brittle leaves and the faint echo of those fervent moments. Juan kicked a pebble, watching it skitter into a pothole. “Three years, Carlos,” he said, his voice low, “and what do we have to show for it?”
Carlos leaned against their beat-up pick-up truck, arms crossed, his dark eyes scanning the empty lot. “We shared the gospel. People met Jesus. Isn’t that enough?” But his tone carried a shadow of doubt, a weariness that matched Juan’s. They’d poured their hearts into this city, moving from one makeshift pulpit to another—parking lots, community centers, street corners. They’d seen miracles: a woman healed of chronic pain, a man weeping as he surrendered to Christ. But the faces blurred now, scattered across the country or lost to the grind of survival. What was the point if nothing lasted?
George, their mentor, sat on the truck’s tailgate, his weathered hands folded over a worn Bible. He’d been listening quietly, his gray beard catching the late afternoon light. “You boys sound like you’re carrying the weight of the world,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Ever think maybe it’s not your job to see everything God is doing?”
Juan frowned, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “It’s hard to keep going when it feels like we’re shouting into the wind. We baptize, we pray, we move on. Then what? This place—” he gestured at the desolate lot—“it’s like we were never here.”
George opened his Bible, the pages crinkling softly. “Let me tell you a story Jesus told. It’s about a mustard seed.” He paused, letting the words settle. “Tiny thing, smaller than a grain of sand. You drop it in the dirt, and it looks like nothing. But it grows. Becomes a tree so big birds nest in its branches. You don’t see the growth day by day, but it’s happening. God’s doing the work, not you.”
Carlos straightened, his brow furrowing. “So you’re saying our work here… it’s like that seed?”
“Exactly,” George said, his voice steady but warm. “You plant. You water. They move on. But God’s the one who makes it grow. You don’t get to see the tree, maybe, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
Juan scuffed his shoe against the asphalt, his jaw tight. He thought of Maria, a young Guatemalan mother who’d clung to his hand after her baptism, tears streaming as she whispered, “I’ve never felt this free.” He thought of Diego, a wiry teenager who’d memorized John 3:16 and recited it proudly, his chest puffed out. Where were they now? Had the gospel taken root, or had it withered in the chaos of their lives? “I want to believe that, George,” Juan said. “But it’s hard when it feels so… small.”
George stood, his knees creaking, and placed a hand on Juan’s shoulder. “Jesus started with twelve men, Juan. Looked pretty small, didn’t it? But He changed the world. You want to be like Him? Keep planting. Keep loving. Trust the growth to God.”
The words sank into Juan, heavy and light at once. He glanced at Carlos, who was staring across the street, his expression softening. The refugee center’s sign was faded, but Juan could still make out the words: “Esperanza para un Nuevo Comienzo” – Hope for a New Beginning. He thought of Jesus, walking dusty roads, speaking to crowds who didn’t always understand, planting seeds He wouldn’t see bloom in His lifetime. Yet He kept going, driven by a love that saw beyond the moment.
Carlos broke the silence. “Remember Luis? The guy who said he’d never forgive his brother?” Juan nodded, picturing the man’s hardened face. “Last week, he called me. Said he’s been reading the Bible we gave him. Said he’s thinking about reaching out to his brother. Said it’s because of what we told him about forgiveness.”
Juan’s breath caught. A seed, sprouting in silence. He looked at the parking lot again, not as a ghost town but as a field, quiet now but alive beneath the surface. Maybe their work wasn’t about permanence but about faith—faith that God was weaving their fleeting moments into something eternal.
George closed his Bible, his eyes bright. “The Kingdom’s growing, boys. You’re part of it. Keep being like Jesus—sow the seed, love the people, and let God handle the rest.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the lot in hues of gold, Juan felt a spark reignite. He didn’t need to see the tree to know it was growing. He just needed to keep sowing.
Earlier today, while listening to a Substack post from Abigail Wilson, she challenged her readers to share their best reads of 2025. That prompt pushed this “listener more than reader” to look back over the books that shaped this past year. Some I read, most I listened to, but all of them left a mark.
1. Winning the War in Your Mind
By Craig Groeschel
This is not the most beautifully written or brilliantly narrated book on the market, but its content makes it my number one book of 2025.
For as long as I can remember in my Christian life, I have wrestled with my thought life—everything from sexual temptation, to legalism, to harsh, judgmental critiques. At some point it felt easier to give up than to keep trying to corral the monkeys jumping around in my head. About three years ago, though, I finally drew a line in the sand and committed to taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). I had memorized the key passages, but I was still losing the battle.
Groeschel’s book was a true game changer for me. The way he unpacks patterns of thinking, spiritual warfare, and practical strategies for renewal helped me experience real progress. My thought life is still not perfect, but compared to where I was, it has improved a hundredfold.
2025 has really been “the year of the Kingdom of God” for me. Over the last 18 months, I have zeroed in on Old and New Testament passages on the Kingdom, and the study has been incredibly rich. Along the way, several books broadened and clarified my thinking.
A two volume set stands out “Empire of the Risen Son” by Steve Gregg. The two are titled:
There Is Another King and
All the King’s Men
Both helped me see the Kingdom not just as a future destination but as a present reality under the rule of Christ.
Another influential work was:
The Scandal of the Kingdom
By Dallas Willard, with an introduction by John Mark Comer
Willard’s insights into discipleship and the reign of God, combined with Comer’s framing, gave me a deeper, more practical vision of what it means to live under King Jesus every day.
3. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
By W. Phillip Keller
A friend recommended this book, and honestly, I wish I had read it years ago—for two reasons.
First, it offers profound personal comfort. Keller, writing as a shepherd, walks slowly through Psalm 23 and opens up the imagery in ways that soothe anxious hearts. Second, it provides rich insight for pastoral ministry. If you are navigating a tough season or trying to better understand the challenges and burdens of ministry, this little book is a wise, gentle guide.
4. Two Classics That Shaped Me Early On
These next two are not 2025 publications, but they remain pillars in my library and resurfaced in my reading this year:
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret
By Dr. Howard Taylor and Geraldine Taylor
The Master Plan of Evangelism
By Robert Coleman
I first read these when I was a very young Christian, and they were foundational for my faith and my understanding of disciple‑making.
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret is, in many ways, a must‑read for every believer. It traces the inner life and trust in God that fueled Taylor’s missionary work, and it still challenges me to lean more deeply into God’s faithfulness.
The Master Plan of Evangelism is exactly what the title suggests: a master work on Jesus’ model of ministry. Coleman doesn’t just theorize about evangelism; he traces the actual strategy Jesus used to form disciples who would carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. For anyone who takes the Great Commission seriously, this book is essential.
5. Honorable Mentions
These final titles may not be must‑reads for everyone, but they were informative, challenging, and genuinely enjoyable. If any of these topics interest you, they are well worth your time:
Designed to Lead
By Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck
A thoughtful look at building leadership culture in the church.
A Chance to Die
By Elisabeth Elliot
A powerful biography of Amy Carmichael and a moving call to sacrificial obedience.
The Civil War: A Narrative, Volumes I & II
By Shelby Foote
Immersive, detailed history that reads almost like a novel while treating the subject with depth and seriousness.
Midnight in Chernobyl
By Adam Higginbotham
A gripping, meticulously researched account of the Chernobyl disaster and the human decisions behind it.
Those are the books that most shaped 2025 for me—some for my inner life, some for ministry, and some simply for the joy of learning. Here’s to more good reading (and listening) in the year ahead.
In Matthew 13:33, Jesus declares, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” This brief parable, nestled within a series of teachings on the Kingdom of God, illustrates the subtle yet transformative power of God’s reign. Spoken to a crowd in Galilee, it reflects Jesus’ method of using everyday imagery to convey profound spiritual truths. The parable emphasizes the phrase “leaven the whole,” pointing to the pervasive growth of the Kingdom under Christ’s lordship, both now and in its eschatological fulfillment.
Key Words and Phrases
The key term in Matthew 13:33 is “leaven,” from the Greek zymē (Strong’s G2219), meaning yeast or a fermenting agent. Etymologically, zymē derives from a root suggesting heat or fermentation, symbolizing an active, transformative process. The phrase “until it was all leavened” uses holos (Strong’s G3650), meaning “whole” or “entire,” emphasizing complete permeation. Together, “leaven the whole” conveys a dynamic process where a small agent effects comprehensive change. Theologically, zymē often carries negative connotations elsewhere (e.g., 1 Corinthians 5:6–8, sin as leaven), but here, Jesus redeems the term to depict the Kingdom’s positive, expansive influence.
Theological Significance: The Kingdom’s Pervasive Growth
The Parable of the Leaven reveals the Kingdom of God as starting small yet growing to encompass all. The woman’s act of “hiding” (enkryptō, Strong’s G1470) the leaven suggests intentionality and subtlety, mirroring how Christ’s lordship quietly transforms hearts and societies. This aligns with related parables, like the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32), emphasizing growth from humble beginnings. The “three pecks of flour” (approximately 111 cups of flour) signifies a vast scope, pointing to the Kingdom’s ultimate reach. Theologically, this reflects God’s redemptive plan: Christ, the Messiah, initiates a Kingdom that grows organically with intentionality, permeating every sphere of existence.
Christological Fulfillment: Jesus as the Leaven
The phrase “leaven the whole” prophetically points to Jesus as the Messiah and King. As the leaven, Christ is the transformative agent, actively working through His Spirit to redeem creation. His incarnation—humble yet powerful—parallels the hidden leaven, and His lordship, already present (Luke 17:21), expands toward eternal fulfillment (Revelation 11:15). This dual reality underscores that Jesus’ kingship is not merely future but operative now, transforming lives and cultures through the Gospel. The parable reveals divine attributes: God’s patience in gradual transformation, His sovereignty in ensuring complete permeation, and His redemptive intent through Christ’s reign.
Implications for Disciples: Transformative Mission
For contemporary believers, the Parable of the Leaven is a call to action. As disciple-makers, we emulate the woman, strategically sowing the Gospel’s “leaven” through persistent, patient efforts. The promise of comprehensive transformation encourages us to expect growth, as seen in Acts 1:8, where the Gospel spreads globally. We model Christ’s lordship by living out Kingdom values, trusting that small acts—prayer, witness, service—yield eternal impact. This parable assures us that Jesus’ reign, already inaugurated, will ultimately “leaven the whole,” filling the earth with His glory (Habakkuk 2:14).
Conclusion: The Expansive Kingdom and Christ’s Lordship
The Parable of the Leaven unveils the transformative power of Christ’s lordship, both now and forever. Through the linguistic lens of zymē and holos, we see a Kingdom that starts small but grows to encompass all, reflecting Jesus’ messianic mission. This truth inspires believers to participate in God’s redemptive plan with patience and persistence, confident that Christ’s reign is actively shaping the present age and will fully manifest in eternity. The parable’s message resonates: Jesus, the King, is leavening the whole, and His Kingdom will prevail.
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
The Leaven of Hope
The retreat center, a cluster of low-roofed buildings tucked into a South Asian hillside, hummed faintly with the buzz of cicadas. Dust hung in the air, stirred by the footsteps of weary missionaries gathered in a dimly lit room. Their faces, etched with exhaustion, bore the weight of war-torn streets, austere living conditions, and the sting of scarce converts in a land resistant to their message. Tanner, an older missionary with silver hair and eyes that held both fire and calm, stood before them, his worn Bible open to Matthew 13:33.
“Read it aloud,” Tanner said, his voice steady but warm, like a hearth in winter. A young woman, Sarah, her hands calloused from hauling water, read: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” The room fell silent, save for the creak of bamboo chairs. Tanner’s gaze swept over the group—twenty souls, each wrestling with doubt.
“You feel it, don’t you?” he began, leaning forward. “The grind. The war outside these walls. The whispers that your work’s for nothing.” Heads nodded, some eyes glistening. “But this parable,” he tapped the page, “it’s a promise. The Kingdom’s like leaven—small, hidden, but unstoppable. It’s not just a future hope; it’s working now, through you.”
He paused, letting the words settle. “The Greek word for leaven, means something alive, fermenting, changing everything it touches. And ‘the whole,’ means nothing’s left untouched. Jesus is that leaven—His life, His example, His Spirit, His reign. He’s already at work in this country, in every heart you’ve shared the gospel with, prayed for, every act of kindness you’ve sown.”
Mark, a wiry missionary with a scarred cheek, spoke up, his voice hoarse. “But Tanner, we’ve been here years. We’ve seen more graves than baptisms. How’s that leaven working?” Murmurs rippled through the group. Tanner’s smile was gentle but unyielding.
“Think of the woman in the parable,” he said. “She hid the leaven with purpose, knowing it would spread. Jesus, our King, is already Lord, not just in some distant glory but today! Look at Luke 17:21 – “For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” His reign grows quietly, through your persistence, your prayers, even your tears. You’re not failing—you’re kneading the dough.”
The room stirred. Sarah clutched her Bible, her knuckles whitening. “So what do we do?” she asked, voice trembling with both fatigue and hope.
“Become like Him,” Tanner said. “Jesus, the leaven, gave Himself fully—humble, patient, relentless. Live like that. Love without counting the cost. Share the Gospel, even when it feels futile. Every small act—every meal shared, every wound bandaged—is leaven hidden in this land. The Kingdom’s growing, and one day, it’ll fill everything – Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
As night fell, the missionaries lingered, their exhaustion tempered by resolve. They sang songs and prayed together, voices rising like dough, trusting the unseen work of their King. Tanner watched, his heart swelling, knowing the leaven was already at work, transforming them, their country, and the world.
ToBeLikeJesus 