THE MUSTARD TREE, THE LEAVEN, AND THE GATE

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LUKE 13:10-30
Lesson #39
THE MUSTARD TREE, THE LEAVEN, AND THE GATE

• Memory Verse: Luk 13:24
• In our previous lesson we began to talk about believing faith. That theme continues in chapter 13 as it relates to the kingdom of God.
• Read Luk 13:10-17 The woman with a spirit of infirmity
  • In this healing there are some interesting things to notice:
    • It occurs on the Jewish Sabbath.
      • The Jewish leaders had added so many little details of rules and regulations to God’s command to keep the Sabbath holy.
      • Jesus threw these hypocritical rules back at the religious leaders that complained about Jesus healing on the Sabbath. (15)
        • Even the religious leaders watered their animals on the Sabbath.
        • In the legalistic code of the religious leaders, to water their animals was work.
    • There is an evil spirit under the control of Satan behind this illness of infirmity. (16)
      • That does not mean that all illness has an evil spirit as its cause.
      • Obviously some illnesses are caused by evil spirits, while other illnesses are caused by the fact that we live in a fallen world.
    • The woman did not seek healing from Jesus. He noticed her first. (12) Therefore, she did not initially come to Him in great faith.
      • He told her she was loosed from the infirmity. (12)
        • The Greek word for “infirmity” is astheneia which was a very common word for a very severe, chronic sickness in general.
        • Therefore, she had a spirit of sickness that caused her body to be bent, doubled over.
      • Then why did Jesus have to lay hands on her for the healing to take place? (13)
        • Remember the lesson we learned in the cursing of the fig tree at the beginning of Luke 13?
        • The fig tree was cursed but did not immediately die. Several days were required for the curse to manifest itself in reality.
        • The same is true in this healing. She was healed at the moment Jesus said she was loosed from her infirmity. But it was not real to her yet.

When Jesus laid hands on her, the healing was manifested in her body.

Sometimes there is a lapse of time in the spiritual world between the reality in heaven and its manifested reality on earth.

This is an important point to learn about prayer and faith.

When the believer learns this lesson, he has learned to “wait” on God.

• • • • Jesus said she was a “daughter of Abraham”. (16)
        • This meant that she was a Jew.
        • But more than that, she was an heir of the covenant God made with Abraham that promised healing. The covenant with Abraham was a covenant of faith.
  • Jesus was in control of the situation from the beginning.
    • He chose to make her a test case for healing on the Sabbath because He knew the hearts of the religious leaders.
    • Jesus used this situation to set the stage for the teaching on the Kingdom of God in the form of various parables.
• Read Luk 13:18-21
  • The Parable of the Mustard Tree and the Birds
    • Read Mat 13:31-32
    • Background:
      • The mustard seed and tree:
      • We know that mustard does not grow to the size of a tree.
        • Herbs do not usually grow into trees because they have a different botanical structure from trees.
        • The growth of a tree is slow but the growth of an herb is rapid.
        • Herbs do not develop woody tissue as a trunk.
      • Botanists suggest that the species spoken of in this parable is the khardah, Arabic for mustard.
      • While this particular type of mustard might grow big to appear to be a tree (10-20 ft. high), it is not a true tree.
      • Because of the tiny size of the seed, it came to symbolize small beginnings, and was the smallest weight of measure.
        • The mustard is fiery hot when bruised.
        • The mustard is attractive to birds for food and shelter.
        • The mustard only lives long enough to develop flowers and seeds.
    • Therefore, when Jesus said that this mustard grew into a big tree, he is talking about an expansion completely foreign to the very nature of an herb.
    • The popular misinterpretation of the parable:
      • Many theologians, pastors, and teachers teach the following interpretation:
      • The church, which starts small with only the disciples, would grow large to fill the earth with its good influence and anyone could take refuge in it.
    • Why is this a misinterpretation?
      • The Bible never teaches that Christians will be a majority in this world. Instead, true believers are always spoken of as being a remnant.
      • The context of the parable of the mustard tree in Luke is next to an illness caused by Satan.
      • This misinterpretation does not consider the enemy of the Kingdom of God.
    • A key to the true interpretation of this parable:
      • To understand what Jesus meant by this parable, we must understand the difference between true Christianity and Christendom (church Christianity).
      • True Christianity:
        • True Christianity is faith or belief in God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
        • This personal relationship with Christ occurs when a person invites Jesus into his heart and life and experiences the new birth. (Joh 3)
        • This personal relationship with Christ makes us part of a body of believers called, the body of Christ which is the true church.
      • Christendom (church Christianity):
        • Christendom is the totality of organized church religion throughout the world without regard to denomination or belief or to a born-again experience.
        • Christendom may or may not lead a person to faith in Jesus Christ.
        • This is man-made religion on a world scale.
    • What does the grain of mustard seed represent?
      • The grain of mustard seed represents the word of faith implanted in the heart of a believer.
      • This makes that person a true born-again Christian.
    • What does the field represent?
      • In this parable, the Gospel of Matthew uses the word, field, the Gospel of Mark uses the word, earth, and the Gospel of Luke uses the word, garden.
      • These words represent the field of the world.
    • Who is the man who planted the seed?
      • There is no hint given as to the identity of the sower in this parable, but it is assumed to be Christ based on the context.
    • What do the birds represent?
      • Remember the context of the chapter.
      • The birds represent Satan and his demons that seek to bind and restrict the work of God.
    • What does it mean that the birds come and nest in the tree?
      • Satan and his forces are in the church to eat up the true seed of the Gospel.
      • What does the tree represent?
        • The mustard bush represents the fact that the number of born-again believers throughout the world and through history would grow to be the size of a bush. (The normal size of an herb)
        • Therefore when the bush becomes a tree, it represents the growth of Christendom. (This size is not normal for mustard so it is artificial).

We can see this growth in the development of large Christian denominations that have become more concerned with tree growing rather than seed planting.

The plant starts small with true born-again believers.

However, over time the tree becomes more worldly permitting non-believers to be part of the organization.

The mature tree is now Christendom, a man-made religion.

• • • Special Note: This parable of the mustard tree and the parable of the cursing of the fig tree in Luk 13:6-9 present us with an interesting comparison:
      • The fig tree represents the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious system of Judaism.
      • The mustard tree represents the spiritual pollution of the Gentile religious system of Christendom.
  • The Parable of the Leaven and the Meal
    • We studied this parable in detail in Luk 12:1-12 (Lesson #35)
    • We determined that leaven represents something evil or sinful that corrupts the church or Christianity over time.
• Read Luk 13:22-30
  • The question that prompted the parable is, “Lord, are there few that be saved?” (23)
  • The Parable of Two Gates and Two Ways
    • Read Mat 7:13-14
    • What is the central truth of the parable in Mat 7:13-14?
      • There are two ways to build your life.
      • The right way is a lifestyle based on a love relationship with Jesus Christ who answers our prayers and enables us to enter into the kingdom of God.
      • Most people take the other way that is the wrong way and leads to destruction.
    • The importance of the city gate:
      • The city gate was the place of government, judicial courts, and markets (political, judicial, economical).
      • Everything of importance happened at the city gate.
    • There are two gates and two ways:
      • People in the Old Testament had the same choice.
        • Read Deu 30:14-18
        • Read Psa 1
    • What is the narrow gate? What is the narrow way?
      • The narrow gate is Jesus Christ and acceptance of him as Lord and Savior.
      • It is narrow but wide enough to let you enter freely.
      • Read Joh 10:7
      • Read Joh 14:6-7
      • Notice we are told to “strive” to enter this gate. That means it takes some effort to determine which gate is the best one to enter.
      • The narrow way is the life built on Christ once you enter into the kingdom of God.
        • It is narrow because it requires self sacrifice in giving to others.
        • It is narrow because you are often traveling alone through persecution surrounded by unbelievers.
        • It is narrow because you have to leave a lot of personal baggage behind to get through the Christian life.
        • That is the maturing process of the Christian life. If you are maturing in Christ, the way should be getting narrower as you go along.
    • What is the wide gate? What is the broad way?
      • The wide gate is all ways other than Jesus. That is why it is wide because it encompasses everything else and every other doctrine, religion, and belief.
      • The broad way is self indulgence.
        • It is wide because it is well trodden by the majority of people.
        • It is wide because anything is tolerated.
    • What is the relationship between the two ways and the two gates?
      • The narrow gate has a narrow way because the Holy Spirit will not let you get too broad in your life style.
      • The wide gate has a broad way because nothing is required for you to give up.
    • Why do few find the narrow gate?
      • It requires repentance, faith, and self-sacrifice.
      • Man has free will. He makes the choice. Usually people choose what is easy.
    • There are two destinies:
      • The narrow way leads to eternal life.
      • The broad way leads to destruction.
      • The word, “destruction” means = waste, the loss of all that is precious to life; confining imprisonment.
    • The Gospel of Luke expands on the parable to tell us that one day the gate will be closed. (25)
      • At the event of the second coming of Christ, when Christ sets up his earthly kingdom, only believers will initially be part of the kingdom of Christ.
      • The parable says that some people will question being shut out of the kingdom. (26)
        • Jesus’ answer is that He does not know them.
        • What does that mean?

Entrance into the kingdom of God is by being re-born into the family of God by the Holy Spirit. (Joh 3)

Those people like the Scribes and Pharisees who think they will be part of God’s kingdom will be mistaken because they rejected Jesus Christ, the only way, the truth, and the life. (Joh 14:6)

Without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, He will not acknowledge that person. (Mat 10:32) (1Joh 2:23)

• • • • • Jesus refers to the religious leaders of the Jews that will be shut out of the kingdom of God. They will see all the Old Testament saints and prophets inside the kingdom but they will be as non-believers having their destiny in an eternal lake of fire. (28)
  • “there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” (30)
  • What did Jesus mean by this phrase?
    • The last to come into the kingdom of God are the Gentiles in this age of grace we live in today. These will be the first taken at the rapture of the Church to receive a new body and to be forever with the Lord.
    • The first to be invited into the kingdom of God were the Jews from the time of Isaac until the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, as a people the Jews denied Christ, His offer of forgiveness of sin, and His offer of the kingdom of God. They will be the last to come into the kingdom at the event of the second coming of Christ when they will accept Christ as their savior. (Zec 12:10)
• Summary:
  • This lesson contains a healing and various parables all of which demonstrate to us the following truths:
    • There are two kingdoms in this world, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, Christ’s enemy.
    • God’s kingdom is entered only by being born again by faith when a person receives Jesus Christ into his heart and life.
    • Meanwhile Satan’s kingdom is at work to disrupt, deceive, and destroy the lives and souls of men as well as the universal church of born again believers.
    • At the end of the age God will clearly separate the two kingdoms.
    • God knows the hearts of man. He knows who belongs to Christ and who does not.

Homework
Luke 13:31-35 Luke 14:1-24

• Application of Luk 13:10-30
  • The question was asked of Jesus, Lord, are there few that be saved?” (23) The answer is that yes, there are few, for the majority of people will not follow Jesus’ warnings.
  • The question for you is this, will you be one of the few to be saved?
    • If you have not made a decision as in which of the two kingdoms of this world you will spend eternity, I encourage you to make that decision today to invite Jesus Christ into your heart to spend eternity with Him.
    • If you need help or prayer to do this, contact your pastor, your teacher, or me.
• Preparation for Luk 13:31-35 Luk 14:1-24
  • Read Luk 13:31-35
  • Read Luk 14:1-24
    • What do you learn about God from these passages?
• Memory verse: Psalm 70:4