Introduction

A parable can be defined as a narrative that has a hidden meaning and takes a more in-depth analysis to get what it means. Gospel parables vary in the way they portrayal a specific message where each parable usually has a different meaning.  Although different manuscripts present diverse ways of giving the parables, it is evident that a common message in both contexts surrounds the context of a biblical worldview. The Gospels parables involve teachings that were directly provided by Jesus. Gospel books such as Luke and Mathew presents the gospel parables. When Jesus preached to the world, Pharisees presented controversial perspectives. Pharisees believed in the teachings of law, and this contradicted with the beliefs of those who regarded law. Therefore, parables were considered as the best way of teaching them. Understand how these parables reacted the communities provides an opportunity to note significant difference and similarities on how it was presented taught and taken into consideration. Several parables speak and relate to the kingdom of God which include the parable of the sower and the parable of the mustard seeds.

Parables that speak and relate to God’s kingdom

The parable of the sower

In the narration of the parable, a sower went out into the fields to sow seeds which he did in very different places. Some of the seeds fell on the pathways and were stepped on and eaten by the birds of the air. Secondly, others fell on the rocky places where the soil was very minimal. The seeds sprang up but had no foundation, and when the sun came up, they dried up and never grew. Others fell in a thorny area where they grew together with the thorns. However, the thorns chocked them and denied them the chance of yielding grains. The last grains fell on the fertile and productive soils that were conducive for germination. These seeds grew up and bore fruits in plenty in the forties, sixties and hundreds (Luke 8:4-15).

Interpretation of the parable directly relates to the listeners of the word of God where Jesus said those who will see the kingdom of God are those who follow the word. Those seeds that fell on the pathway and were eaten by the birds represent those people who listen to the word of God, but it has n place in them to establish itself leading to satan coming and taking it away. Those seeds that fell on the rocky grounds and dried up represent those people who hear the word and receives it with joy. However, this word lacks some roots in them, and immediately temptations come their way the word falls away. The other seeds are those that fell in the thorny areas, grew up but were choked to death by the thorns (Luke 8). These seeds represented those people who hear the word of God but also have the worldly pleasures in them. These pleasures become too much and overshadow the word choking it and making it vanish in those people. Lastly, those seeds that fell on the fertile soils and produced plenty represent those people who hear the word and follow it to the fullest, and they are the people who are guaranteed to see the kingdom of God.

The parable of the mustard seed

This parable is considered as the shortest parable amongst all the parables that Jesus narrated during his ministry here on earth. In its narration, Jesus talked about the mustard seed which is the smallest seed in the world when compared with the other seeds. However, ones the seed is planted out on the fields it grows slowly to become one of the most massive trees on the land later. The tree also has the biggest branches, one with the best herbs and also provides the land with adequate shadowing from its branches (Matthew 13:31–32). Many of the people do not like planting the mustard seed because of its smaller stature, but they forget that it produces the biggest tree on the land.

Jesus in his interpretation of the parable of the mustard seed likened the seed with the kingdom of God. At the beginning, the growth of the kingdom is minimal and has some humble beginnings. It starts growing slowly and takes some time to become as big as the mustard seed. Ones the kingdom of God reaches its maximum it becomes bigger than any other kingdom. Additionally, it provides homage for Gods people just like the mustard tree provides home and shelter for the birds of the air. Anyone who believes in God gets protection from Him like the mustard trees protect living creatures. The parable also shows that the kingdom of God begins as a small entity inside a person but develops slowly and conquers other kingdoms. People are also encouraged to be patient with the growth of the word of God in them.

Conclusions

The parable of the sower and that of the mustard seed purely talks and relates to matters concerning the kingdom of God. Other parables on the same include those of the parable of tares and that of the hidden treasure. All those parables try to show how the kingdom of God looks like and also shows people how to seek it. Gods kingdom is only acquired and gotten by those people who believe in the word of God. Lastly, Jesus in his time on earth used several parables during his teachings which had hidden meaning and people had to have hidden insights to be able to interpret them.

References

Catholic Study Bible, 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016