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What Did Jesus Mean by “The Kingdom of God”?

What Did Jesus Mean by “The Kingdom of God”?

Last updated on: August 6, 2026 at 10:11 pm by Beverly R. Green

What Did Jesus Mean by “The Kingdom of God”? 2026-08-06T22:11:03-04:00 Beverly R. Green

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The Art of the Parables: Part 6–Parables of the Kingdom

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The Kingdom in Similes

Jesus often used parables to teach truths about the Kingdom of God. Often in similes beginning, “The Kingdom of God is like …,” the parables exhibit lessons in:

A. Transformation by starting small and increasing

B. The supreme personal worth of the Kingdom

C. Grace vs. the final judgment

D. Inclusivity of God’s invitation

The parables, most only a couple of verses in length, rely on familiar concepts to compare what is earthly to what is heavenly, and teach about spiritual growth, ultimate judgment, and the amazing grace of God. These stories can be grouped according to their thematic lessons.

I Chase Sunsets series note:

This is “The Art of the Parables” series. To read part five, click here.

The keyword for this week is

TRUTH

The Growth and Reach of the Kingdom

The Parable of the Mustard Seed: Matthew 13:31-32:

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

While most believers interpret the parable as a beautiful symbol of growth and shelter, biblical scholars and commentators note deeper historical context.

Yes, the mustard seed is a tiny thing. However, from an ancient agrarian perspective, the mustard seed was also viewed as “the least [smallest]” in terms of value or utility, emphasizing the unexpected or “disruptive” nature of God’s Kingdom. The mustard plant’s aggressive, invasive nature serves as a metaphor for the unstoppable, fast-spreading influence of God’s word. In fact, wild mustard (Sinapis alba or Brassica nigra) spreads rapidly. Once introduced to an environment, it is incredibly difficult to eradicate. If planted near a cultivated garden, it quickly takes over the soil, choking out intentional crops like vegetables or grain.

In a positive way, the Kingdom of Heaven does the same thing. It can start as a tiny measure of faith that grows to become the defining nature of a person.

The Parable of the Yeast: Matthew 13:33:

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The Parable of the Yeast (or Leaven) is a short teaching where Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a small amount of yeast hidden in a massive batch of flour. It illustrates how the seemingly small, quiet beginnings of His message will ultimately transform the entire world.

“First, the kingdom of God may have small beginnings, but it will increase. Yeast is microscopic in size, and only a little is kneaded into the dough. Yet, given time, the yeast will spread through all the dough. In the same way, Jesus’ domain started with twelve men in an obscure corner of Galilee, but it has spread throughout the world.

“Second, the kingdom of God exerts its influence from within, not from without. Yeast makes dough rise from within. God first changes the heart of a person, and that internal change has external manifestations. The gospel influence in a culture works the same way: Christians within a culture act as agents of change, slowly transforming that culture from within.

“Third, the effect of the kingdom of God will be comprehensive. Just as yeast works until the dough has completely risen, the ultimate benefit of the kingdom of God will be worldwide (Psalm 72:19; Daniel 2:35). “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

“Fourth, although the kingdom of God works invisibly, its effect is evident to all. Yeast does its job slowly, secretly and silently, but no one can deny its effect on bread. The same is true of the work of grace in our hearts.”

Leaven or yeast could apparently have opposite symbolic meanings, good and bad, as when Jesus warned His followers to “beware the yeast of the Pharisees” Matthew 16:6. Also, the symbolic command to remove all yeast (chametz) from the home happens right before the holiday of Passover. God gave this instruction in the Torah (Exodus 12:15). It marks the start of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15.

The Supreme Value of the Kingdom

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure: Matthew 13:44:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price: Matthew 13:45-46:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a priceless treasure, far more valuable than anything this world can offer. While it may seem small or insignificant at first, like a mustard seed or a spot of leaven hidden in a bowl of dough, it is a growing and transforming creation. The kingdom works quietly yet powerfully, spreading its influence and changing lives from the inside out. It is not evident now, but it will become all there is. For those who discover it and recognize its worth, it is so valuable that it is worth sacrificing everything to obtain it, like finding hidden treasure or a pearl of great price.”

Grace vs. the Final Judgment

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds: Matthew 13:24-30:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'”

This parable answers a big question: Why is evil allowed to exist alongside good in the world? Jesus makes it clear that God (who is purely good) did not create evil, but that an “enemy” introduced it into the world.

The weeds, or “tares,” likely refer to darnel, a poisonous weed that looks almost identical to wheat in its early stages. This represents how false believers or hypocrites can superficially resemble true Christians, making it difficult to discern one from the other. Since it is nearly impossible for people to accurately judge the wheat from the tares, just as it is nearly impossible for people to discern a good person from a bad person, God continues to allow both to coexist, awaiting His all-knowing proclamation. The sorting, judgment, and destruction of the wicked will be executed by angels at the final judgment, not before.

Judgment is left to God alone. We are taught, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure ye use, it shall be measured to you again. And why do you behold the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-3); and “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Our next parable has the same meaning with different symbols.

The Parable of the Dragnet: Matthew 13:47-50:

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

God’s Passionate Inclusiveness

The Parable of the Great Banquet: Luke 14:15-24:

“When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.’

“Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, Come, for everything is now ready.’

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'”

In this parable, the Host represents God and the invited guests represent the religious elite of Israel, who are so consumed with themselves that they miss the importance and the honor of the invitation. To fill the seats at the banquet, the invitations are then extended to the outcasts, the marginalized, and eventually, the Gentiles. The Master demands that his house be filled. This demonstrates God’s passionate desire for all people to be included in His Kingdom.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard: Matthew 20:1-16:

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

From the parable, we know that God’s grace and salvation cannot be earned or measured by human standards of labor, wages or time. God is free to bless everyone with the same eternal reward, no matter when or how long they have served Him. It demonstrates the generous and unmerited nature of God’s amazing grace.

More Scripture about the Kingdom of God

Luke 17:20–21

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Daniel 7:13–14

I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Luke 6:20

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

Mark 1:14–15

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Matthew 9:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Read Part 7: The Parable of the Talents: Bury It and Lose It

God bless you!

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Parables of the Kingdom

Teaching series about Jesus' Parables

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