A Place of Refuge and Shelter: Luke 13:18-19

As we continue looking at the parables Jesus told, we turn our attention to one of Jesus’ shortest parables. While the setup for this parable gives this parable an extra verse, the parable itself is only one verse long. This isn’t the only parable that is under two verses, but because it is so short, don’t think for a moment that it isn’t challenging, relevant, or significant. In just a few short phrases, Jesus masterfully illustrates several aspects of God’s kingdom in a way that lifts us up while also challenging us regarding our mission in this world.

Let’s read this parable and discover what we can learn from Jesus’ illustration. While this parable is found in Matthew’s gospel, Luke also includes it. Since most people look at Matthew’s version of it, let’s be different and focus in on Luke’s gospel, even if both parables are written almost identically. With this said, our passage for this episode is found in Luke’s gospel, chapter 13, and we will read it from the New Century Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 18, Luke tells us that:

¹⁸ Then Jesus said, “What is God’s kingdom like? What can I compare it with? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree, and the wild birds build nests in its branches.”

In these few phrases, we have our parable. While Jesus then immediately shares another parable, we’ll hold off on focusing on that parable until our next episode, even though both parables have a number of similarities.

In this parable, we discover God’s kingdom being compared to a mustard seed. I don’t know much about mustard seeds, but what I do know is that they are among the smallest seeds that can be seen without magnification. Perhaps what is significant about this truth is that while the seed is small, the seed’s smallness does not indicate the size of a plant the seed will become. In a similar way, God’s kingdom started incredibly small, but with the Holy Spirit and a little bit of time, God’s kingdom has expanded in amazing ways.

Something else that seems to stand out to me whenever I read about this parable is the final phrase. The last thing Jesus shares about the seed that became a tree is that this tree had “wild birds build nests in its branches”. This is significant, because it tells us that God’s kingdom exists to be a shelter and refuge for God’s creation.

While we could take the idea of wild birds literally, they might also be a metaphor for those living in this world. While many of us listening to this episode are already a part of God’s kingdom, when we have intentionally allied ourselves to Jesus, do we live our lives in a way that helps those in this world who are not yet followers of Jesus? Is the witness we display in the world one where other people are loved, welcomed, helped, and lifted up?

According to this parable, God’s kingdom grows into a place where those who are near it benefit from it. God’s kingdom gives more than it takes; God’s kingdom does not behave like a parasite. Everyone near God’s kingdom benefits from its presence.

When I look out at the world today, I don’t see many clear examples of people living to serve others in a sacrificial way. Most serving, if we could call it that, seems to be centered on how we can help others while being compensated in some way for it. While there is nothing wrong with being compensated for helping others, is the goal of our help to get paid, or is the goal of our help to serve? Is the goal of our help and our service towards others aimed at building up a name for ourselves or is aimed at building up the name of Jesus Christ?

One test we can use when asking ourselves if we live up to this ideal is if a random person passing by would miss what we are doing if we were to disappear. Another way we could test this is asking ourselves if we were to stop doing what we are doing, would God miss it? While these are not perfect tests, know that if the mustard tree in our parable were to disappear, the wild birds who had taken up residence would definitely notice. God would also notice because He values every plant, animal, and human He created!

When we join God’s kingdom, we get a new perspective. This perspective changes from what can I do to help me succeed to what can I do to help others succeed. Our perspective also changes from what can God do to help me to what can I do to help bring glory to God through blessing others. When we join God’s kingdom, our focus shifts away from ourselves and onto saying thank You to God by giving Him glory, honor, and praise.

Another way to describe this from our parable is remembering that the tiny mustard seed that grew into a tree represents God’s kingdom. This seed does not represent us and it does not represent anything we can do. Without the Holy Spirit, any efforts we put into growing our own spiritual seeds will result in nothing more than tiny, spiritual seeds.

However, with the Holy Spirit, our efforts into helping God’s kingdom grow transform from the insignificant gifts we have into being the transformative gifts God will use to bless others. This only happens when we remember that we are building up God’s kingdom, and God’s kingdom is focused on giving glory to Jesus!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first and place Him first in your life. Choose to say thank You to God for everything He has done for you by helping others, by blessing others, and by giving God the glory and credit for everything you accomplish. If it was not for God, you would not be alive today!

Also, always pray and study the Bible for yourself to learn and grow closer to God each day. While learning from other people is nice, choose to let the Holy Spirit teach you through the pages of the Bible as you study it personally. Nothing can replace personal prayer and Bible study as you build a strong spiritual foundation for your life!

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!