Msg #2022 Failures of Grace

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

“The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed....” Jesus' seven rapid fire parables expose a believer to the new rules of engagement for the kingdom of heaven being “at hand”. “Because it is given unto you (disciples) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 13:11). His 3^rd parable, touching the mustard seed, is often misunderstood. Mustard is not a food but a poignant spice and here it is used with the other six parables to drive home that the kingdom of heaven is not to be all “nice and rosy and comfy cozy.” The uncomfortable part is not in the size of the seed or the greatness of the herb, but the lodging of the birds in its branches. Anyone who peered into a Berkely package of celery seeds knows there are smaller seeds, so “least” here is not a size-thing but a significance-thing. Anyone who reached to the top of an oriental mustard plant knows its massive size. But the dwelling place of “all fowl of every wing” was evil for the cedar being Babylon (Ezek 17), the exalted tree being Assyria (31:3-9), and the portrayal of Nebuchadnezzar and his lodging of evil (Dan4:20-22). It is the fowl that make it foul; they portray the wicked one lodged in kingdom branches. The poignant mustard seed will later be used to size up one's faith to move mountains (Matt 17:20), but in the next parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven...” there is no disputing that the leaven represents sin in the kingdom. The kingdom parables all reveal the failure within the dispensation of grace that we live in, as does the tyranny in our own government, and the anarchy in our streets. Even so come Lord Jesus.

An Essay for week #22 May 31, 2020

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs200531.mp3

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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