April 10 2025

Thursday April 10

A Call to Spiritual Discernment

Luke 13:18-21

18 Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches." 20 And again He said, "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.

So far in this chapter, Jesus has given us a call to genuine repentance (vv. 1-5), a call to bear fruit (vv. 6-9), and a call to spiritual freedom (vv. 10-17)! Today, as we look at Luke 13:18-21, I believe we should hear Jesus giving us a call to spiritual discernment!  Jesus shares two brief parables—the mustard seed and the leaven—likely spoken in the synagogue just before departing with His disciples. These follow His healing of a crippled woman, a moment that shamed His critics and delighted the crowd. Here, He shifts from that victory to a sobering look at the kingdom of God, revealing both its growth and its challenges.

These parables are often taken out of context and misinterpreted, but they have much to teach us about God’s work, Satan’s schemes, and our call to discernment. After considering them, I think we will conclude that just because something is bigger, it doesn’t always mean that it is better.

First, Jesus asks, “What is the kingdom of God like? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden; and it grew and became a great tree, and the birds of the air lodged in its branches” (Luke 13:18-19). On the surface, this sounds like success—a tiny seed sprouting into a towering tree. But something’s off. Mustard seeds grow into shrubs, not trees. This abnormal growth hints at distortion. The Jews knew their Scriptures: a mighty tree often symbolized a world power (Ezekiel 17:22-24; Daniel 4:20-22), and birds, as in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5, 12), represent evil—Satan and his forces (Matthew 13:19). Jesus isn’t picturing triumph here, but a kingdom infiltrated by falsehood.

Then He says, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until it was all leavened” (Luke 13:20-21). Leaven, in Scripture, consistently symbolizes evil (Exodus 12:14-20; Luke 12:1).  Think of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy or Herod’s corruption (Matthew 16:12; Mark 8:15). A woman hiding leaven in meal suggests stealthy contamination, not godly influence. These parables, echoing Matthew 13, don’t show the kingdom conquering the world. Instead, they warn of Satan’s two-pronged attack: abnormality (the oversized tree) and adulteration (the hidden leaven).

For context, Jesus spoke amid opposition. The synagogue ruler had just fumed over a Sabbath healing, clinging to dead traditions. These parables counter that mindset: “Your rules won’t stop God’s kingdom, but Satan will distort it.” Historically, Israel rejected Christ, and during this church age, God’s program faces failure—not in its ultimate victory, but in its present form. The mustard seed reflects “Christendom”—the visible, professing church—growing unnaturally large, like after Constantine, when the “Organized Church” became a political power, not a humble “little flock” (Luke 12:32). Like birds, the false teachers nest in its branches.

The leaven shows corruption creeping in: Pharisees with empty rituals, Sadducees denying the supernatural, Herodians bowing to Rome. Today the church battles similar distortions, such as legalism, skepticism, and compromise. Jesus isn’t contradicting Himself here. He’d already called leaven evil (Luke 12:1). Nor do these parables promise global permeation; population growth outpaced by true faith. The kingdom’s seed often falls on barren soil, Satan sows counterfeits, and the net catches good and bad fish (Matthew 13). Yet, there’s hope: God’s true kingdom endures, despite the mess. These stories challenge the crowd, and us, to look beyond appearances. The religious leaders saw only their traditions; Jesus saw Satan’s schemes and God’s bigger plan.

What does this mean for us? We’re in a mixed age where truth and falsehood grow together. We must discern the real kingdom from its counterfeits, not confusing size or influence with godliness. Satan attacks with abnormality (prideful bigness) and adulteration (subtle lies). Our job isn’t to fix the whole tree or the meal but to be faithful, bearing true fruit in a crooked world, trusting God for the final harvest.

Closing Challenge

This week, examine your faith: Are you swayed by the “big tree” of flashy religion or the “leaven” of watered-down truth? Pick one area of your life, maybe a belief, habit, or influence, and test it against Scripture. Root out any distortion and commit to authentic, humble faith. Be a seed of truth in a tangled world.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the kingdom’s reality of growth amid corruption. Open our eyes to Satan’s schemes and keep us from false traditions or lies. Help us bear true fruit, faithful to You, not the world’s show. Strengthen us to stand firm until Your victory comes. Amen.

God bless!