Luke 13:18 BSB — MannaFest

Luke 13:18

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?

KJV

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

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Commentary

4 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Catena Aurea by Aquinas (397)

In another place, a grain of mustard seed is introduced where it is compared to faith. If then the mustard seed is the kingdom of God, and faith is as the grain of mustard seed; faith is truly the kingdom of heaven, which is within us. (Luke 17:21.) A grain of mustard seed is indeed a mean and trifling thing, but as soon as it is crushed, it pours forth its power. And faith at first seems simple, but when it is buffeted by adversity, pours forth the grace of its virtue. The martyrs are grains of mustard seed.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

J.C. Ryle

1816–1900

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)

There is a peculiar interest belonging to the two parables contained in these verses. We find them twice delivered by our Lord — and at two distinct periods in His ministry. This fact alone, should make us give the more earnest attention to the lessons which the parables convey. They will be found rich both in prophetic and experimental truths. The parable of the mustard seed — is intended to show the progress of the Gospel in the world. The beginnings of the Gospel were exceedingly small.

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2110: “The Mustard Seed: A Sermon for the Sabbath-School Teacher” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1889)

I SHALL not attempt fully to explain this great little parable. A full exposition may be left for another occasion. The parable may be understood to relate to our Lord Himself, who is the living seed. You know also how His church is the tree that springs from Him, and how greatly it grows and spreads its branches until it covers the earth. From the one man Christ Jesus, despised and rejected of men, slain and buried, and so hidden away from among men’from Him, I say, there arises a multitude which no one can number.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

It yields more real satisfaction to see in this brief parable just the all-penetrating and assimilating quality of the Gospel, by virtue of which it will yet mould all institutions and tribes of men, and exhibit over the whole earth one "Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." (See on Re 11:15).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

13 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Ἔλεγεν	Elegen	He was saying	G3004 →
οὖν·	oun	then:	G3767 →
τίνι	tini	To what	G5101 →
ὁμοία	homoia	like	G3664 →
ἐστὶν	estin	is	G1510 →
ἡ	hē	the	G3588 →
βασιλεία	basileia	kingdom	G932 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
θεοῦ,	theou	of God?	G2316 →
καὶ	kai	And	G2532 →
τίνι	tini	to what	G5101 →
ὁμοιώσω	homoiōsō	will I liken	G3666 →
αὐτήν;	autēn	it?	G846 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Luke 17:21
Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
leads to
- Matthew 12:28
  But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
- Romans 14:17
  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 13:21
  At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
- Luke 10:9–11
  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’
- Colossians 1:27
  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Through
Mark 4:26
Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
leads to
- Matthew 13:24
  Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6–9
  I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
- 1 Peter 1:23–25
  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

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The Broad and the Narrow Way, the 1866 lithograph picturing the two roads of Matthew 7:13–14

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About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Luke: the study guide →Read chapter 13 →The featured study →

Continue: Luke 13 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Luke

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Luke