This week we come to a parable where Jesus teaches about mustard and biscuits. Aside from being a really dated movie reference, I love how raw and unpretentious this image is. As usual, his parables are about the kingdom of God, and they are designed to surprise. In this case, where you'd expect grandiose images of his kingship, he instead points at a shrub and a cook in the kitchen. What kind of king has a shrub for his state tree? And how does making bread demonstrate the economics of his kingdom? Jesus is not just challenging their ideas about what a king looks like or even how his kingdom grows; he's challenging what they think 'growth' and 'advancement' mean for their own lives. Let's talk about how his kingdom advances like "Mustard & Biscuits" (Matthew 13:31-33).
