Kingdom Stories, Kingdom Decisions: ep. 2

In Episode 2 of From the Well to the World, Bernie and Dee Ann continue the series Kingdom Stories, Kingdom Decisions by exploring three brief parables: the Woman with the Yeast from Matthew 13:33, alongside the Woman with the Jar and the Man with the Sword, which are connected with the Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Thomas is an ancient collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, rather than a narrative account of His life like Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It is often described as non-canonical, which means it is not included in the accepted New Testament canon used by most Christian traditions. In this episode, we explain what these parables invite us to consider about trust, suffering, power, and the hidden work of God’s kingdom.  

At The House of Prayers we pray for the world, for our nation, for our family, and for our friends. If you need prayer, please contact us. 

 "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but YOU know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you."  (John 14:16-17).

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Transcript

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Welcome to From the Well to the World. This week, as we continue our series Kingdom Stories, Kingdom Decisions, How Jesus' Parables Call Us to Change, we are invited into three profound stories attributed to Jesus. The Woman with the Yeast, the Woman with the Jar, and the Man with the Sword. Though these three parables are rarely studied together, theologian Richard Q. Ford argues that they form a unified portrait of God's kingdom. Read side by side, they become a theological reflection on growth, loss, power, and the limits of human control.

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Here's all three parables side by side. Let's start with Matthew chapter 13, verse 33. He told them still another parable. And then from the Gospel of Thomas number 97, Jesus said, The kingdom of the Father is like a woman carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking on a distant road, the handle of the jar broke, and the meal poured out behind her on the road. She had not noticed the misfortune. And when she came to her house, she put the jar down and found it empty. Now, number 98 from the Gospel of Thomas. The kingdom of the Father is like a man who wanted to kill a powerful man. In his own house, he drew his sword and thrust it into the wall to find out whether his hand was strong enough. Then he killed the powerful man. This is the word of the Lord. Praise be to God. The first parable presents a woman mixing yeast into dough. It is an image of a hidden transformation. The woman's role is small. She places the yeast into the dough and then waits. The yeast works silently, invisibly, and inevitably until the entire loaf is transformed. Ford observes that this story illustrates the mysterious partnership between human faithfulness and divine action. Human beings contribute what they can, but God brings the increase. The kingdom often comes not through dramatic displays of power, but through quiet acts of trust that gradually transform lives, communities, and even history itself.

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The second parable introduces a striking contrast. A woman carries a jar filled with meal along a distant road. Unknown to her, the jar is cracked, and the contents slowly spill away behind her. Only when she reaches home does she discover that the vessel she thought was full is completely empty. Unlike the parable of the yeast, there is no triumphant ending, no miracle reversal loss, no profit appears to restore what has disappeared. Ford suggests that this story represents one of the deepest realities of the human condition. The experience of catastrophe, disappointment, and a suffering that arrives without warning and often without explanation. Too often we encounter suffering. Our first instinct is to assign blame. We ask what someone did wrong or could have been prevented. Yet the woman's tragedy lies precisely in the fact that much of what happened was beyond her awareness and beyond her control. Ford argues the parable exposes the mystery of human limitations. The kingdom of God does not begin with blame, it begins with compassion. The empty jar reminds us that faith is not only trusting God when the dough is rising, faith is also trusting God when the jar appears empty and reasons remain hidden.

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The third parable takes us into an entirely different world. A man prepares to challenge someone's power. Before acting, he tests his sword against a wall to ensure that his hand is steady, and then he goes out and kills the powerful man. At first, the story appears to celebrate courage, yet Ford believes Jesus is raising a far more troubling question. What happens after power changes hands? If authority is seized through force, what kind of kingdom emerges from that victory? Is the old oppression truly overcome? Or is it simply recreated under new leadership? This question remains relevant in every generation. We admire strength, determination, and decisive leadership. Yet Jesus constantly calls his followers to examine not only the outcome of their actions, but also the means by which those outcomes are achieved. Ford notes that the parable contains a hidden warning. Those who gain power through coercion may ultimately become vulnerable to the very forces that they once used. Victory itself can become a temptation. Success can become a form of spiritual danger. The kingdom of God is not established merely by overcoming enemies. It is revealed through humility, justice, and self-giving love.

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Taken together, these three stories describe the landscape of discipleship. Sometimes we live in the world of yeast, witnessing God's quiet work and transformation. Sometimes we find ourselves carrying the jar, struggling to understand loss, grief, or disappointment. And sometimes we stand before the sword, facing decisions about influence, leadership, or power. In every circumstance, Jesus calls us to trust God's purposes rather than our own instincts. The yeast teaches us to trust God's creativity. The jar teaches us to trust God's presence amid suffering. The sword teaches us to trust God's wisdom more than human power. Together, they remind us that the kingdom is not simply about success or failure, gain or loss, victory or defeat. It is about learning to see God's hand at work in every season of life and responding faithfully regardless of the outcome.

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Perhaps the question before us today is this. Or are we wrestling with how to use influence, authority, or opportunity in a manner worthy of Christ? Whatever our situation, the invitation remains the same. Trust the God who works in hidden places. Trust God who remains present when jars are empty. And trust God our Father, whose kingdom is ultimately established not through the sword, but through the self-giving love revealed in Jesus Christ. Shall we pray? Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the wisdom contained within the stories of Jesus. Teach us to recognize your kingdom in both the rising dough and the empty jar. When we experience growth, keep us humble and grateful. And when we experience loss, help us trust your presence even when we cannot understand your purposes. And when we are entrusted with influence, authority, or opportunity, guard us from pride and remind us that true greatness is found in serving others. Lord Jesus, form our hearts according to the values of your kingdom. Give us faith to trust what we cannot see, courage to walk through suffering without bitterness, and wisdom to seek justice without becoming captive to power. May our lives bear witness to your transforming grace, and may we carry the hope of your kingdom into every place you send us. In the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen. Shalom.