What Are Parables—and How Do They Teach Us About the Kingdom?

By Al Felder

Why Jesus Used Parables So Often

Matthew records that Jesus “spake many things unto them in parables” (Matthew 13:3). That wasn’t because Jesus wanted to confuse sincere seekers. It was because parables are a powerful teaching tool—simple on the surface, but rich with spiritual truth for those who will listen (Matthew 13:10–17).

In the kingdom parables of Matthew 13, Jesus reveals “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:11). In Scripture, a “mystery” is not a puzzle you solve with human brilliance—it is truth that must be revealed by God and received with humility (Matthew 13:11; 1 Corinthians 2:9–13).

What Is a Parable?

A parable places something familiar beside something spiritual. Jesus would take everyday realities—farming, baking, fishing, money, feasts—and set them alongside invisible kingdom realities so people could understand what they could not see (Matthew 13:31–33, 44–47).

That also means parables require careful handling. Most parables have one central point. When we try to assign deep meaning to every minor detail, we can miss the main message Jesus intended (Matthew 13:34–35).

Two Kingdom Parables That Teach Big Lessons

1) What Does the Parable of Leaven Teach About Kingdom Growth?

Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matthew 13:33).

Leaven was familiar to Jewish listeners. It was part of daily bread-making, and it also carried a strong symbolic meaning in the Law. During Passover, leaven was removed from homes (Exodus 12:15). Later Scripture uses leaven as a picture of corrupting influence—something small that spreads if left unchecked (1 Corinthians 5:6).

But in Matthew 13:33, Jesus is not describing corruption. He is describing influence and spread—the way the kingdom advances through the world. Leaven works quietly and steadily until it reaches everything it touches. In the same way, Christ’s kingdom spreads as the gospel is planted in hearts, producing growth that cannot be stopped by human opposition (Matthew 13:33; Acts 5:42).

That’s why the Great Commission matters. Jesus charged His disciples to “teach all nations,” baptizing them and teaching them to observe all He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). At first glance, that task may seem impossible—yet the kingdom has indeed filled the world as the gospel has spread from person to person and house to house (Acts 5:42).

This also presses a personal question: What influence is my life having? Christians are “known and read of all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2). People watch. They listen. They notice whether the gospel has truly shaped our character. When believers live like Christ and speak openly about Him, the kingdom spreads the way leaven spreads—quietly, steadily, and powerfully (Matthew 13:33).

And fruit matters. Jesus taught that branches that bear no fruit are removed, while fruitful branches are pruned so they bear more fruit (John 15:1–2). Kingdom citizens are called to growth and to spiritual reproduction—bringing others to Christ and building them up in faith (Matthew 28:19–20).

2) What Does the Parable of the Dragnet Teach About Judgment?

Jesus also said: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind” (Matthew 13:47). When it was full, it was drawn to shore, and the good were gathered while the bad were cast away. Jesus then explains the meaning: “So shall it be at the end of the world” when the wicked are separated from among the just (Matthew 13:48–50).

The picture is clear:

• The net represents the kingdom’s gathering work as the gospel goes out.

• The shore represents the end—when God’s judgment brings separation.

• The sorting shows that not all who are gathered remain acceptable to God in the end (Matthew 13:49–50).

Jesus taught that people come to Him by being “taught of God”—hearing and learning the revealed message (John 6:44–45). The gospel draws people to Christ, and obedient faith responds to that teaching (Romans 10:17; Matthew 28:19–20).

But the dragnet parable also warns against a false security: being “around the kingdom” is not the same as being faithful to the King. Jesus repeatedly warned that mere association, empty profession, or unfruitful religion will not stand in the judgment (Matthew 7:21–23; Matthew 25:14–30).

Paul reinforces this reality when he describes a testing day in which every man’s work is tried. Some will endure like gold and silver, while others will be burned up like wood and stubble (1 Corinthians 3:12–15). God is not fooled by outward appearances. Hypocrisy may deceive men, but it cannot deceive the Lord who sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

The kingdom is not a place to hide from judgment. It is the realm where lives are supposed to be transformed. Christianity is not “a little Jesus” added onto a self-ruled life. God must be first (Matthew 6:33). The King requires complete allegiance (Luke 9:23).

The Big Takeaway: The Kingdom Spreads—and the King Will Sort

Put the two parables together, and you get a balanced kingdom picture:

• Leaven: the kingdom spreads through gospel influence (Matthew 13:33; Matthew 28:19–20).

• Dragnet: the kingdom will be sorted in the final judgment (Matthew 13:47–50).

So the call is both hopeful and sobering: be part of the spread, and be ready for the sorting. Live as a faithful citizen now, because the King will bring all hidden things to light (Matthew 13:49–50; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

Reflection Questions

1. Do I approach Jesus’ parables looking for the central message—or do I get lost in over-analyzing details (Matthew 13:34–35)?

2. Is my life quietly influencing others toward Christ the way leaven spreads through dough (Matthew 13:33; 2 Corinthians 3:2)?

3. When was the last time I intentionally tried to teach someone the gospel (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 5:42)?

4. Do I rely on “being in the church” as a safety net, or am I pursuing real faithfulness and fruit (Matthew 13:47–50; John 15:1–2)?

5. If the Lord “sorted the net” today, would my life show sincere discipleship or empty profession (Matthew 7:21–23; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15)?