The Crown of Messiah Shall Flourish, Part 2

When one examines the kingdom parables of the New Testament (primarily found in the Gospel of Matthew), certain themes appear over and over again. The Kingdom of God, (or Kingdom of Heaven) is characterized by surprising and counterintuitive elements. It is compared to yeast. That is, it grows but the growth is mysterious to the unaided eye. It is compared to a pearl which is hidden and which is a precious, though hidden, treasure. It is compared to a mustard seed. It starts small and insignificantly according to human judgment, but grows into a large organism. These parables help to teach God's people that the Kingdom of Heaven is not like the kingdoms of this world in its appearance, but this does not mean that the kingdom is not glorious. On the contrary, the Kingdom of God is truly glorious because it is not like the kingdoms of this world. This glory is prophesied in our text today. The glory is found in the truly eternal blessing which rests on the Messiah's kingdom. It is truly glorious because of the promise of eternal fellowship between the Creator and those created in His image. It is glorious because the reign and rule of Messiah, as indicated by His crown in our text, shall flourish. – Pastor Schlegel