In this section Luke has gathered three of Jesus’ parables that teach something about the kingdom of God: (1) the Parable of the Mustard Seed (vv. 18–19), (2) the Parable of the Yeast (vv. 20–21), and (3) the Parable of the Narrow Door (vv. 22–30). The first parable is found in Mark 4:30–32 and Matthew 13:31–32, while the second and third parables appear only in Matthew (13:33; 7:13–14, including verses elsewhere in Matthew). Originally these parables were delivered in different contexts, but they are here grouped together topically. Of the three, the third one fits in especially well with Luke’s theological interests (see esp. vv. 29–30).
13:18–19 The point of the Parable of the Mustard Seed is simple enough. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed (which is quite small) that grew into…