Matthew 13: The Unimpressive yet infinitiely Valuable Kingdom

This Sermon was orinally preached at Capitol Hill Baptist Church on July 4th Weekend last Year

Even as they met, they were deeply uncertain if the bold claims they were making would ever be recognized by the people. And even if the people rallied – what about those whom the claims attacked? Would the people have the ability or the will to establish their claims?

Even as they signed, some of them jested about the likely failure of their endeavour.

Mr. Harrison said to Mr. Gerry, “I shall have a great advantage over you Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead.”

Yet as the men gathered, 230 years ago this coming Tuesday, each believed that there are some kings whose rule one might successfully and appropriately resist.

And so, even Benjamin Harrison and Elbridge Gerry signed the Declaration that would set this country towards Independence from Great Britain.

After all, if a king has a debatable claim upon them, and what’s more is abusing the claim he makes, then do not men have the right to rebel?

Perhaps such a question would best not be answered by an Englishman on July 4th weekend on Capitol Hill.

And in fact, the reason that a loyal subject of the crown can even be asked to preach on July 4th weekend in Capitol Hill, is because there is a greater crown to which all Christians pledge their allegiance. The only unqualified pledge of allegiance that any Christian can make is to Jesus Christ.

Whatever think about rebellion against a harsh ruler, as we look at the emergence of the United States, history tells us at least that some kingdoms can be successfully resisted, [with a bit of help from the French]

And Britain? Well, we can’t even beat anyone in the sports we’ve invented any more.

But, more seriously, what about Jesus’ kingdom? This is a Christian church, so we would expect there to be allegiance to Jesus here… but one of the freedoms for which Christians themselves are so rightly grateful in this country is the freedom of religion. Does this mean that we have such religious freedom that Jesus’ rule can be successfully resisted?

To many ears it would seem to be a ludicrous question.
“Of course it can!” they would answer. “Jesus is the one, who when talking about his kingdom insisted that because of the very nature of the kingdom his followers would not attack those who resisted. ‘My kingdom is not of this world’ said Jesus – and within a few hour he was dead.”

And if the nature of the kingdom itself doesn’t argue that it is an utterly resistible kingdom, doesn’t history show that Jesus’ kingdom, rather like Great Britain, is a power in decline. It once held sway, but now is marginalized – like Britain, it might try and have influence beyond it’s size, but, isn’t it a largely spent force?

If Jesus’ kingdom is really important, then why does it seem to be so unimpressive?

Does that dishearten you?

We have seen already in Matthew 11-12 that Jesus’ kingdom caused confusion and faced opposition.

This morning in Matthew Chapter 13 Jesus reveals to his disciples why such confusion and opposition was not a failure, but an inevitable result of the nature of the kingdom.

Turn with me to Matthew Chapter 13.

Main Hall: 1021

West Hall: 968

We’ll see in this passage 3 major areas in which a clear understanding of Jesus kingdom will enable us to recognize that things are not always what they seem. Yet Jesus encourages us to see his kingdom with His eyes, not by the measure of temporary success or worldly expectations.

Firstly in 1-23.
Therefore don’t be disillusioned by temporary commitment
Then in 24-43
Don’t be distracted towards temporary success
And then finally, we’ll see in verses 44-52
Don’t be deterred by a temporary cost.

So firstly verses 1-23:

Don’t be disillusioned by temporary commitment. (2970)

Let’s hear what The Lord is saying to us this morning.

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."
10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"
11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'[a] 16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
It is deeply sad when people we thought were Christians walk away.

It is of great comfort to notice that Jesus himself was aware both that there would be those who profess faith and then fall away, but also that this might cause confusion for many – and he addresses this confusion in the verses we’ve just read.

He’s very clear that there will be differing reactions to Jesus –some which seem so promising.

Firstly there is the hard heart.

: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

This isn’t the person who never hears – but the person who hears the gospel and doesn’t understand: again, this doesn’t mean necessarily that they don’t understand the meaning of the good news – rather that they don’t respond with any kind of understanding of the truthfulness of the gospel.

Like the well trodden path at the edge of the field, their heart is hard.

There are some people for whom the gospel seems nonsensical. It is not because the gospel is nonsense, but because the gospel is uncomfortable and therefore not given a serious hearing.

I love the description of when Aslan first speaks in the Magician’s Nephew. But the magician himself cannot hear Aslan’s voice who sings the world into existence and then speaks to his creatures.

“The longer and more beautifully the Lion sang, the harder Uncle Andrew tried to make himself believe that he could hear nothing but roaring. Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. Uncle Andrew did. He soon did hear nothing but roaring in Aslan's song. Soon he couldn't have heard anything else even if he had wanted to. And when at last the Lion spoke and said, "Narnians, awake," he didn't hear any words: he heard only a snarl.”

So it is with the hardened heart. It starts by hearing only what it wants to hear from God’s word, and ends up hearing nothing at all.
Scripture makes it clear that the only reason why we do not submit to Jesus’ kingship is not because his voice is unclear, but that we do not want to hear.
If you are not a Christian, then I wonder how often there have been moments when you have felt compelled to wake up to the reality of God. Yet the moment passes, and you do nothing about it.
This morning the seed of the word of God is falling upon your ears. Will you permit Satan to snatch it away before you have deeply considered Jesus and his claim upon your life?
Do you find Jesus uncomfortable – and whenever you hear about him, something in you just wants to get out of the room. My friend, have you considered that he may be an uncomfortable truth that you would be foolish to flee from? If you flee to him he will not turn you away.

Or perhaps you are a young person with Christian parents. You’ve heard the good news about Jesus a thousand times. Yet you remain secretly determined not to live for yourself.
Do not be hardened soil. Allow God’s word to take deep root into your life. Don’t just let it affect your mind – let it affect your heart –where all your desires and decisions are rooted.

The hardened heart rejects the gospel before it has really ever understood it.

- The shallow heart

5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

Jesus explains

20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

The shallow heart comes to know the truth of the gospel. This is the person who is looking for something that will make their life complete – and they begin to understand who Jesus is, and they profess faith in him. But they never really change their allegience. In the end they never fear God more than they fear man – and so when man threatens them, they walk away from Jesus.

To follow Jesus means to be hated like Jesus is hated. We all love to be loved. But the question we must ask ourselves is this: in the end is the love of God sufficient for me – or if I am not widely loved by others, will I find the love of God lacking something?

Thirdly Jesus describes a divided heart.

- The divided heart
7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

Jesus explains

22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

These again recognize the truthfulness of God’s word. But in the end they decide that they would rather live for this world than the next. They would not describe their action as choosing this life over the next. Because they are choked by the thorns – they don’t rationally sit down and think about it. Rather the thorns are so present in the soil that whatever sustenance they receive from the word is overshadowed by other desires.

They are not convinced by arguments, but by appealing things – the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth.

When we live in an extraordinary affluent society like this one, we can so easily be deceived into mistaking luxury for necessity.

We are constantly being bombarded by the media telling us that we ‘need’ various things.
We need a faster car, a bigger house, a more beautiful body, a more disciplined national soccer team, a more loving spouse, a more obedient child.

We can kid ourselves that these things are actually what we need in order to follow Jesus. When I have a bigger house, then I can start obeying Jesus’ commands to practice hospitality. When I have a spouse, then I’ll have the encouragement I need to obey Jesus in sharing the gospel with my married relatives. When I am more beautiful, then I can love my spouse.

My friends: in order to obey Jesus, all we need is Jesus and his word and His Spirit! As soon as we say that external circumstances will enable us to obey Jesus, then we have said that Jesus is not enough.

It is so easy to find oneself running after the same kind of things as those who think that this life is all there is. Remember Job’s words: 'naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart! John stott reflects. “Thus life on earth as “ a pilgrimage between two moments of nakedness. So we will be wise to travel light.”

Whatever we have in this world will only be of use if we invest it in the next. Do you believe that? Or are you deceived by the fact that this world can look so beautiful and so permanent?
Be careful about what you would desiret. And, if Jesus sees fit to give you your desires, understand that it will not make it easier for you to follow him. Everything that we have is one more temptation to use that to invest in this world rather than the next.

Many will find the truth of the gospel compelling, but in the temptation will be too much. Things they can feel and taste and see now seem more appealing.

Do you find this discouraging, that so many who seem to be responding so positively to the gospel end up walking away from Jesus?

- When others fall away, don’t be discouraged into thinking that your salvation may be insecure: take warning yes… but if you have repented and trusted in Jesus you will be saved. You never got to see into the heart of the one who wandered away. If their wandering away is permanent, then they were never good soil.
- In fact the point of throwing the seed everywhere was not to somehow turn bad soil into good soil, but to show up where the good soil is. You don’t want to miss the good soil, so you throw seed everywhere. Preaching the gospel has a dividing & revealing role, that Jesus intends it to have.

The gospel age when the king has arrived is a strange mixture of the best and the worst times of Israel’s history. It is like the best time when David ruled on the throne. But it is also like the worst time, under the ministry of Isaiah, when Isaiah faithfully spoke the word of God, but it served only to harden people against the Lord.

13This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'[a]

Jesus intends that his word should produce different responses, dividing between those he is calling to himself and those whom he hardens against him.
Recognising this should not make us proud – but humble and faithful.

Doesn’t this humble you?

16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

In Jesus’ wisdom he has not given everybody spiritual sight. When we see others hardened, we should not be complacent, “How could you be so stupid!” but humbled “Lord, I know that I am just as foolish – Why have you granted faith to me?”

Don’t be discouraged. Be humbled.

and Rejoice!

For the success of Jesus kingdom isn’t measured by the proportion of people who acknowledge his rule – it is measured by the fruit that he bears in their hearts.

- Fruitful heart.

8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown

Note how this harvest is brought in.

Three things must happen.
- Hear
- Understand
- Bear fruit.

We need to realize that we can only really help with the first. We can’t grant spiritual understanding. We can’t produce fruit in others’ lives. But we can sow liberally.

Gospel…

If you are discouraged by the way in which people you’ve shared the gospel with have responded – then just keep on sowing. It is only by persistence in sharing the gospel that the good soil will be revealed. And that harvest will be a joy that will make up for all the rejection, and all the disappointment.
The joy of the harvest is greater than the disappointment of the apostate. 100 60 30 times what was sown.
Perhaps you find even this discouraging – you look at other Christians, and they seem to be more fruitful that you. “I’m definitely a 30 times person” you say.
But understand that the harvest Jesus is talking about here is an incredible harvest. In the ancient near east you were happy if a harvest yielded 7 times what you sowed. But even the least fruitful yields 30 times.
Jesus is saying that the fruit from a world with divided responses is somehow in God’s strange providence greater than if the whole field had been comprised of good soil.
There is greater glory brought to Jesus because the subjects of his kingdom still love him even when they are tempted, hated and deserted.
When you see even those you love wandering away from Jesus, you are rightly saddened. But take heart: your faithfulness in the face of such discouragement will bring great glory to Jesus. He is yet worth following. The joy of his kingdom will not diminish. Your eyes are yet blessed because they see – your ears yet blessed because they hear.
Don’t be disillusioned by mixed responses & temporary commitment. Rejoice that the glory brought to the Lord by those who do respond will be all the greater.

Don’t be distracted by temporary success (1649)

24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
33He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount[b] of flour until it worked all through the dough."
34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."[c]
36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
37He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
I wonder if you’ve seen “Men In Black.” The plot centers on the search for a galaxy that is in great danger. The Men in Black are told that the galaxy will be found in the centre of Orion’s belt. Telescopes all point towards the Orion Constellation trying to locate the missing galaxy.
But, in fact they are looking in the wrong place. The galaxy is fond on Orion’s belt. But Orion is a cat, who carries the belt around his neck.
The special effects zoom into the ball dangling from the cat’s collar, and there, is a galaxy just as complex and beautiful as our own, sustaining just as much life.
An alien comments, “That’s the problem with you humans, you think that just because something is small, it is unimportant.”

Such was the thoughts of the kingdom of heaven in first century Palestine. Nobody thought of it coming almost imperceptibly. There would be a great battle with the Romans, surely.

But Jesus says that the kingdom will and must grow from imperceptible beginnings, without a massive world crisis.

In fact if we have any other view of the kingdom, we will be distracted. For if we try and manufacture the kingdom into something that is irresistible today, then we will have built a kingdom that is very much of this world.

Well, don’t be distracted, says Jesus.
Don’t be like those who think their primary job as Christians is to exercise God’s judgment upon those who are not Christians. That seems to be the meaning of the parable of the weeds. 28

"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest.
Don’t be distracted into trying to clear away the weeds.

The job of the church is not the purification of the world, but the purification of the church and the evangelism of the world.
Purification of the world, is both a distraction and an impossibility.

We show the world its impurity not by judging it or by trying to reform it, but by holding out Jesus to it. As the light shines the darkness will be revealed.
Strategize how you could build more friendships with Non-Christians and deepen the ones you have already. It is worth the investment of time for what may seem like slow progress.
Strategize how you could spend your time with them in ways so they’ll meet other Christians and hear the gospel.

The parable of the soils showed that there are those who look like they follow Jesus who will turn out not to, this parable shows that there are those who look like weeds – who look like they are bound for judgment. If we had to judge now we’d write them off. But they will be saved.

Who are the people you know who seem furthest from knowing the rule of the Lord. Who seems most confident in their rebellion against him? Is it too hard for our Lord to grant them understanding and fruitful obedience, if they will hear the gospel. Will we share the gospel with them?


The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast show us that things are not what they seem. Small is not necessarily unimportant. The Lord can grow that which is small. If the kingdom seems weak today – imagine how it felt 2000 years ago.
Yet Jesus has been steadily growing his church. People from all nations have been recognizing His loving rule, and have taken shelter under his branches. The message of the kingdom is everywhere – it can’t be kept out of communist China, or Islamic Saudi Arabia. It surely cannot be kept out of materialist America.

He wants growth that is produced by his word – and therefore is genuinely kingdom growth. That may well be less impressive – but in the end it will be more glorious.

Jesus grows oak trees not mushrooms.

For the kingdom will only ever grow. Jesus’ rule will only ever be submitted to by more and more people. It will only ever reach more nations. It will only ever fill more of the field. For Jesus is committed to growing his kingdom.
That is why he preaches – he doesn’t just preach to harden some hearts – his greatest joy in getting out the message is to reveal himself to other hearts. 34-35

34Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."[c]

The kingdom might look unimpressive. But from the time that Jesus walked into history the kingdom has been walking on earth. And ever since then it has been growing.

Don’t be distracted by the desire for temporary success. Be faithful. Jesus rule cannot fail in what he intends. Are our intentions the same as his?

Don’t be deterred by the temporary cost. (1202)

44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
What will it cost to embrace Jesus’ rule!?

Well, it will cost everything. Notice the two parables. The one who finds treasure hidden in the field sells everything he has. The one who finds a pearl that is of great value sells everything else in order to lay hold of it.

Do we recognize that following Jesus costs everything? Not necessarily that we will sell all our possessions – though we might be called to and must be willing to. No, it’s far more radical than that. It is that everything we have no longer belongs to ourselves, but belongs to Jesus.
Whatever it was that we were investing our lives into we see as utterly worthless compared to the extraordinary privilege that we now have to invest in Jesus’ kingdom.

Is this where your life is invested?
It is enormously encouraging to see people in this congregation who have invested their lives this way.

People who give up successful careers, to become preachers.
People have decided to remain in this city to serve the church who would love to have a few acres of land for their children to run around.
People who stay late into the night to prayerfully lead this church even when they must be at work early the next morning.
People who work hard to earn good money, and count it a privilege to give so sacrificially that they live in a house half the size they could have afforded.
People who would give up their Saturday evening with other young people in order to go and sing to the house-bound.
People who changed their plans from having a retirement home on the beach to having a retirement home nearer God’s people.
People who give up half of their annual vacation to look after missionaries’ children whilst their parents are at a conference.
People who move to a tiny island to serve a church there, when they don’t even like the sea!
People who leave comfort and familiarity behind to raise their first child in an Islamic city where few have heard the good news.

Are they all crazy! No – they have found the pearl of great price. They have found that Jesus is king, and that whatever resources he’s given them they are determined to use them in His service. They count it a privilege and a joy, that his loving rule may be better known and honored.
NO! They are privileged.

What does it cost to Submit to Jesus rule? Everything! Praise God for everything that he has given us, that we might spend more on our Savior Jesus Christ.

What will it cost to reject Jesus’ rule?

47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
52He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
In the end, there will be no successful resistance of Jesus’ rule.
Jesus is not like the king of England. His rule is perfect. And in the end his rule will prevail. We might arrogantly declare our independence from this king, but it is to believe a tragic lie. For the weeds will one day be separated from the wheat. The good soil will be separated from the bad, the good fish from the bad. It will one day be shown where we have invested our lives – and if we’ve invested them in a world that will not last the worthlessness of our investment will be displayed for ever, to our shame.

Do not mistake God’s patience for an unwillingness to execute judgment.

He will.

The old treasure remains true: that God will execute full and righteous judgment. Jesus does not mince his words when it comes to talking about hell. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The cost of rejecting Jesus’ rule is no joy – it makes people miserable now, and will be an eternal and unbearable misery.

Do not assume that hell is a fiction. How could it be – God is just and will punish every evil deed, so I know that I deserve to be there yesterday – no it must be easier to believe that heaven is a fiction than that hell is, for heaven is the place that not one of us deserves.
But there is new treasure as well as old. There is the treasure of the kingdom that has citizens and not just executions. There is the treasure that we were not all given over to hell the day that Jesus arrived. There is the treasure that the God who holds us over the flames of hell, in love has not yet let us go. Instead he holds out to us another place where our sin can be punished.
God is committed to punishing every sin. But as we are about to remember in the Lord’s supper together, Jesus was committed to taking the punishment for every sin committed by every person who would ever put their trust in him. That’s what Jesus did upon the cross.
Will we invest everything that we have in the honor of this wonderful king?
What would you hold back from the one who took your hell so that you might join his kingdom?
What would you hold back from the one who calls you to bear fruit in his kingdom – fruit that will be used so that his kingdom will continue to grow, so that more might take shelter in its branches, so that more might find eternal treasure?