Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it?
Parallel translations
- WEB He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?
- KJV And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
- BSB Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?
- NKJV Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?
- NASB And He was saying, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus asks how to picture God's kingdom. It matters because it introduces the parable of the mustard seed and its surprising growth.
Overview
By posing the question, Jesus invites his hearers to ponder the kingdom's nature. He prepares a comparison that contrasts humble beginnings with great results. This sets up the assurance that God's reign, though it starts small and unimpressive, will expand far beyond expectation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Matt 13:31–32He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;
- Luke 13:18–21He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it?
- Lam 2:13What shall I testify to you? what shall I liken to you, daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to you, that I may comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is great like the sea: who can heal you?
- Matt 13:24He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
- Matt 11:16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 4:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.