Luke 13:18 kjv
Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
Luke 13:18 nkjv
Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
Luke 13:18 niv
Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?
Luke 13:18 esv
He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
Luke 13:18 nlt
Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it?
Luke 13 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 13:19 | "It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden..." | Directly answers the question posed in Lk 13:18, parable of mustard seed. |
| Lk 13:20-21 | "And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven..." | Second parable directly answering Lk 13:18, parable of leaven. |
| Matt 13:31-32 | "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed..." | Parallel account of the mustard seed parable. |
| Matt 13:33 | "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took..." | Parallel account of the leaven parable. |
| Mk 4:26-29 | "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground..." | Another parable emphasizing the mystery and organic growth of the Kingdom. |
| Mk 4:30-32 | "And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?" | Parallel introductory question and mustard seed parable. |
| Mk 4:33-34 | "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it." | Highlights Jesus' use of parables for teaching the Kingdom. |
| Lk 8:10 | "Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables..." | Explains Jesus' use of parables to reveal spiritual truth to disciples. |
| Lk 17:20-21 | "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation... for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." | Clarifies the spiritual and internal nature of the Kingdom, not physical. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness..." | Emphasizes the supreme importance of the Kingdom. |
| Dan 2:44 | "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed..." | Prophetic promise of God's enduring and world-dominating Kingdom. |
| Zec 4:10 | "For who hath despised the day of small things?" | Reinforces the theme of great results from humble or seemingly insignificant beginnings. |
| Isa 2:2-3 | "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established..." | Prophesies the ultimate worldwide prominence and influence of God's Kingdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:27-29 | "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world... to bring to nought things that are." | Connects with the Kingdom's method of starting small or humble yet having divine power. |
| Col 1:13 | "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son..." | Affirms the present reality of entering the spiritual Kingdom. |
| Rom 14:17 | "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." | Describes the ethical and spiritual nature of the Kingdom's experience. |
| Acts 1:6-8 | "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?... ye shall receive power..." | Shows the disciples' early misunderstanding of the Kingdom's nature and Jesus' correction towards its spiritual power. |
| Mk 1:14-15 | "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled..." | Identifies the core message of Jesus' ministry as the good news of the Kingdom. |
| Jn 3:3-5 | "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." | Explains the spiritual requirement for entrance into the Kingdom. |
| Heb 12:28 | "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace..." | Highlights the eternal and unshakeable nature of the Kingdom of God. |
Luke 13 verses
Luke 13 18 Meaning
Luke 13:18 serves as an introductory question by Jesus, drawing His audience into contemplation regarding the nature of the Kingdom of God. It poses two rhetorical questions: "To what is the kingdom of God like?" and "To what shall I compare it?" These questions prepare the hearers to receive a deeper understanding of the Kingdom's characteristics, particularly its paradoxical growth from seemingly insignificant origins to widespread influence, as further revealed in the subsequent parables. This verse highlights Jesus' pedagogical method of engaging His audience to ponder profound spiritual truths.
Luke 13 18 Context
Luke 13:18 follows a series of challenging teachings by Jesus regarding repentance and the urgent need to bear fruit, including the parable of the barren fig tree (Lk 13:6-9) and the account of the healing of the woman bent over on the Sabbath (Lk 13:10-17). The healing event provoked a conflict with the synagogue leader, whom Jesus rebuked as a hypocrite. This immediate preceding context underscores Jesus' authority and His redefinition of spiritual priorities, contrasting rigid legalism with God's compassionate action. Verses 18-21 (the questions and the two parables) then pivot to define the Kingdom of God's intrinsic character. Historically, Jewish expectations for the Kingdom of God were often tied to an immediate, powerful, and political deliverance from Roman rule. Jesus, however, consistently taught a Kingdom that was both presently active and spiritually transformative, defying these popular expectations through parables that highlighted its internal and organic growth.
Luke 13 18 Word analysis
- Then (ελεγεν ουν, elegen oun): The Greek "oun" often signifies a transition or a continuation, implying "therefore" or "so then." It connects this teaching to what precedes, indicating Jesus' pivot from specific controversies and calls to repentance to a broader elucidation of the Kingdom's nature. It’s not merely a sequential marker but indicates a logical progression in His teaching.
- said he (ελεγεν, elegen): Imperfect tense, suggesting a repeated action or a continuous act of teaching. Jesus was saying or began to say these things, emphasizing an ongoing pedagogical process.
- Unto what (Τινι, Tini): This is a dative case of the interrogative pronoun, asking "to what" or "with what." It introduces a question of comparison, inviting the audience to engage in a mental exercise.
- is the kingdom (βασιλεια, basileia): Refers to "reign," "royal power," or "sovereignty," not merely a physical territory. Here, it refers to God's active rule, His domain, and the sphere where His will is done.
- of God (του Θεου, tou Theou): Designates the divine origin and nature of this Kingdom, contrasting it with any earthly or political kingdom. It is God's own, established by Him and for Him.
- like (ομοιαι εστιν, homoia estin): "Is like" or "is similar to." It highlights the parabolic method Jesus uses, explaining spiritual realities through common, observable phenomena. This term emphasizes the analogical nature of the teaching.
- and whereunto (και τινι, kai tini): A reinforcing or parallel question, underscoring the previous inquiry. "And to what thing" or "what parallel can I draw?"
- shall I resemble it (ομοιωσω αυτην, homoiōsō autēn): Future tense active, "I will make it like" or "I shall compare it." Jesus is actively engaging them in finding the appropriate analogy, hinting at the parables that will follow.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then said he": Establishes Jesus as the speaker and signifies a new segment in His discourse, following specific confrontations or teachings with a broader, more theological explanation.
- "Unto what is the kingdom of God like?": This rhetorical question draws the audience's attention and engages their minds. It's an invitation to consider and ponder. By asking them (implied), Jesus prepares them to receive the parable's truth rather than simply delivering a lecture. This form suggests that the Kingdom of God's true nature is not immediately obvious or in line with popular perception, requiring spiritual discernment to grasp.
- "and whereunto shall I resemble it?": This second, similar question intensifies the inquiry. It reinforces the desire for comparison and acts as a setup for the subsequent parables. It's Jesus actively searching for the perfect analogy, signifying that the Kingdom's qualities are somewhat veiled and not immediately apparent to conventional understanding. These paired questions serve as a classical literary device to emphasize a point and ensure audience readiness for new information.
Luke 13 18 Bonus section
The structure of Luke 13:18-21—a pair of rhetorical questions followed by two short, similar parables—is characteristic of Jesus' teaching style found also in Mark 4. This pattern emphasizes the Kingdom's unique, almost paradoxical, reality. The rhetorical nature of the questions indicates a challenge to conventional thought; the Kingdom's appearance and operation diverge from human expectations. By posing "Unto what is the kingdom of God like?" (a statement of present reality) and then "whereunto shall I resemble it?" (an intentional act of comparison), Jesus sets the stage for revealing the Kingdom as both already existing yet progressively unfolding, requiring discerning eyes to perceive it in its humble manifestations. This passage teaches that genuine spiritual growth, like the Kingdom, often begins subtly, requiring faith to see God's mighty work in seemingly small and ordinary things.
Luke 13 18 Commentary
Luke 13:18 marks a critical transition in Jesus' discourse. Having addressed the immediate issues of repentance and false religious piety, Jesus now directs the audience's gaze to the Kingdom of God itself. The use of two successive rhetorical questions underscores the mysterious and often counter-intuitive nature of the Kingdom as taught by Jesus, particularly contrasting with the common Jewish expectation of a political and overtly powerful messianic reign. These questions are not posed because Jesus Himself doesn't know the answer, but to activate the hearers' capacity for reception and wonder. They prepare the ground for the unexpected illustrations that follow: the mustard seed, representing an unnoticed, small beginning that blossoms into overwhelming presence, and the leaven, symbolizing an invisible, permeating influence that transforms entirely from within. The core message is that the Kingdom of God does not begin with grand spectacle but with humble origins, working powerfully and organically, often unobserved, to ultimately bring about a vast, transformative impact.