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Luke 13:18

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 13:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?
Luke 13:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, [these] eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?
17And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame: and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?
19It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.
20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.
← Luke 13:17Luke 13:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then said he, unto what is the kingdom of God like? etc.] The same with the kingdom of heaven, in (<401331>Matthew 13:31) and so the Ethiopic version reads it here, “and whereunto shall I resemble it?” of this way of speaking, (see Gill on “<410430>Mark 4:30”).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“MISCELLANEOUS TEACHINGS. (Luk 13:18-30) mustard seed . . . leaven--(See on Mar 4:30-32). The parable of "the Leaven" sets forth, perhaps, rather the inward growth of the kingdom, while "the Mustard Seed" seems to point chiefly to the outward. It being a woman's work to knead, it seems a refinement to say that "the woman" here represents the Church, as the instrument of depositing the leaven. Nor does it yield much satisfaction to understand the "three measures of meal" of that threefold division of our nature into "spirit, soul, and body," (alluded to in Th1 5:23) or of the threefold partition of the world among the three sons of Noah (Gen 10:32), as some do. It yields more real satisfaction…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See these parables explained in the notes at Matthew 13:31-32. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Mat 13:31; Mar 4:30. Luke 13:20”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:18-21 The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast reveal the nature of the Kingdom of God. Like a mustard seed, it grows from a tiny size until it becomes large; like yeast leavening dough, it permeates the entire world.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Unto: Luk 13:20, Luk 7:31; Lam 2:13; Mat 13:31 the kingdom: Luk 17:21; Mar 4:26, Mar 4:30-34 Luke 13:19”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification