Then said he, To what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
Unto.
Luke 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luke 7:31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
Lamentations 2:13 What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?
the kingdom.
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Mark 4:26,30 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; …
“What is the kingdom of God like?
The "kingdom of God" is a central theme in Jesus' teachings, referring to God's sovereign rule and reign. It encompasses both a present reality and a future fulfillment. In the context of first-century Judaism, the kingdom was often expected to be a political or military dominion. However, Jesus redefines it as a spiritual kingdom, characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
To what can I compare it?
Jesus often used parables and comparisons to illustrate complex spiritual truths in relatable terms. By asking this question, He invites His audience to consider the nature of God's kingdom in a way that challenges their preconceived notions. This method of teaching through analogy was effective in conveying deeper meanings and inviting personal reflection.
Jesus shifts from healing a crippled woman in the synagogue (Luke 13:10-17) to teaching about the kingdom. His question follows the crowd’s amazement and the ruler’s indignation, demonstrating Christ’s sovereign right to interpret events (Luke 8:25; John 5:19). The phrase mirrors moments when He pauses to invite reflection (Luke 12:41; Mark 4:10), underscoring that His words demand careful listening.
Jesus refers to the literal, promised reign of God—present in Him yet awaiting final fulfillment (Luke 17:20-21; Revelation 11:15). By asking, He draws attention to qualities that might be overlooked:
• It originates with God, not human effort (Daniel 2:44).
• It advances despite opposition, as shown immediately before when religious leaders resisted His healing (Luke 13:14).
• It blesses those once bound, echoing the release of the synagogue woman (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19).
Using comparison, the Lord prepares listeners for concrete images—the mustard seed and leaven (Luke 13:19-21; Mark 4:30-32). His teaching method fulfills the pattern of unveiling truth through parables (Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34-35). The comparison signals:
• Clarity—ordinary pictures illuminate spiritual reality (Romans 1:20).
• Invitation—people are urged to see God’s work in everyday life (Isaiah 55:10-11).
• Certainty—because He is Truth, His illustration perfectly matches kingdom reality (John 14:6).
Luke 13:18 opens a vital teaching moment. Jesus, having just displayed kingdom power in healing, asks what the kingdom is like and how to compare it. These questions direct attention to God’s unfolding reign, rooted in His authority, visibly active through Christ, and destined to grow irresistibly. By inviting comparison, He equips believers to recognize and rejoice in the kingdom’s humble beginnings and unstoppable expansion.
(18-21) Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like?--See Notes on Matthew 13:31-33. The first impression with most readers, in the absence of any apparent trace of sequence, is that we have an isolated fragment of our Lord's teaching, torn from the context in which we find it in St. Matthew. On the other hand, we must remember (1) that our Lord was in the synagogue, and it was on the Sabbath day, and that so both time and place called for teaching of some kind; and (2) that the parables that follow may well be regarded but as samples of the teaching which those who were in the synagogue had treasured up in their memories. They were fit and edifying parables at any time; not least so, assuredly, at this. When proof had been given that the Kingdom of God had indeed come nigh unto men, it was well to set before them something as to its nature, its extent, its mode of working inwardly and outwardly; and the fact that the similitudes which did this had been used before, did not necessarily make them inapplicable or unprofitable when used again.Verses 18-21. - The Lord, is two little prophetic parables tells the people how strangely and mightily his religion would spread over the earth. Verse 18. - Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? In the seventeenth verse - after the Lord's words spoken to his enemies, who took exception at his miracle of healing worked for the poor woman who had been bent for eighteen years, because he had done it on the sabbath day - we read how "all his adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him." This discomfiture of the hypocrites, and the honest joy of the simple folk over a noble and Divine deed of mercy, accompanied by brave, kind words, seem to have suggested to the Master the subject of the two little parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, in which parables the growth of his glorious kingdom was foreshadowed from very small beginnings. The very small beginning he could discern in what then surrounded him.