Mar 4:30 Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?
Alternative: To what shall we compare God's reign? Or what illustration can we set in parallel beside it? This verse raises an interesting point about Christ's use of analogies or parables. He has just finished explaining what of his parables, the sower of the seed means. He also explained why and how he both hides and reveals the truth in his teaching. Elsewhere, he explains that he is emulating the father who is hidden in the universe. He gives us the choice whether or not we want to learn. We can learn from his teaching, but only if we are willing to study it and work toward understanding.
This hard-won understanding is contrast with the automatic way in which the seed yields its fruit in nature. If we sow the seed and harvest the crop, God does the rest. This is a free gift from God.
If you didn't know anything about Christ, except his words as captured in the Gospels, you would think that his main mission on earth was to describe the "kingdom of Heaven," which was can also describe as God' reign, the universal rule, or, if I may add another interpretation, God's plan. The vast majority of his parables begin with the words "the universal rule is like." Strangely enough, these parables do not involve the story of sin and redemption central to Christianity. Instead, they are always about learning, growing, and getting our priorities straight.
"Like" is from homoioô (homoioo), which means "to make like," "to become like," "to liken," and "to compare.
"Comparison" is from parabolê (parabole), which means "comparison," "illustration," and "analogy." It is most often translated in the NT as "parable."
"Compare" is from paraballô (paraballo), which means "to throw beside," "to throw to," "to expose," "to set beside," "to set in parallel," "to compare," "to throw, turn, or bend sideways," "to deposit with one," "to deceive," "to come near," "to come alongside," and "to direct one's course toward."
