Parables about the Kingdom of God
24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
How we win the Kingdom of heavens
Saint Macarios the Egyptian, The fifty spiritual homilies, homily XVI, 8, in Church Fathers and Writers (1992), vol. 34, p. 175
Like when a merchant – multiplying his fortune – wants after many months to return to his homeland, he sends news to his relatives to prepare for him houses, gardens and the necessary clothes and coming with a great fortune his family and relatives welcome him with great joy; the same it happens in the spiritual matters; if some men win the heavenly fortune their fellow citizens, meaning the spirits of the saints and angels know only this and they say full of admiration: Our brothers from earth won a great fortune. These ones (the saints) having the Lord with them in the moment of their leaving (from earth) ascend to heaven with a great joy. There the friends of the Lord welcome them, previously preparing for them houses, gardens and rich, shiny clothes.
Saint John Chrysostom, Homilies at Genesis, Homily XXIII, V, in Church Fathers and Writers (1987), vol. 21, p. 281
The reason which would make us rush to the Kingdom of heavens should not be any other but the longing for God, to benefit of His help. As God`s benevolence towards us is more desirable than the Kingdom of heaven, similarly the loosing of this benevolence is more terrible than hell.
Saint Gregory of Nyssa, About the life of Moses or the accomplishment through virtue in in Church Fathers and Writers (1982), vol. 29, p. 109
Whoever served incorruption by his deeds all his life undoubtedly shall not receive corruption in himself. That one who became for real in the image of God and did not deviate at all from embedding God within himself, bears in himself the divine marks and he will resemble in everything with the archetype, embellishing his soul with incorruption and invariability and unsinfulness
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