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What does this say about the kingdom of heaven? Is the kingdom of heaven a beautiful and accommodating place that welcomes all into its open spaces? Is the kingdom of heaven a thorny and prickly place that tests, through suffering and discomfort, one’s ethical resolve? The proverbial structure of this parable, like that of proverbs found in many cultures, embodies a deep experiential tension. The fact is that the parable points to the inner dynamic and tension within all talk about the kingdom. JAMES H. EVANS
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Cynthia A. Jarvis (Feasting on the Gospels--Matthew, Volume 1: A Feasting on the Word Commentary)