The Mustard Seed and the Leaven. Amen. As the parable of the Mustard Seed represents the extensive growth of the kingdom in numbers, so the parable of the Leaven represents the great power of transformation in the lives of God’s children that God’s Word causes. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! Of all the seeds that were sown at that time in the East, and all the seeds that are sown today to produce edible products, the mustard seed was and still is the smallest. While the former was spoken in front of the multitude of listeners by the sea, the Parable of the Mustard Seed was spoken in private, when He was alone with His disciples, explaining to them the purpose behind the parables. While the elements themselves do have importance, an … These cookies do not store any personal information. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It was hardly noticed during its start, the same as almost no one pays any attention to a mustard seed. Contextual Misunderstandings of the Parable In this parable of the mustard seed, Jesus make the statement that the mustard seed, "is the smallest of all seeds on earth" (Mark 4:31), and that "it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs" (Mark 4:32), even as big as a tree. Just as in the parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31–32), Jesus uses rhetorical hyperbole to make the point that little is much when it comes from God. The King James Version says “it is the greatest among all herbs,” growing far reaching branches beyond natural explanation. Luke tells the parable with the plant in a garden instead; this is presumably recasting the story for an audience outside the Levant.[1]. Mathew 17:20 English Standard Version (ESV) states, “Because of your little faith. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 31 He put another parable before them, saying, () “The kingdom of heaven is like () a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. The answer is that the parable of the mustard seed describes the external growth of the kingdom. The parable of the mustard seed is one of several parables that Jesus uses to describe the kingdom of God. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”, ― Mathew 13:31-32, English Standard Version. It also appears in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas. It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” ― Mark 4:30-32, English Standard Version He said therefore, “… Seeds take root in the ground, which in this illustration is the kingdom placing it’s root in the world. The Bible, in both parables and prophecies, interprets itself and remains consistent in its use of symbols. The Meaning of the Mustard Seed Parable. Many scholars have paid far more attention to these minor differences and technicalities, and, in the process, as some experts state, lost the whole point behind what Jesus intended to put across. Jesus started out with a handful of followers, each spreading out the word and touching the lives of those who were willing to hear. Was Jesus making a point of the supernatural growth of the kingdom of God? What is the meaning of the parable? ANSWER: Matthew 13:31-32 tells the parable of the mustard seed: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. What could this mean? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”, ― Luke 13:18-19, English Standard Version, He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is recorded in Matthew 13:31-32. Also, in this unit Luke’s mustard seed parable functions as a commentary on a healing that arouses synagogue opposition. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. Jesus has used the example of the mustard seed twice in the Bible. No one can see it from the outside, but it is definitely there. The mustard plant is well known for its hot-flavored seeds 2. In a memorable and intriguing parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a microscopic mustard seed that grows into a towering tree. It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”, He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? For instance, while in the Gospel of Mark, it states that the mustard seed “grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants”, in the Gospels of Luke and Mathew, it says that the mustard seed grows and becomes a tree. THE PLANT ITSELF... 1. The sower is Jesus Himself. Speaking of the example of the tiniest of all seeds, the mustard seed, Jesus efficaciously emphasized on the power of small beginnings and how they could turn into manifold growth reaching all throughout the world. And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? The mustard seed (Sinapis nigra) or black mustard, grew wild and was cultivated in Palestine. He was not interested in teaching the facts about mustard seeds. It was from this small beginning that the kingdom of God, the Church, the followers of Christ have spread throughout in massive numbers. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. For starters, let us begin with the simplistic explanation of this parable. Opting out of some of these cookies on your browsing experience seed describes the external growth of the seed. Browser only with your consent a crop hardly noticed during its start, the miraculous strength can. 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