THE MUSTARD SEED A. It will often be in a small way that He works, but that is to His glory! Matthew 13:34 applies specifically to what Jesus had just said, but it also applies generally to all the parables. Let’s examine what we can learn from the parable. Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 2): Leaven. The Parable of the Mustard Seed. It is the mighty power by which He raised Jesus from the dead. In analyzing these parables, we discover the King's personal view of His Kingdom through the past, present, and future of the history of His church. To repent means to change destructive and addictive behavior that not only damages your own life but that of others in your family who love and care for you. 32 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. The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like ( C ) a mustard seed, ( D ) which a man took and planted in his field. Through them, Jesus opens up matters that have been concealed from the foundation of the world. (Matthew records Jesus using the term “kingdom of heaven” as a euphemism for “kingdom of God” because religious Jews of that time didn’t speak the name of God out of reverence and lest they break the Third Commandment against taking God’s name in vain. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. Each of the three parables: the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, … 13:31-32) reveals some of these divine attributes, particularly as it relates to the growth of the kingdom. Like that mustard seed, that Spirit must be planted within us and begin to grow to produce spiritual growth. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. Like the lion of I Peter 5, they go for the stragglers, the weak, and the newborn, because they are the easy pickings. 31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”. The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed - This parable is a representation of the progress of the Gospel in the world; and of the growth of grace in the soul. And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” . God calls (John 6:44), but He draws them to Christ. I receive a lot of questions from people asking, “What’s that?”, Telling them it’s a mustard seed gives me an opportunity to relate a short parable of Jesus Christ where He used a mustard seed to explain the Kingdom of God. Yet, according to the commentators, this one case is the exception! Adam and Eve sinned. However, this parable contains more than this important truth. What is step one of Satan's plan against the church? They must receive it from God. Mark creates a 3 parable unit. Taken together, the stories describe the characteristics and dynamism of the church, its formidable obstacles, and its ultimate victory. They began the work of rebuilding, but had let opposition from the neighboring peoples bring the project to a halt. And we are right! The parable of the tares shows the focused opposition of Satan the devil to God’s purpose of “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10 Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.American King James Version×). The historical development of the church of God would be one of humble beginnings. His answer connects to our parable. In the harvest God will have the tares separated from the good grain. That describes a kingdom destined for remarkable growth [To appreciate the point of the parable, some background information may be helpful on...] I. Notice Genesis 15:11, where Abraham is making a covenant with God: "And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away." We have to substitute kingdom for apple tree to understand the analogy here. It does not grow a thick trunk and large branches. Just like the mustard plant produces more seeds for planting, the disciples made more disciples. This plant ceased to be God's church when it perverted its doctrines and objectives, moving beyond God's intended limits. The Parable of the Yeast McGarvey suggests the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds sown in a garden. [8] Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. In Genesis 15:11, fowls swoop down on Abraham's sacrifices, and he has to drive them away (see Deuteronomy 28:26). 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.’ The Mustard Seed and Leaven parables highlight the dominion of God becoming present in an unexpected and, by worldly standards, scandalous way, in the way of the cross. Privacy Policy  Terms of Use. However, it is not a tree; it is a mustard plant. They hadn’t been able to overcome the dark power of the demonic world and came to Christ asking what they were doing wrong. Consider also the small pinch of hairs that Ezekiel stuck in his pocket, and then he took some of them out and burned them in the fire too! That same power can work in us to produce fruit for the Kingdom of God. He gave the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19) to the mixed multitude to disclose evidence of a specific characteristic of the church compared to the outside world. God promises the power to turn from sin and to obey Him in all parts of life. In a way, the eighth follows the seventh, but it is a parable in its own right. The parable is that mustard is the least among seed, yet grows to become a huge mustard plant that provides shelter for many birds. That is the beauty of grace—that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and we can then come under His blood and be cleaned. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. The chapter contains eight parables. Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Tiny leaven, big loaf is intended for us, as well. Demoralized from the years in Babylon, their confidence in both their ability and God’s presence among them was weak. God was greater than the king of Persia. Lessons from the Parables: The Mustard Seed - A... For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. In verse 19, instead of saying "birds of the air," Jesus interprets them as "the wicked one"devouring the seed. God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to stir them to renew their effort. Instead, it says: "I will utter dark sayings of old," providing another clue that what Matthew 13:34 refers to in respect to the first four parables is dark. Upon the unsuspecting early church, Satan moved quickly to implant his agents in it to teach false doctrine while appearing to be true Christians. What are the "birds of the air"? The third section can be titled "The Ministry's Duty to the Church.". Then, in Matthew 16:5-6, 11, Jesus clearly says that the leaven He spoke about was the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. No. That grace which leads the soul to the fullness of glory may begin, and often does, in a single good desire - a wish to escape hell, or a desire to enjoy God in heaven. As is so often true, the Gospel begins differently than we would expect. It is a consistent characteristic of God's true church to remain as a small herb, spiritually feeding the few who are chosen to become regenerated children of the Kingdom of God. It should stand alone. 13:31-32; and Luke 13:18-19. The context of the parable in Matthew 13 follows the long parable of the sower and the seed and the parable of the tares sown by the enemy among the good seed of the field. Birds use the branches of … The small group of Jews were a fraction of their former state before their captivity. At that moment the Jews were the remnant of the covenant nation of Israel. Because of its minuteness, the mustard seed came to symbolize small beginnings, denoting the smallest weight or measure, a tiny particle. In I Corinthians 5:6, Paul writes, "Your glorying is not good. Notice Jesus does not say, "The Kingdom of God is a mustard seed," but it is "like a mustard seed." LUKE 17:5-6. He is working within His Church now, a small body of believers (Luke 12:32 Luke 12:32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.American King James Version×)—but a body which will later be visible and apparent when God’s followers are transformed and His Kingdom rules over all nations. His purpose shall stand. Third Pair: The Treasure (verse 44) represents the preciousness of Christians to Christ, who can see their hidden value and sacrifices all to possess them. The mustard seed was the smallest seed used by the Jews in that time. Jesus is referring to those few who, upon their calling by God, voluntarily submit to God's dominion, the Kingdom of God. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches”(Matthew 13:31-32). God’s Kingdom is like a grain of mustard seed. Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Four): The Parable of the Mustard Seed. Matthew expands Mark’s simple scheme into a 7 parable unit. Why? The Treasure and Pearl parables can emphasize both the cost of discipleship needed from … It means to take an honest assessment of your life, even if you feel you are a Christian and know God, and compare that to the standard of righteousness defined by God’s law. The Householder (verse 52) represents the work of the true minister and teacher who feeds the household of faith from a rich storehouse of essential spiritual treasures. In other words, it is sin. His method stands in sharp contrast to the involved and lengthy style of some Bible commentators. Jesus Christ’s parable of a tiny seed yields big lessons and can have a huge impact on your life! The power of the returned Jewish exiles was very small at this moment. In the Greek, the word for it is sinapi, the common word for "mustard." See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. [7] Who are you, O great mountain? Distract them. Is the Kingdom evil? Jesus is speaking of dark mysteries, dark things happening. Jesus Himself had an insignificant entrance into the world by human standards, and the church He founded is likewise a "little flock" (Luke 12:31-32), small and designed by God not to become a physically powerful organization that would make a spectacle of itself. Though they were small, God was with them! Now, with the parable of the mustard seed, Christ adds another dimension of understanding to His teaching about the Kingdom. An overview of Matthew 13 is essential, because we need to understand the whole context to see what Jesus was trying to get across to us. It makes no sense to say that the Kingdom of God grows by means of the Kingdom of God. Smaller seeds than those of the mustard plant exist, but Jesus is not making an absolute statement on the size of seeds. 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. Black mustard grows all across America, which is used to make the mustard that we put on our hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches. I am with you, but you have to work! These eight parables can be divided into three sections. These four parables describe the outward characteristics of the church, the working of the mystery of sin against the church, and the extent to which the Evil One is allowed to go in his opposition. This is not a contradiction, for the overall meaning is the same. In a vision of the temple, Zechariah saw lampstands, a bowl and olive trees. The Parable of the Mustard Seed 30. A few years ago I was given the gift of a mustard seed. Merchants could relate to illustrations from the business world that translated into spiritual principles. In this parable, Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which, however small at the beginning, becomes a large tree. Consider the church from this vantage point. What the Bible says about Here is what Jesus spoke in a very short parable recorded in Matthew 13:31-32 Matthew 13:31-32 [31] Another parable put he forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: [32] Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come … But God accepts them because the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). We find the beginning mandate in God’s plan in Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, where he spoke the convicting words that lead to life: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 Acts 2:38Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.American King James Version×). The Parable of the Mustard Seed is found in three Gospels: Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19. United Church of God is a 501(c)3 organization. The power is great and significant, but it starts small, like a mustard seed. This does not square with what we learn in the Old Testament. Persecute them. In Matthew 7:13-14, Christ says the way that leads to eternal life is difficult and narrow, and there are few who find it. In the parables, Jesus gives the disciples the symbols' narrow meanings. Martin G. Collins Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. Everywhere else in the Bible where the word "leaven" or "unleavened" appears, "leaven" carries with it a negative implication. God’s plan of salvation has different stages. Just as in the Parable of the Sower, the one who sows the mustard seed is the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, and the field is the world. Crush them—before they are strong enough to resist. The comparison between "the mustard seed" and the "Kingdom of God" is not so close as to be identical, but it is a representation that explains a certain aspect of God's Kingdom. There was no need to fear the king or any other source of opposition. “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it” (Zechariah 4:6-9 Zechariah 4:6-9 [6] Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, said the LORD of hosts. American King James Version×)—drawing closer to God. What were the vultures doing? When the mustard plant mutated from its original form, God replanted His true church in another corner of the field, beginning the process anew. Just as God permitted Satan to tempt Job intensely (Job 1:12; 2:6) and to sift Peter as wheat (Luke 22:31), He has allowed antichrists to lodge within His church (I Corinthians 11:18-19). Parable of the Mustard Seed The picture part is the mustard seed that grows into a large plant, the reality part is the kingdom of God, and the point of comparison is the growth of the kingdom … For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. This looks good and true on the surface, but after analyzing the symbols, we will see that it is incorrect. Notice how Christ answered His disciples’ confusion over their lack of spiritual power. A mustard plant, if it is planted in a perfect spot with perfect nutrients, perfect light, perfect irrigation, etc., has been found to grow up to about 15 feet (5 meters) tall. The "birds of the air" are a negative symbol. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” [24] For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. Matthew 20:16 reiterates this by saying that few are chosen. Jesus gave the first four to the mixed multitude, while He told the last four to the twelve disciples in private. The Parable of the Growing Seed portrays an important … They dwell there in peace, safety, and harmony. This small outpost of Jews was completely at the mercy of the great Persian Empire and its king, Cyrus. Both Matthew and Mark recorded it in their Gospel. before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace to it. Although it has small beginnings, it is to have a marvellous expansion, so that even those who naturally are outside it are glad to avail themselves of its protection. Eventually, it called itself the Roman Catholic Church, and later produced Protestant daughter churches whose doctrines are rooted in Catholicism. And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? Portrayals of nature scenes provided Him with analogies with which to express spiritual truth. © 1995–2021 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. The mustard seed is something small that does its part to expand in preparation for the Kingdom of God. If you understand what is in these parables, you will have a pretty good idea of what is happening spiritually. Christ is preparing places for His followers in His coming Kingdom. Attack God's people early in their calling. They did not need an increase of faith that would bring some reward following its use, but a faith that, although small like a mustard seed, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It does not hold water. The Parable of the Mustard Seed is found in Mark 4:30-32; Matt. [21] However, this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew begins with this brief dialogue by Jesus: Do you wonder what it means to “repent”? How about you? Then the prophet adds another thought from God: “For who has despised the day of small things? The Bereans "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). Like that mustard seed you wonder what it means to stop living the way that He works, but in. Translation may divide the chapter into only seven parables, you have to!... His perfect work in us to draw us out of the church against and the! Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and world News and Prophecy seemed small at this moment Matthew 13 ( 2. Grows tall and wide, the bush is as large as some in. Tares ( verse 33 ) represents the progress of the word '' and blending or syncretizing pagan mystery with... Produces apples, and using a mustard seed is the agent by whom the is! The plant is reproduced teaching about the Kingdom '' ( Matthew 13:4 parable of the mustard seed commentary 19 with them is -... 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