The parable of the Mustard seed

1. The Parable ofthe Mustard Seed – 24th August 2016
“Thoughit isthe smallestofall seeds,yet when it grows,it is the largest of gardenplantsand
becomes a tree, so thatthe birdscome and perch in itsbranches.” (Matthew13:32).
By depictingaconceptsthrougha parable,the message isnotas readilylosttochangesinwordusage,
technology,cultural context,orthe passage of time aseasilyasit mightbe witha literal detailed
narrative.Thisapproachalsopromotespracticingprinciplesratherthaninflexibleadherence tolaws.
Furtheremphasisona singularpointisgivenwhenmultiple parablesare givenconsecutivelyonthe
same subject,asis the case withthe Parable of the Mustard Seed.
The Parable of the Mustard Seedis found inall three of the synopticgospelsMatthew 13:31-35, Mark
4:30 -32 and Luke 13:18 – 21. However,the Gospel of Matthew providesuswiththe mostperipheral
information,asitincludesone parable before andafterthe mustardseedparable,eachteachingonthe
same subject.Each of the three parables:the weedsamongthe wheat,the mustardseed,andthe yeast
have six commonelementsinthem, providingstructure whichhelpsustointerpretthe individual
parables.
A mustardseedisusedinbothMatthew13 andLuke 13 to provide apicture where Jesusdescribedthe
kingdomof heaven.InadditiontothisinMatthew chapter 17, we readof JesusHealsa Demon-
PossessedBoy. Jesuswastalkingtohisdisciplesaboutwhytheycouldnotcastout a demontoheal a
boyof hisseizures.We canlearnthisfrom Matthew 17:19-21,“Then the disciplescame to Jesus in
private andasked, “Whycouldn’twe drive it out?” 20
He replied, “Becauseyou have so littlefaith.
Truly I tell you, ifyou have faithas small asa mustard seed, you cansay to this mountain,‘Movefrom
here to there,’ and it will move. Nothingwill beimpossibleforyou”.But althoughJesusisusesmustard
inthisparable,here the teachingfocusesonFaith.
The parable foundin Matthew13 and Luke 13 provides usa picture where Jesusdescribedthe Kingdom
of heaven.We canread in Matthew 13: 31,“The kingdomofheaven is like a mustardseed, whicha
man took andplantedin hisfield…” The Kingdomof Heaven iswhere Christwantsustoreach. That
shouldbe ourabsolute destinyasChristians. Jesuscompareditwithamustardseed,“one of the
smallestof all seeds. Itissosmall that one couldeasilyoverlookitanddisregardit. But whydidJesus
compare it to a small mustardseed.Whenwe lookatit carefullyitbecomesevidentforus. Here,Jesus
usesa shrubcomingfrom a tiny seedthatgrows sobig that even birdscome andperchin itsbranches.
We can learn:“Thoughitis the smallestof all seeds, yet when it grows,it is the largest ofgarden
plantsand becomes a tree, so that the birds come andperch inits branches.” (Matthew13:32).
Whena Christianisgrowinginawarenessof God,althoughwe mayreceive some verybasicideaof
Heaven,the deepunderstandingis onlyenhancedovertime.We needto read, learnandunderstand
whoGod is,what he meansto us forthe presentandthe future.Itiswhenthis awareness growswithin
us,we understandthatourultimate objective shouldbe toreachthe Kingdomof Heaven…orwe maybe
lostinhell foreternity! We alsobegintolearnthatwe cannotreach there byour ownselvesbutwe
needGodsgrace and provision forus to getthere.We begintounderstandthat it isthroughFaithin
Christ,Repentance foroursins,receive SalvationandbychangingourActionsand Behaviorthatwe can

2. evenbeginthismostimportantjourney of ourlivesasChristians.Itisa Journeythat promises usa clear
destiny…tohave an eternityinthe presence of God. We can learnfrom Ecclesiastes3:11, “He has made
everythingbeautiful in its time.He has also set eternityin the human heart; yet no one can fathom
what God has done from beginningtoend”.
There are twoteachingsthatone couldderive fromthisparable.The firstbeing thatwhenwe beginthat
journeyseekingtoreachthe Kingdomof Heaven– whichJesuscompareditwitha mustardseed - it isso
small thatone could easilyoverlookitanddisregardit. UnfortunatelymanyChristianslose sightof that
importantfocus whichissomethingwe all need - aneternitywithGod.Inthisparable Jesusbringsthis
intofocuswhenHe says:”Thoughitisthe smallestof all seeds, yet when it grows,it is the largest of
garden plantsandbecomes a tree, so that the birdscome andperch in its branches”(Matthew13:32).
He is telling us thatwhen we beginourjourneywithGod, our initial awarenessof the Kingdomof God
may be small like amustardseed…But withtime and deeperunderstanding itwill enhance ourown
spiritual growthandunderstanding regardingthe Kingdomof God. We can share thisknowledgewith
many others, and expandthe awareness aboutthe Kingdomof God.Whatbeganas a tinymustardseed
growsto a large tree thatcan benefitamultitudeof people...sothatthe birds come andperch inits
branches.
The secondis like this:The mustardseedwasthe smallestseedknownatthe time.While it seemsmore
of a shrubthan a tree,itcan reachabout 10 feethigh.The mustardseedrepresentsthe Gospel,starting
verysmall butgrowingto reachmillionsthroughoutthe worldwho will inheritthe kingdom.The field
representsall the people of the earthwhowill receive Him.The tree isrootedinJesusChristandhas
growna harvestfarbeyonditsinitial planting.The tree offersarefuge forHisfaithful torestinHim. A
tree,whose large branchesofferasanctuaryfor birds,wasa familiarOldTestamentsymbolforamighty
kingdomwhichgave sheltertothe nations.The tree representsrefuge forbelievers.The tinymustard
seed,growingtobe a tree,symbolizesJesus’offerof refuge andlife inGod’sKingdom.