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. 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.” (Matthew 13:31–32 (ESV)
Matthew 13:1-50 contains seven parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. These include the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-23), the Parable of the Weeds (13:24-30), the Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:31-32), the Parable of the Leaven (13:33), the Parable of the Hidden Treasure (13:44), the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value (13:13:45-46), and the Parable of the Net (13:47-50). Today, we examine the Parable of the Mustard Seed.
Immediately following the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3-23), and the Weeds (13:24-30), Jesus taught another parable about sowing. This involved a mustard seed.
“The kingdom of God held a prominent position in Jesus’ teaching from the beginning of His earthly ministry (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43). He proclaimed that His coming to earth meant that the kingdom of God was at hand. He was inaugurating the kingdom of God in the very midst of His hearers. Accompanying and demonstrating this inauguration were miracles and teaching. His teaching took different forms, but chief among them were parables, which He used to teach His hearers something about the nature of the kingdom. The parables of the mustard seed (Matt. 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–19) and the leaven (Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20) reveal something of the mysterious progress and imperceptibility of the kingdom of God,” explains Rev. Aaron L. Garriott.
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed. Relatively speaking, it was the smallest of the common seeds sown in first century Israel. The historical context must be kept in clear view.
However, in spite of its small size the mustard seed grew into a large bush; sometimes up to fifteen feet high. The word tree (δένδρον; dendron) can mean a tall plant or bush. The mustard plant provided shelter for birds who made their nests in its branches.
“Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a grain of mustard seed, whose small initial form compared with its impressive final form furnished Jesus with an apt illustration of the progress of the kingdom of God between its inauguration and consummation. One of the smallest seeds in Palestine, the mustard seed would yield a shrub-like tree over time that would reach more than ten feet tall. The tiny seed would grow to be so large that the birds of the air would find it conducive for habitation,” continues Rev. Garriott.
“At any rate, the point is this: The Word of God—the work of God—typically begins small. Churches are small. Student ministries are small. Whatever you want to do, it’s going to start small. There’s going to be opposition. It will look at times like it’s about to collapse, but there will be a great climax,” explains commentator Daniel M. Doriani.
Take heart and serve fervently. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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