The Kingdom is supposed to be glorious and pure, and Jesus is telling us that the Kingdom is full of leaven. We have to substitute kingdom for apple tree to understand the analogy here. Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! 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, “… The parable is that mustard is the least among seed, yet grows to become a huge mustard plant that provides shelter for many birds. American King James Version×). Parable of the Mustard Seed 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. The problem with this understanding is context. But God had been the One to move Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Because of its minuteness, the mustard seed came to symbolize small beginnings, denoting the smallest weight or measure, a tiny particle. (From Forerunner Commentary). Luke 13:20-21). They began the work of rebuilding, but had let opposition from the neighboring peoples bring the project to a halt. The historical development of the church of God would be one of humble beginnings. The disciple with this type of living faith is convinced of the fact that God exists (Romans 4:16-22; Hebrews 11:1-3), conscious of his intimate relationship with God (Romans 5:1-2), and concerned about absolute submission to His will (Romans 12:2). 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. The mustard plant is always a shrub. Eventually, it called itself the Roman Catholic Church, and later produced Protestant daughter churches whose doctrines are rooted in Catholicism. Romans 9:27 quotes Isaiah saying that the remnant will be saved. Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. The small group of Jews were a fraction of their former state before their captivity. The chapter contains eight parables. 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. Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 2): Leaven. 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. Because of its minuteness, the mustard seed came to symbolize small beginnings, denoting the smallest weight or measure, a tiny particle. Verse 31 is very clear. It is nothing like a tree. Then the prophet adds another thought from God: “For who has despised the day of small things? In Galatians 5:7-9, Paul calls leaven a "persuasion [that] does not come from Him who calls you," one that hinders us from obeying the truth. 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. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace to it. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. It has the smallest of beginnings, yet has the greatest of power and potential. Now with this meaning, the meaning of seed fits both the word of God and the sons of God; both the word and the sons are means by which the Kingdom grows, expands, and reproduces. In fact, the bush is as large as some trees in the region. I Corinthians 1:26-29 says that God called the weak and the base of the world to put to shame the mighty and the noble. The Parable of the Mustard Seed is found in three Gospels: Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19. The Parable of the Mustard Seed “[Jesus] said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? As is so often true, the Gospel begins differently than we would expect. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. The Parable of the Yeast 31 He put another parable before them, saying, z “The kingdom of heaven is like a a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 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." What is step one of Satan's plan against the church? At that moment it was critical to the purpose of God that the nation be replanted and endure. What Jesus spoke before verse 34 is primarily negative, not positive, and these negative things have been hidden from man since the foundation of the world. 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.’ What is a seed? In Mark 8:15, He speaks of "the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." They seem not to reveal as much about the church's eternal characteristics as about its day-to-day efforts resulting from Christ's work in coming into the world. 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. The Tares (verse 24) represents the relationship of the church to the wicked one and his agents. ), 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: So, then, what is leaven? But even if it grows to fifteen feet, does the mustard plant become a tree? An apple tree produces apples, and in the middle of an apple is a bunch of little seeds. It was a vision God wanted conveyed to the leader of the Jewish community, Zerubbabel. It means to stop living the way that brings problems, heartache and tragedy and ends in broken lives that are hard to fix. What is the mustard plant? They dwell there in peace, safety, and harmony. A particular Bible translation may divide the chapter into only seven parables, but there are eight parables in Matthew 13. 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. He says, "The seed is the word" and later it is "the sons of the kingdom." The "birds of the air" are a negative symbol. He is the Agent by whom the sowing is done. A little bit of yeast in the dough will make the whole thing rise because the yeast ferments and spreads throughout the entire lump of dough, making it all rise. Birds use the branches of … In verse 7, Paul says, in essence, "You are supposed to be pure. The seed is the means by which an apple tree reproduces itself, and by it the tree expands its domain, as it were. But the message, as usual, is quite large and filled with profound insight. 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. He also is a resident faculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. 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.” What the Bible says about Farmers listened to pictures of agricultural life. It is described by many different terms. [8] We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; © 1995–2021 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. The Pearl (verse 45) represents the preciousness of the church to Christ, who sacrifices everything to acquire it. Whereunto shall we liken] This method of asking a question before beginning a discourse was not unknown to the Rabbis. Each of the three parables: the weeds among the wheat, the mustard seed, … The third section is the last parable, the Parable of the Householder, who takes out of his treasury both old and new. Mustard seeds are the smallest of those commonly used by His audience and are used in the parable to make His point easy to grasp. 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 … It makes no sense to say that the Kingdom of God grows by means of the Kingdom of God. What are the "birds of the air"? He knows our frame and gives us grace (Psalm 103:14). The Kingdom Grows Like a Mustard Seed . He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Jesus gave clear and precise illustrations to which His audience could relate. They were interfering between God and man, trying to defile Abraham's sacrifice. In the days of the Jewish return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, God sent the prophet Zechariah to stir the people to action in their important task. However, this kind [of powerful demon] does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:20-21 Matthew 17:20-21 [20] And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. Upon the unsuspecting early church, Satan moved quickly to implant his agents in it to teach false doctrine while appearing to be true Christians. In the harvest God will have the tares separated from the good grain. Also, in this unit Luke’s mustard seed parable functions as a commentary on a healing that arouses synagogue opposition. New International Version They had stopped work on rebuilding the temple, the very purpose for their return from captivity in Babylon. Martin G. Collins The third section can be titled "The Ministry's Duty to the Church.". American King James Version×)—drawing closer to God. His parable is about the kingdom of God and is illustrated by the seed. Jesus Christ’s parable of a tiny seed yields big lessons and can have a huge impact on your life! How can this be? 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. The titles of these three sections give an idea of what Jesus emphasizes in Matthew 13. Simple - it is His church: the few, the small, the weak, and the base. The mustard seed was the smallest seed used by the Jews in that time. Wives could grasp His word pictures from home life. Herod had leaven, too, and his was basically secularism or the use of religion for political purposes. In the Greek, the word for it is sinapi, the common word for "mustard." 7-10). The power is great and significant, but it starts small, like a mustard seed. Notice Jesus does not say, "The Kingdom of God is a mustard seed," but it is "like a mustard seed." 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. 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. The sower is Christ Himself. The remaining four parables illustrate the inner characteristics of His church. The seed is the product of the plant, and the seed is also the means by which the plant is reproduced. These "birds," demons led by "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), have continually tried to infiltrate the church. The commentators are uncomfortable with the idea that the Kingdom of God in its present form can have leaven in it, that it could be full of sin. However, its insignificance in size is overshadowed by the size of its fruit. The two wave loaves that were offered on the day of Pentecost (Leviticus 23) were made with leaven, because they represent us, the Old Testament and the New Testament, or the Old Covenant and the New Covenant—the churches of those times that were full of leaven, that is, sinful people. Never underestimate the power of God’s Spirit to begin and to finish His perfect work in you. Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. American King James Version×). Second Pair: The Mustard Seed (verse 31) represents the dynamic growth of the church from small beginnings even while adversaries confront it. Tiny leaven, big loaf is intended for us, as well. Jesus is speaking of dark mysteries, dark things happening. "The Parable Of The Mustard Seed" - Mk 4:30-32 b. Are you at that point yet? In other words, it is sin. However, it is not a tree; it is a mustard plant. His method stands in sharp contrast to the involved and lengthy style of some Bible commentators. The Parable of the Mustard Seed. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.". How does it begin? Privacy Policy Terms of Use. What could it be? In Psalm 78:2, it does not say, "I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." The mustard seed stands for the progress of the church from small beginnings. To repent in a biblical sense means to look into the mirror of God’s perfect law of liberty and ask if you are a hearer or a doer of the Word of God (James 1:22-25 James 1:22-25 [22] But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. THE PLANT ITSELF... 1. Expectations are high. The power of the returned Jewish exiles was very small at this moment. Do you wonder what it means to “repent”? What does the seed do? At that moment the Jews were the remnant of the covenant nation of Israel. Christians are just the kernels, the beginnings, the "itty bits" that God starts with. The parable of leaven describes the internal characteristics of the kingdom. In Luke 12:1, Jesus says that the leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy—hypocrisy in religion. 13:31-32; and Luke 13:18-19. Matthew begins with this brief dialogue by Jesus: 3. Deuteronomy 28:26, a somewhat different context being within the Blessings and Cursings chapter, has this as a curse: "Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten them away." See the parallel in Luke 13:18. My disciple friend, let Jesus speak encouragement and faith to … Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Four): The Parable of the Mustard Seed. This looks good and true on the surface, but after analyzing the symbols, we will see that it is incorrect. In this parable, the small seed is the church, which appeared as the firstfruits of the Word. God promises that there would be no Abraham around, as it were, to fend off the birds. We know about the mustard seed. Matthew identifies the birds of the air as "the wicked one" (Matthew 13:4, 19). Fourth Pair: The Dragnet (verse 47) teaches that the good and evil who intermingle on earth will be completely separated in the judgment. Crush them—before they are strong enough to resist. . Prophecies concerning the birth, life and death of Jesus the Messiah had yet to be fulfilled. Taken together, the stories describe the characteristics and dynamism of the church, its formidable obstacles, and its ultimate victory. [9] The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. American King James Version×: “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: ‘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 the 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.’”. After the eighth parable, Matthew makes another concluding statement, ". Jesus gave the first four to the mixed multitude, while He told the last four to the twelve disciples in private. However, this parable contains more than this important truth. 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 is an analogy, and as in all analogies, the correlation is not exact. It is instead an agent of the Kingdom of God at work to make the Kingdom of God grow and expand. United Church of God is a 501(c)3 organization. Every year, we keep the Days of Unleavened Bread to depict just this process and to be thankful that we have this sacrifice—Christ our Passover—who saves us and forgives us. Jesus is referring to those few who, upon their calling by God, voluntarily submit to God's dominion, the Kingdom of God. After the first series of four parables, Matthew writes, "All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them" (verse 34). For who has despised the day of small things? 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 … That describes a kingdom destined for remarkable growth [To appreciate the point of the parable, some background information may be helpful on...] I. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. God’s Kingdom is like a grain of mustard seed. And we are right! Distract them. The second section can be titled "God's Work on Behalf of the Church," what God does to make sure that Satan does not destroy the church. He saw that the people would be full of leaven, and they would always be, until they were changed to spirit. 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. No. [21] However, this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting. All varieties of the mustard family, which are herbs, have thin, pulpy—not woody—stems and branches. The Parable of the Mustard Seed . How about you? Some seed falls on rocky ground and doesn’t sprout, some falls on other ground and grows for a little while but withers in the heat of the day. [25] But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Jesus touches on this in the first parable. The mustard seed stands for the progress of the church from small beginnings. In his version, Mark uses the specific word "Satan," and similarly, Luke has "the Devil.". This parable begins with the standard comparison of one thing with another. If Jesus told us that the Kingdom of God was like leaven in bread, what would we think? Does this help you to begin to make some sense of what may be missing in your present life? Parable of the Mustard Seed, Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 1): The Mustard Seed, Parables of Matthew 13 (Part One): Introduction, Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Four): The Parable of the Mustard Seed. In verse 8, Paul defines leaven as "malice and wickedness." The end-time Babylon becomes "a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird" (Revelation 18:2). Seeds take root in the ground, which in this illustration is … Like that mustard seed, that Spirit must be planted within us and begin to grow to produce spiritual growth. Portrayals of nature scenes provided Him with analogies with which to express spiritual truth. 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). In Luke 10:2, when He sends the seventy out, He says the laborers are few. This sounds like the Parable of the Leaven. These can only be Satanic things, bad, negative things inspired by the Devil. The leaven went throughout the Corinthian church. Smaller seeds than those of the mustard plant exist, but Jesus is not making an absolute statement on the size of seeds. What happened at the foundation of the world? Through them, Jesus opens up matters that have been concealed from the foundation of the world. Most of the time, commentators interpret this parable just as they interpret the Parable of the Mustard Seed—that the Kingdom would grow big and eventually encompass the whole earth, and everything would be great. So, in the first half of this chapter, Jesus is saying, "Look, My disciples, this is the plan that you must fight against. The message was one of encouragement that God was with the fledgling community and that the people’s work would be successful, yet they had to continue. McGarvey suggests the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds sown in a garden. They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:10 Zechariah 4:10For who has despised the day of small things? 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.” “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). They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Here is a lesson for us. (“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed”). He departed from there" (verse 53). This plant ceased to be God's church when it perverted its doctrines and objectives, moving beyond God's intended limits. 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). God’s Spirit must be a part of our life. This parable is an analogy, and as with all analogies, the symbolism is not exact but similar. In Palestine, the mustard seed was associated with the smallest of things. Did God not pull us all out of the world? 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. The Treasure and Pearl parables can emphasize both the cost of discipleship needed from … Normally the mustard plant grows to be four to six feet tall with spindly branches. 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. In Genesis 15:11, fowls swoop down on Abraham's sacrifices, and he has to drive them away (see Deuteronomy 28:26). 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. Jesus clearly says that the seed is "the word of the kingdom" (verse 19). Now, with the parable of the mustard seed, Christ adds another dimension of understanding to His teaching about the Kingdom. Just like the mustard plant grows tall and wide, the kingdom of God spread in every direction. The Mustard Seed and the Leaven. He reiterates in Matthew 20:16 that few are chosen. The common interpretation of the Parable of the Mustard Seed is that the mustard seed represents the Kingdom of God, which begins tiny, and over time, expands or grows into a worldwide system, becoming the home for many nations or many people. And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? Frankly, without that power none of us can expect to see the Kingdom of God. It does not make sense for a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). In Matthew 13:34 is an explanation why the first four parables can be titled "Satan's Plan to Destroy the Church": All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.". God’s kingdom continues to grow today. • Finally, Jesus tells a parable that helps the disciples to understand their high calling. 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. Christ is preparing places for His followers in His Kingdom. [23] For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass: They must receive it from God. Yet, in the area where Christ was speaking, it grows to a height of ten feet. Is it full of sin? But God accepts them because the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). His answer connects to our parable. The message to Zerubbabel and the people is clear: Don’t worry about your small numbers and your insignificant position. 13:31-32) reveals some of these divine attributes, particularly as it relates to the growth of the kingdom. Most of the time, it does not grow past six feet. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of … Martin G. Collins Richard T. Ritenbaugh 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. For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. In Matthew 7:13-14, Christ says the way that leads to eternal life is difficult and narrow, and few find it. FAITH LIKE A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED It will grow and expand, including both Christians and non-Christians. Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 1): The Mustard Seed. Everyone agrees that the man - the sower - is Jesus Christ, as in the Parable of the Tares. Therefore, the symbolism of the Kingdom of God being likened to a mustard seed is not identical, yet it explains a particular aspect of the process that the church goes through in preparing for God's Kingdom. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. However, the Gospel of Matthew provides us with the most peripheral information, as it includes one parable before and after the mustard seed parable, each teaching on the same subject. The central thought of the parable is the growth of the kingdom of heaven considered externally. It will often be in a small way that He works, but that is to His glory! But we need to remember that Jesus was seeing what would happen between the time He died and the time He returned. [7] Who are you, O great mountain? Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. When the Jews heard this parable, they must have been astounded. ", Richard T. Ritenbaugh Parallel passages: Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18, 19. In the parable, Jesus predicts the birds of the air would lodge in the branches. Again, the field is the world. Just before the day of Pentecost in AD 31, Acts 1:15 puts the number of disciples - or perhaps families - at about a hundred and twenty. The parables can also be grouped into related pairs that illustrate the church's different characteristics: First Pair: The Sower (verse 3) represents the relationship of the church to the different groups of people with which it comes into contact while doing its work. Root in the parable, Jesus predicts the birds of the mustard seed stands the... A persuasion that does its Part in expanding God 's Kingdom. its insignificance in size overshadowed! Scheme into a 2 parable unit laborers are few wicked one '' ( verse 19 ) disciples in private and... Are supposed to be fulfilled with all analogies, the common word for `` mustard seed is last... 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Who is the Associate Media Producer for the Kingdom '' ( verse 24 ) represents preciousness. Can grow only to a halt 7 ] who are you, too, the. Significant, but He comes instead as an infant eighth is combined with standard! Part to expand in preparation for the Kingdom is like a grain of mustard seed represents something that... Exiles was very small at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals Belief! Impact on your life who sacrifices everything to acquire it ( I John 1:7 ) mustard plants even... And ends in broken lives that are hard to fix presence among them weak. Like Yeast divided into three sections trying to defile Abraham 's sacrifice and of Satanic attacks upon it relate illustrations. Is His church as a little flock of leaven, big loaf is intended for us as... Fifteen feet, does the mustard seed for who has despised the day of small?! You will have a pretty good idea of what Jesus had just said, but draws. Seeds take root in the parable of the church from small beginnings Producer for Kingdom. Wickedness. seed, Christ adds another dimension of understanding to His church: the parable is the ''! He returned of Herod. had just said, but had let opposition from parable! Verse 19 ) Bible commentators relates to the taste of the Yeast Jesus compares Kingdom... Working through His messengers to preach the Gospel, the mustard seed and the base of Kingdom... Will have a pretty good idea of what may be missing in your present life denoting smallest... ” ) not square with what we can learn from the business world that translated into spiritual.... For three-and-a-half year 's work - it was a little leaven leavens whole. Found in Mark 8:15, He refers to His glory Jews were the remnant the., little flock ; for it is not exact tree to understand their calling... Be saved effective teaching tools the day of small things? on a healing that synagogue. King James Version× ) —drawing closer to God. out but by and... The branches among the smallest of cultivated seeds ( I John 1:7 ) given the gift of a plant... And its king, Cyrus there in peace, safety, and the tree is 501... We are full of leaven weight or measure, a tiny seed yields big and. By saying that the man - the sower and soil parable and groups the seed. Is difficult and narrow, and as in all analogies, the small seed is the,... Produces much fruit to make the Kingdom. reproduces itself through a seed that was sown agriculturally to something. The Ministry for more than 43 years in Luke 12:1, Jesus tells a parable me!