The Parable Of The
Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32
31 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,
32 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.”
This is one of the shortest parables of Jesus, and can be found
in Matthew 13:31–32, Mark 4:30–32, and Luke 13:18–19.
This parable depicts the kingdom of heaven growing from small
beginnings. It is like a mustard seed which is less than all the
seeds that are on the earth. But when it is sown in the earth, it
will grow up, and become greater than all the herbs. It will have
great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge in its
branches.
The seed is that of the black mustard plant. Though very small, the
seed can grow to become a tree about 9 feet or 2.7 m tall.
This parable prophetically reveals that the kingdom of God will grow
from tiny beginnings to global enormity and magnitude. It will grow
because it has life! Yes, the seed has life to grow, mature and
become something great!
Like many parables of Jesus, this parable is not standing alone on
its own. In the Gospel of Matthew, this parable is sandwiched
between two others; each teaching on the same subject about the
kingdom of God.
The three parables about the kingdom of God in Matthew 13 are:
1. The Parable Of The Wheat And The
Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The
kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the
wheat and went his way.
26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the
tares also appeared.
27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you
not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to
him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’
29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also
uproot the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time
of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the
tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat
into my barn.” ’ ”
2. The Parable Of The Mustard Seed
31 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,
32 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.”
3.
The Parable Of The Leaven
33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven
is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal
till it was all leavened.”
In these three parables, there are seven common basic factors:
- The kingdom of heaven
- A man representing Christ
- A field representing the world
- A seed representing the Word of God
- The ability to live and grow representing life and
growth
- The presence of evil symbolized by weeds, birds of the
air, and leaven.
- The harvest representing the end of the age.
Like the mustard seed, the kingdom of God will live and grow. But
her growth will attract the presence of evil.
From very humble beginnings, the Church of Christ will experience an
explosive rate of growth. It will grow larger and larger, and will
become a source of food, rest, and shelter for all sorts of people,
both true and false believers, and both good and evil people.
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will
come in among you, not sparing the flock.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel
of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also
transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will
be according to their works.
False teachers, prophets and apostles will take advantage of the
exponential growth of the kingdom of God, and will enter in sheep’s
clothing, though inwardly they are ravenous wolves. And many
believers will be deceived by them.
Matthew 24:11-13
11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many
will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned
aside to fables.
Jesus already knew this would happen. In His own words, Jesus
prophesied in His parables that His Church would grow extremely
large from just a small seed, but it would not remain true and pure
to Him. This is not against global church growth or mega churches
but it is an important warning that we must not ignore. Jesus had
revealed and explained to us His parables.
Matthew 13:34-43
Prophecy And The Parables
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in
parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,
35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,
saying:
“I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the
world.”
The Parable Of The Tares Explained
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And
His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the
parable of the tares of the field.”
37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed
is the Son of Man.
38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of
the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the
end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the
fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out
of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who
practice lawlessness,
42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him
hear!
How did the weeds and tares come about? It was because everyone
was asleep so the enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and
went away. That's why we must watch and pray as we are laboring in
the harvest fields.
Jesus tells us that the separation of the weeds and wheat will be at
the time of harvest. The weeds will be allowed to grow with the
wheat. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end
of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
Are we able to differentiate between weeds and wheat? Yes, by their
fruits, we can tell. It is found in Matthew 13:41:
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and
they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and
those who practice lawlessness,
Yes, the weeds are those who practice and promote lawlessness.
Matthew 7:15-23
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears
bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree
bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter
the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in
heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many
wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from
Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 5:17-20
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I
did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass
away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till
all is fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these
commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the
kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness
exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by
no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
We are called to live a
life that is not under the law. "Not under the law" does not mean no
law or lawlessness. It means "above the law." Yes, we are called to
live a life that there is no law against us. Against such, there is
no law! Yes, when our righteousness in Christ exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees!
The opposite of grace is not law, but disgrace!
Lawless people are often ungracious, ungrateful and disgraceful. And
they disrespect and despise the commandments of God! The lawless
love and practice a lie!
Revelation 22:14-15
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the
city.
15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Thus, are we a wheat or a weed? Are we practicing lawlessness? Are
we trusting and obeying God?
Surely God knows.
If interested, please read:
The Parable Of The Leaven and
The
Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares.
Written on: 23 August 2018