The Rest of the Mustard Seeds

Last post on the Mustard Seed Verses:

Matthew 13:31-33

(31) Another parable he put 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 becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (33) Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."

The Remaining Verses on the Mustard Seeds:

Now, let’s combine and complete the ‘mustard seed’ verses. Then we will move on to the Biblical verses referencing “Faith”.

Mark 4:30-32 “And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? (31) It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: (32) But when it is sown, it growth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”

Luke 13:18-21 “Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? (19) It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden: and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. (20) And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? (21) It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

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All of the ‘parable of mustard seed’ verses are in complete unison proving the harmony of the gospels.

Jesus uses the mustard seed parables to explain to the disciples how Christianity and the work of grace would begin small and progress into a mighty kingdom. Jesus likened the Christian Body of Christ (the kingdom of God) to that tiny seed with a small beginning and the future of being the most substantial of herbs. Jesus used parables (earthly stories with heavenly meanings) quite a few times to help those around Him understand what He was saying to them. He wanted them to grasp the full intensity of what He was teaching.

Matthew Henry explained the parable well:

“Christ speaks as one considering the consulting with himself, how to illustrate it with an apt similitude; With what comparison shall we compare it? Shall we fetch it from the notions of the sun, or the revolutions of the moon? No, the comparison is borrowed from this earth, it is like a grain of mustard-seed; he had compared it before to seed sown, here to that seed, intending thereby to show,

1. That the beginnings of the gospel kingdom would be very small, like that which is one of the least of all seeds. When a Christian church was sown in the earth for God, it was all continued in one room, and the number of the names was but one hundred and twenty (Acts 1:15)¹, as the children of Israel when they went down into Egypt, were but seventy souls. The work of grace in the soul, is, at first, but the day of small things; a cloud of no bigger than a man's hand. Never were there such great things undertaken by such an inconsiderable handful, as that of the discipling of the nations by the ministry of the apostles; nor a work that was to end in such great glory, as the work of grace raised from such weak and unlikely beginnings. Who hath begotten me these? 

2. That the perfection of it will be very great; When it grows up, it becomes greater than all the herbs. The gospel kingdom in the world, shall increase and spread to the remotest nations of the earth, and shall continue to the latest ages of time. The church hath shot out great branches, strong ones, spreading far, and fruitful. The work of grace in the soul has mighty products, now while it is in its growth; but what will it be, when it is perfected in heaven? The difference between a grain of mustard seed and a great tree, is nothing to that between a young convert on earth and a glorified saint in heaven.”

Christ, the Messiah, was the “Seed” of Christianity (I say that in total respect of my Saviour). He was one Person. After His death, burial, resurrection, and the witnessing of His ascension, His disciples gathered in the upper room where the 120 met for safety reasons. Just as Jesus promised to send a Comforter, the Holy Spirit came in, filled and anointed them and the Christian church was planted.

God is at work building His kingdom. The “leaven” as stated in Luke 13:18-21 is at work. Just as leaven helps breads to rise and spread, the leaven of grace is helping Christianity rise and spread out.

Satan has many people blinded to Christ and it may seem as though he is doing a fine job at hindering the work; however, his failure is eminent. The work of God is very significant and His kingdom is being built strongly with millions of faithful followers all over this planet. Believers, no matter how small their mustard seed of faith is, make a tremendous difference when united together with other Christians. Together, we can accomplish great things for Christ.

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¹Acts 1:15 “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about hundred and twenty,”

Other Study References Used:

Thomas Nelson King James Study Bible

Tyndale Life Application Bible King James Version

OF OTHER NOTE:

Studying about the mustard plant I picked up some tidbits of information to share about the characteristics of mustard compared to our lives in a Biblical sense:

Characteristics of Mustard:

1.   Any of several annual plants of the mustard family, with yellow flowers and slender pods contained round seeds.

Cynthia: The sun is yellow like the flowers of the mustard plant. Without sunshine plants would not grow. Jesus is the light of the world, as the sun lights the earth, God’s word lights our path to righteousness. Without the gospel of Jesus Christ our faith could not grow and we would not have the hope of Heaven. Humans are shaped like slender pods and are full of seeds (sin seeds or faith seeds) and we are contained to a round earth. Our heads are shaped roundly – like the mustard seed. Our knowledge of Christ should grow within our minds and down to our hearts.

2.   The ground or powdered seeds of some species of these plants, often prepared as a paste, used as a pungent seasoning for foods, or as a counter-irritant in medicine.

Cynthia: The Gospel, when read and studied (ground), is a pungent seasoning for our soul. Like the paste that would be sticky, we should allow God’s Word to stick in our minds and our hearts. It is the great word of God! And, as mustard is a counter-irritant in medicine, the Gospel is a counter-irritant to sin.

3.   The color of ground mustard a dark yellow – adj. designating or of a family of plants with cross-shaped flowers, pointed pods, and strong, cabbage-like odors, including cabbage, turnip, broccoli, radish, horseradish, alyssum, etc. – ‘cut the mustard’ (colloquial) to come up to expectation or to the required standard.

Cynthia: Dark yellow as a golden sunset to remind us of another day God has allowed us to be blessed with countless breaths. Here are the tears – some of the plants have cross-shaped flowers. Jesus Christ was nailed to a wooden cross for me where He died. How appropriate He chose this plant with pointed pods – pointing to the way He would be crucified - on a cross, the same as the shape of the flowers. The odor is strong, such should the odor of our existence here for Him in this place we are just passing through until our physical bodies cease to live; or, He steps out of Heaven and splits the Eastern sky! Jesus Christ lived (and died) up to the expectations of His Father – God. So should we be able as Christians to “cut the mustard.”

MORE:

1. Mustard oil: oil extracted from mustard seed, used in making soap

     Cynthia: Like the mustard oil, the Gospel is for our study to show us how to be washed as white as snow with the soap of forgiveness provided through the death on the cross of our Saviour.

2. Mustard plaster: a paste made with powdered mustard, spread on a cloth and applied to the skin is a counter-irritant to rubefacient (Rubefacient: to redden, causing redness, as of the skin, any external application, salve or plaster, causing redness of the skin)

     Cynthia: The Gospel is our “paste”. By opening the pages of the Holy Bible, God’s breathed word, and applying it to our sinful lives, the irritants of sin can be healed and removed for all who will believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and follow His commandments.