05. The Parable Of The Mustard Seed
Matt. 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
INTRODUCTION
From the first two parables that Jesus taught and then explained, it is easy to conclude that the disciples may have been discouraged by what they heard...
• In “The Parable Of The Sower”, only one soil of four would be truly receptive to the Word sown
• In “The Parable Of The Wheat And Tares”, they learned that Satan would be doing his best to undermine the efforts of the Sower
Most bible scholars and commentators have suggested that the next two parables in Mt 13:31-33 were told by Jesus to encourage His disciples in reference to the kingdom
• The first parable is that of “The Mustard Seed” - Mt 13:31-32
• The second parable is that of “The Leaven” - Mt 13:33
• Both of which appear to describe the kingdom as destined for remarkable growth
It is tempting to deal with both parables in just one lesson. But that we might give each one its own undivided attention, this lesson will focus only on “The Parable Of The Mustard Seed”.
• This is said to be the COMPANION PARABLE to “The Parable of the Leaven.” As we have indicated above.
• Three gospel writers record this parable (Matt. 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19).
We will examine Matthew’s account
Matt. 13:31-32.Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of 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 the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
• This parable, like all parables, has one dominate lesson in it.
• The lesson is: “The Outward Growth of the Kingdom of God.”
I. THE MUSTARD SEED
A. THE PLANT ITSELF...
• The mustard seed was a common herb in Israel.
• The mustard plant is well known for its hot-flavored seeds
• Among seeds sown in a garden it was generally the smallest
• As a plant, it reaches ten, sometimes fifteen feet in height
• In the fall of the year, its branches have become rigid, and the plant often serves as a shelter for birds of many kinds
B. PROVERBIAL USES OF THE MUSTARD SEED...
• The mustard seed was used frequently to describe anything that is small in its beginning
• In the Jewish culture, the phrase “Small as a mustard seed.” indicated that which was small and insignificant.
• Jesus used it on another occasion to describe one’s faith
Mt 17:17 – 20 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me....18. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour….19. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?...20. And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
[With this understanding of the mustard plant and its seeds, perhaps we are better able to appreciate the meaning of the parable itself (please let us read Mt 13:31-32) again...]
31. Another parable put he forth unto 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.
II. THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE
A. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WOULD HAVE A SMALL BEGINNING...
1. Old Testament prophecy foretold this: Concerning the Messiah - cf. Isa 11:1; 53:2-3
Isaiah 11:1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isaiah 53:2-3. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him…3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
2. Jesus said that the kingdom would begin very small, just as a mustard seed which is put into the ground.
3. Daniel had a similar revelation while in the land of Babylon.
• A small stone broke in pieces the great image that Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream.
• This small stone became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:32 - 35).
Daniel 2:32-35. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,…33. His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay….34. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces….35. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
4. That small stone was the kingdom of God (Dan. 2:44).
Daniel 2:44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
5. Have you ever stopped to really think about the small beginnings involved in the kingdom of God?
• Jesus was born in a manger in the small town of Bethlehem.
• His father held a lowly position as a carpenter.
• He was reared in the despised city of Nazareth.
• His ministry only last about 3 to 3-1/2 years.
• His followers were ordinary. Most were ignorant and unlearned.
• This man was arrested and tried before His enemies. Eventually, He was crucified as a criminal upon a cross.
• Prior to Pentecost, only about 120 seemed to have been loyal followers.
• That which would ignite a movement was a story, the story of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
• From these small, humble beginnings something great was going to come forth.
6. Some have a tendency to despise small things.
• We should never have this mentality about small things (Zech. 4:10).
• Small things can produce tremendously great things.
B. BUT ITS TREMENDOUS GROWTH WOULD DWARF ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS...
Just as the “small stone” of Daniel 2:35 “became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” The growth of the church in the first century A.D. certainly confirmed the truth of Jesus’ parable
• The 120 disciples grew to over 3000 just in one day - Ac 2:41-42
• It was soon about 5000 - Ac 4:4
• The number of the disciples continued to “multiply” In Jerusalem - Ac 6:7
• The number of the disciples continued to “multiply “Throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria - Ac 9:31
• Years later, there were “myriads” of believers just in Jerusalem alone - Ac 21:20
• Even today, we see the growth and influence of the kingdom of heaven in lives of believers around the world!
C. IT’S GROWTH WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE WORLD...
• In the parable, Jesus spoke of how “the birds of the air come and nest in its branches”
• Once the tree was grown the birds of the air came and lodge in the branches thereof.
• The kingdom of God is place of both safety and nourishment for those who will come and lodge within its protection.
SAFETY.
• Safe from the enemy.
• Safe from the hostile environment of the world.
• To those seeking SAFETY and rest for their WEARY SOULS, the King offers His tender invitation to come to Him and enter His kingdom of rest - cf. Mt 11:28-30
NOURISHMENT
• Nourishment is found within the Word of God.
D. SIGNIFICANT RESULTS
1. The little seed of the parable produced significant results.
• Matthew states: ...it is the greatest among herbs…and becometh a tree…
• Mark writes: …and shooteth out great branches (Mark 4:32).
2. This was a real result.
• The mustard tree could grow to the height of 8 to 12 feet tall. A horse and rider could take shade under its branches.
• It grew big enough that instead of being planted in a garden, it was put into a field.
• It was possible for several birds to rest within its branches.
3. The little beginnings of the Lord’s kingdom would produce unbelievable, massive results.
• In the Great Commission, Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world (Mark 16:15).
• This was accomplished according to Romans 10:18. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
• The gospel began in Judaea, and then went to Samaria, Phoenicia, Cyprus, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, Babylon, Arabia, and Egypt.
4. Great numbers came to the kingdom of God.
• About three thousand on Pentecost Day (Acts 2:41).
• The number of the men grew to about 5000 (Acts 4:4).
• Acts 5:14.And the believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
• Acts 6:7.And the word of the Lord increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
• Acts 16:5.And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
• Christianity is still one of the major world religions.
• That which was so small and insignificant became great and significant.
III.THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM TODAY
A. THERE IS THE “MATHEMATICAL POSSIBILITY”
1. Beginning with just twenty disciples, each converting just one person a year, and their converts doing the same...
2. the growth would be like a mustard seed!
• End of year 1-40
• End of year 5-640
• End of year 10 - 20,480
• End of year 15 - 655,360
• End of year 20 - 20,971,520
-- All it takes is for each person to bring one soul to Christ each and every year!
B. THERE IS CERTAINLY THE “SPIRITUAL POSSIBILITY”
1. We have the same “seed” of the kingdom, the Word of God!
• A “seed” which is incorruptible, that lives and abides forever - 1 Pe 1:23-25
• A “seed” capable of producing what God intends - cf. Isa 55:10-11
2. While the first two parables remind us that not all will accept the Word of God, this parable declares that the kingdom will grow!
C. WHAT IS NEEDED IS PEOPLE...
1. People with vision
• Who have the vision of Christ, as expressed in His parables
• Who look not at an apple and count the seeds, but looks at a seed and counts the apples (with their many seeds)!
• Who look at converting and developing disciples in the same way
2. People willing to put the kingdom of God first in their lives
• The seed of the gospel will produce fruit, but only if it falls on good soil
• If we allow...
• The CARES of this world
• The DECEITFULNESS of riches
• The PLEASURES of life ...to “choke” us, we cannot bear good fruit
• Therefore we need to put the KINGDOM OF GOD FIRST - cf. Mt 6:33
3. People willing to abide in Christ
• For apart from Christ they can do nothing - Jn 15:4-5
• For only they are able to bear “much fruit” - Jn 15:5
• And only they will be able to glorify God and be His true disciples - Jn 15:8
D. CONCLUSION
1. The potential for the kingdom’s amazing growth rests in the Person who reigns as its King...
• Those who will abide in Christ can be used by Him to produce the remarkable growth in the kingdom illustrated by this parable
• As Paul wrote to the Philippians: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Ph 4:13
2. Brethren, allow “The Parable Of The Mustard Seed” to serve as...
• An ENCOURAGEMENT - The kingdom of heaven is destined for great things, though its beginning was small
• A REMINDER- That if we are going to be useful to the Master in this ever growing kingdom, we must “abide in Him” so we can “bear much fruit”
3. it’s growth would be beneficial to the world...
• The parable issues a call to mankind to come for SAFETY and NOURISHMENT
• Come and rest within the branches of this kingdom
(Matt. 11:28-30).Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
With this simple parable, Jesus offers encouragement to that small band of disciples following Him over the hills of Palestine. They would be a part of something that would grow and bless the world immensely!
What about today? The kingdom of heaven continues to grow and spread out is branches to those who will accept it, certainly.
Dear friend, have you rested your weary wings in this great tree called “the kingdom of heaven”? - cf. Jn 3:3-5
Dr. Tg Badia
