Introduction
The parable of the mustard seed is one of the shorter parables of Jesus. It appears in Matthew (13:31-32), Mark (4:30-32), and Luke (13:18-19). There are no grounds for doubting that Jesus told it, but, as with other parables, we cannot be sure there was a single occasion when he used this particular story.
Have you ever wondered what does the parable of the mustard seed means? If so, this blog post will help you to understand more on the meaning of the parable of the mustard seed and how it was used. The parable is found in Matthew 13:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19. Here’s how it goes…
Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
Matthew 13:31-32 (NIV)
“He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 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.”
Mark 4:30-32 (NIV)
“He also said, ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.'”
Luke 13:18-19 (NIV)
“Then Jesus began to tell them this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; he came looking for fruit on it but found none. So he said to his vinedresser…Do whatever you think best,'”
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 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.’
The Parable of the Mustard Seed is a parable describing what you can accomplish if you are faithful in small things. It tells how, from a tiny mustard seed, a plant grows so large that it becomes the largest and most diverse garden plant. The birds of the air come to rest in its branches. This parable is often interpreted as being about Jesus’ ministry on Earth being like this mustard seed; He grew up into a great tree of righteousness and salvation for all who would seek Him out with faithfulness and devotion.
As such, this passage can be used as inspiration to show us how important it is not to give up or lose hope when faced with obstacles or difficult situations in life—for they can often lead us toward an incredible reward at long last!
Who Were the People Jesus Told This Parable?
The Parable of the Mustard Seed is found in Matthew Chapter 13 and was written to Jewish people who were living at that time. It was written by Jesus just before his death on the cross, so it’s kind of like an inspirational book for Christians now.
The parables are stories that have a spiritual meaning behind them and they’re given to teach us things about God. The disciples may have been confused at first when Jesus told this story, but they understood what he meant later on. This parable can be hard to understand if someone isn’t familiar with Bible stories from back then or if someone hasn’t read enough books about Christianity yet!
Matthew Chapter 13 Was Written to The Jewish People Living at That Time.
Matthew 13 was written to the Jewish people living at that time. They had followed Jesus and believed he was their Messiah, but they did not understand what he meant by the Kingdom of Heaven. This parable tells them that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which is small when it starts but grows into something large and beautiful. The disciples were also told that many people would come to believe in him because of their faith in God’s love for us all.
They Were Waiting for God to Bring in His Kingdom and Rule Over Everything.
They were waiting for God to bring in his kingdom and rule over everything.
They wanted to be free from Roman rule, sin, the law, and even power of death because they had heard about a new King who would come and take over everything. They wanted to know what God’s kingdom would look like when he came back on earth as promised.
The Disciples Had Just Asked Jesus About the Parable He’d Just Taught Them About the Weeds and Wheat Growing Together.
Jesus had just taught the disciples about the parable of the weeds and wheat growing together. The disciples had heard Jesus tell many parables, but didn’t understand what they meant. They wanted to know what this one meant, so they asked Jesus to explain it to them.
Jesus responded by telling them “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and planted in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds; yet when full grown it is largest among herbs+and becomes a tree so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” He then asked His disciples: “What do you think? If such a small seed can produce such a large plant, how much more can your Father’s kingdom grow!”
They Wanted to Know What He Meant by ‘the Kingdom of Heaven’.
- The disciples wanted to know what Jesus meant by the Kingdom of Heaven.
- They asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Matt. 19:28).
- Jesus went on to explain that he was talking about the Kingdom of Heaven, not a physical place like Israel or Rome, but rather a spiritual place where God ruled over people who let him lead their lives.
This is what Jesus taught in parable form because it was hard for his listeners (and us) sometimes too understand abstract concepts like love and forgiveness.
What Is a Mustard Seed?
One of the first things to understand is what a “mustard seed” actually is. The mustard plant is a small, flowering herb native to southern Europe and Asia. Its seeds are extremely small, like poppy seeds (not the kind you put on a sandwich). In ancient times, they were used as an example of something so small that it’s almost impossible to see with the naked eye—just like Jesus’ parables about mustard seeds!
At the time when Jesus was preaching in Palestine, people did not have refrigerators or freezers. Instead, they relied on their pantries for food storage. Anytime someone wanted to cook something with large quantities of ingredients like flour or grain, he had to make sure that no insects got into his supply overnight before making his meal: otherwise there would be bugs in everything!
So what did he do? He would store these grains inside containers called “beehives.” These containers looked like little cups with lids made from clay; inside each cup sat a single seed from each type of grain or spice needed by poor folks who couldn’t afford much in life except maybe one chicken every few weeks when they could afford it!
Mustard Plants Were Used as An Example of Something Very Small in Ancient Times.
In the Middle Ages, the mustard seed was considered to be one of the smallest plants known. It was also used as an example of something very small in ancient times. The mustard seeds of Jesus’ day were much smaller than what we think of them today. They looked more like poppy seeds than what we would recognize as mustard seeds now, but they were still a significant symbol for ancient people because they were so small that not even birds could eat them up!
It is easy to see how this parable might have inspired faith in those who heard it from Jesus. After all, if God can give life out of something so tiny and insignificant as a mustard seed, then surely He will bring about His good purposes through our lives too!
The Mustard Seeds that Were Used in Jesus’ Day Were Much Smaller than They Are Today. They Looked More Like Poppy Seeds than What We Think of As Mustard Seeds Now.
Mustard seeds were used in Jesus’ day, but they weren’t the same as those we use today. The mustard seeds that were used in Jesus’ day were much smaller than they are today. They looked more like poppy seeds than what we think of as mustard seeds now. The word ‘mustard,’ which is used for the plant and its seeds, means a small seed.
Why Did Jesus Choose This Parable?
The parable of the mustard seed is a great example of how Jesus used stories to teach his disciples. He wanted them to understand that God’s kingdom would start small and grow rapidly into something large.
Jesus is telling them that the Kingdom will be like a mustard tree, which grows very quickly and fills up all of its space with leaves and branches. This means that it will grow very quickly into something big, like a tree does in nature, just as Jesus said it would happen for His followers when they spread the word about Him around their community so that others can hear about Him too!
This Parable Was Like an Answer to Prayer.
The parable of the mustard seed was like an answer to prayer. It gave hope that the kingdom of God would be something very small, but would grow and grow. It showed that the kingdom of God would grow and grow. It also showed that it would be open to everyone, even if they were not Jewish or rich or powerful. In addition, it conveyed that this new kind of community would be something attractive to people who were looking for a better way of life and more meaning in their lives than what they had known before.
The Jewish People Knew God’s Kingdom Was Coming, but They Were Struggling to See how God Would Make that Happen or What It Would Look Like.
You can see why the Jewish people would be excited at this prospect. God’s kingdom was coming, and it would be powerful, like a huge tree. It was growing now, and it would come in the future. The parable of the mustard seed served as an illustration of how God’s kingdom would be big, powerful and beautiful.
Deductions Drawn From the Parable
The Parable of the Mustard Seed is a story told by Jesus in which he compares the kingdom of heaven to a tiny seed. The parable teaches that just as a mustard seed grows into a great plant, so too will God’s kingdom grow and eventually fill the whole earth.
The meaning of this parable is often debated, but here are some ideas that can be got from it:
- God’s kingdom will grow slowly, like a mustard seed does over many years.
- God’s kingdom will start small, but it will become large and powerful over time.
- God’s kingdom will be started by something seemingly insignificant, like a mustard seed.
- God is the one who can save us from our sins
- God’s power will always overcome the devil’s power
- God can use even the smallest things to accomplish His will
- God is with us through our troubles and difficulties
- God’s love is boundless and powerful.
- God’s love can grow in the smallest of places.
- God’s love can grow even when you feel like you’re not doing anything for it.
- God’s love is always growing, even if you don’t see it or recognize it sometimes.
- You can’t stop the growth of God’s love, even when you try to do so with your own actions or words
- The Mustard Seed is an example of how God works in our lives.
- We can grow to be something great, even if we don’t see it at first.
- God can make something small and insignificant into something big and powerful, just like he did with the mustard seed.
- It’s important to keep growing as a Christian because it will make us closer to God and help us be more effective for him in this world!
Conclusion
I hope you’ll remember this parable next time you’re feeling discouraged. Maybe your dreams seem impossible, or perhaps they don’t even make sense to you. You might feel too small and insignificant to accomplish anything great, but that isn’t true—you have the potential to do great things if you believe in yourself and put your heart into it. In fact, no matter where you are in life now, there will always be something new for you to learn and experience—so never stop growing!