Bible Study: Parable of the Mustard Seed

Read: Matthew 13:31-32,  Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 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.”.”

Observation:

Simile: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed

Hyperbole: The smallest of all seeds becomes a tree

Important Words: kingdom of heaven, mustard seed

Interpretation:

Q. What is the Kingdom of heaven/God?

The Kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God is interchangeably used in the Bible which means the same. It may not necessarily mean a physical world although it can be. In John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” In simple word we can say ‘the kingdom of God is where God reigns, where God is the king.’

Q. Why did Jesus say mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds?

Mustard seed probably is the smallest seed found in the region, Israel. [1] The smallest seeds in the world are those of certain epiphytic orchids, which are non-parasitic plants that grow on other plants in the tropical rainforest. Some of these seeds are only 85 micrometers long, which is too small to be seen by the human eye. One example of such an orchid is the anoectochilus imitans, which measures 1.5 cm in length. These seeds have no endosperm and contain underdeveloped embryos.

Q. How can a mustard become a tree?

It is an exaggeration of the size of a small mustard seed which is grown to a big shrub/plant?

Q. Why is the kingdom of heaven compared to mustard seed?

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven/God with that of mustard seed because just like a small mustard seed when sowed in a field and grow to a big plant the Kingdom of heaven can be seeded in a small conversation which can grow to a big community.

Q. What does Jesus mean by “the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”?

Many interpret this line as the growth of the influence of the church. However, some interpret it as the growth of corruption inside the church connecting with the previous parable.

Application:

Our testimony as a Christian may be humble and simple but it has to grow in the grace of God in holiness and righteousness. We should also grow in the knowledge of God so that we can help those who are still young and weak in faith. We have to grow on to maturity.

GROUP BIBLE STUDY

Approach Question: Can you share a story of someone you know whose beginning is small and humble yet has now grown significantly successful?

Questions to Discuss:

1.     Identify the simile and hyperbole used in the passage.

2.     What does the mustard seed symbolise in this parable?  

3.     Why is the kingdom of heaven compared to mustard seed?

4.     What does it mean by “the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”?

5.     Is the Kingdom of heaven in you?

6.     In what way can we contribute to the growth of the Kingdom of heaven?

[1] Google: © Guinness World Records Limited 2023. All rights reserved. Registered in England No: 541295

Prepared by Lamminlun Haokip, UESI Staff based in Kolkata