Introduction 

1. The "Parable of the Mustard Seed" is a very short parable, but its meaning is powerful.

2. It is recorded in three of the gospels. (Lk. 13:18, 19; Matt. 13:31,32; Mk. 4:31,32).

3. Luke records, "Therefore He was saying, "What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree; and the birds of the air nested in its branches." (Lk. 13:18, 19).

1. Matthew 13:32 describes the proverbial smallness of the mustard seed. Jesus said "and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. "

2.  Mark also stresses the smallness of the seed. (Mk. 4:31).

3. Luke says nothing about the size of the seed.

Note: The mustard tree might grow as high as 10 to 15 feet or more depending on the type and circumstances. The word "mustard" comes from the Greek "sinapi" that was a well-known plant of which two species flourished in Palestine. Both species produced minute seeds. (Matt. 17:20; Lk.17:6). Both of these species, in favorable soil in this warm climate, attain a size quite sufficient for the requirements of the passages (Matt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:31-32; Lk. 13:19). The birds in Luke's account are described as nesting "in its branches." The word "tree" is to be taken only as an exaggerated contrast with the minute seed and to be explained by the parallel "but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree" (Matt. 13:32). The mustard seed, strictly speaking, was not the smallest of all seeds, but the tiny seed was proverbially used to stand for anything infinitesimally minute.

• The cypress seed was smaller.
• The Rabbis spoke of Aa spot or blemish as small as a mustard seed.@

1. Jesus told the apostles that if they had faith, even a small amount of faith like a grain of mustard seed, they would be able to do many mighty works. (Matt. 17:20; Lk. 17:6).

• True faith can grow like the mustard seed and accomplish accomplish great things.
• To this day the Arabs have a phrase about faith weighing not more than a grain of mustard seed.

2. The kingdom would have small beginning, but it would experience great growth.

• The church had a small beginning.
• The believers number 120 just prior to Peter preaching to Jewish multitude on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:15).
• It grew very rapidly. (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7).

 1. This parable teaches the importance of little things.

• The microscopic mustard seed did not look important, but look what it became!
• Our world often put great emphasis on bigness, but Jesus often stressed the importance of little things.
• A cup of cold water, a visit to the sick or one in prison, a lost sheep are Alittle things@ in the minds of most people.
• These Alittle things,@ like the grain of mustard seed, have great value.

2. Great things often have small beginnings

• The greatest works of art begin with a few strokes of the brush.
• In literature, every book, every essay, every poem, comes from the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.
• The world has been changed by a poor baby born in a feeding trough in a stable in Bethlehem of Judea. (Lk. 2:7).

3. God intends for the church or kingdom to grow today.

• The size of the church is not known for sure, but it is certain there is much room for growth.
• The world has billions of people lost in sin.
• God gave His Son for all humanity and He wants all men to be saved. (2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4; Jno. 3:16).

1. We must faithfully preach the word of God. (Rom. 1:16). See 2 Tim. 4:2.

2. We must Alift up@ Christ. (Jno. 12:32,33).

3. We must tell others about Jesus. (Acts 5:42; 8:4).

4. We must promote unity. (Jno. 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6).

5. We must manifest love for one another. (Jno. 13:34,35; 15:12).

6. We must use all kinds of methods, and not exclude something because we have never done that before.

• We must not put our faith in methods, but in the living God and in the power of His word.
• Methods change - they come and go.
• God and His word abide forever. 

 1. Luke says Athe birds of the air nested in its branches." (Lk. 13:19).

• Mark says of the mustard tree or plant Aand becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade. " (Mk. 4:32).
• The main point appears to be that this small seed becomes a tree or plant large enough for the birds to take refuge in and feed on the small black seeds of the mustard pods.
• The branches do not represent denominations.
• They did not exist.
• This was not the subject matter.
• Regardless of how one feels about denominationalism, it is not an honest treatment of the parable to read it into the parable.

2. If Athe branches@ have any spiritual significance, it would seem they mean Athe kingdom@ is a place of spiritual refuge.

Luke 13:20, 21: Matthew 13:33

And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven [sourdough], which a woman took and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened." (Lk. 13:20, 21). See Matthew 13:44.

1. There is nothing significant about the three measures or pecks of meal except that this was the ordinary amount of meal used in a single baking.

2. Though leaven customarily signified evil to the Jews (see Lk.12:1; Mk. 8:15; 1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9), Jesus here made it signify something good.

3. This parable stresses the pervasive influence of the kingdom rather than the outward growth.

• It can do nothing to the dough until it is put inside.
• Christianity is like this. It works from the inside.

4. Leaven imparts a new quality to the dough.

• When leaven is put in the baking meal it changes the ingredients.
• When Christ and His kingdom are taught, many great changes take place. (Acts 16:20; 17:6; Col. 3:5-17; 2 Cor. 5:17).

5. Leaven works contagiously until Ait was all leavened.@

• It does not stop until it has been spread through the whole mixture.
• The kingdom of God spreads by contagion and excitement.
• This is seen in the example of Andrew finding his brother Peter. (Jno. 1:40-42).
• This is seen in the example of Philip finding Nathaniel. (Jno. 1:43-45).
• The early church grew because of the contagious enthusiasm and dedication of the first Christians.

6. Jesus referred to individual transformation and the inward effect of the kingdom of God on society.

7. The words of Jesus would seem very strange to those expecting an outward, political kingdom.