The SEED story - A Little Mustard Seed

The Parable of The Mustard Seed.

Another parable put He(Jesus) 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. (Matthew 13:31-32)

These five passages, all brief, include the following: Matthew 13:31; 17:20; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19; and 17:6. Of these five, only two make mention of the physical minuteness of the mustard seed, these being the Matthew 13:31-32 passage and its parallel in Mark 4:31.

Much has been written concerning the identification of this plant, although it has generally been agreed among Bible scholars that the mustard tree of Scripture is the common black mustard (Sinapis nigra L.) since in New Testament times its seeds were cultivated for their oil as well as for culinary purposes. The seed of this plant is about the size of a pin head and was one of the smallest known to the people of Galilee, and likely the smallest cultivated seed. Others have identified the mustard of Christ's parable with the white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) a closely related species. The remarkable phenomenon of these mustard plants is that, though they are really herbs, they may grow to be ten or twelve feet in height, with a stem the size of a man's arm. Thus they become a resting place for the smaller varieties of birds. Depending upon climatic conditions in their native semi-arid land, both the black and white mustard varieties have been reported to grow to a height of about 15 feet, although they do not normally exceed four feet at maturity. The wild plant has been known to grow as tall as a horse and rider. If then the plant may grow to such a height in the wilds, it stands to reason that the same might, in a cultivated garden, grow at least to the same or even greater heights, even as a small "tree." The common varieties of mustard plants that grow in our own country tend not to grow as large as those varieties found in the middle east.

This parable is a further development of the characteristics of the present spiritual kingdom of God. The point is that the seed of the gospel message will produce phenomenal growth. From small beginnings, the Kingdom which had only drawn near in the person of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:14-15), grew by reason of its own inner and supernatural vitality, to tremendous proportions, including multitudes of redeemed persons who through the years have come to swell its ranks to phenomenal size.

(By J. Timothy Unruh, copyright 1996.)

Did you know...?

Description: Mustard seeds are from the mustard plant, which is a cruciferous vegetable related to broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. While there are approximately forty different varieties of mustard plants, there are three principal types used to make mustard seeds: black mustard (Brassica nigra), white mustard (Brassica alba) and brown mustard (Brassica juncea). Black mustard seeds have the most pungent taste, while white mustard seeds, which are actually yellow in color, are the most mild and are the ones used to make American yellow mustard. Brown mustard, which is actually dark yellow in color, has a pungent acrid taste and is the type used to make Dijon mustard.Mustard also yields an oil similar to colza oil.

Uses:Medical: Shown to help reduce the severity of asthma, decrease some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and help prevent cancer; helps to lower high blood pressure, to restore normal sleep patterns in women having difficulty with the symptoms of menopause, to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, and to prevent heart attack in patients suffering from atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease; seeds also qualified as a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids as well as a good source of iron, calcium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, protein, niacin and dietary fiber.

So...what can we learn from planting seeds in our lives and the lives of others today?

Let's commit again to plant seeds. 5 seeds over the next 5 months.
Seeds to bless, to encourage.
Seeds of hope in the dark places, seeds of care in your family.
Seeds of love within your social circle.

Sow your small mustard seed today and watch it grow!
We are planting the Kingdom of Heaven right here on earth.