Parable of the Mustard Seed

thumb|Parable of the Mustar Seed (Jan Luyken) The Parable of the Mustard Seed is one of the shorter parables of Jesus. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, it is immediately followed by the Parable of the Leaven, which shares this parable's theme of the Kingdom of Heaven growing from small beginnings. Quotes Bible 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.” Gospel of Matthew 13:31-32 NIV. Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Gospel of Mark 4:30-32 NIV. What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches. Gospel of Luke 13:18-19 NIV. Others The comparison between the mustard seed and the kingdom of heaven places the smallest thing directly in relation to the greatest thing, that which is not yet visible with the infinite that human beings will never be able to grasp, since its concept surpasses all their concepts. The parable therefore refers to the most radical distance. Adrienne von Speyr, Le parabole del Signore (Gleichnisse des Herrn, 1966), translation into Italian by Giuseppe Reguzzoni, Jaca Book, Milano, 2008, p. 43. ISBN 978-88-16-30459-8 Furthermore, it is clear from the outset that the relationship revealed by the parable must be something definitive, that both things, the growing grain and the lowering sky, are made for each other. God the Father gives his heaven to human beings. As Creator, he has not abandoned human beings, but has shown them the direction in which they must grow so that he can finally welcome them. If the mustard seed is faith, then it will be very clear what the role of faith in man must be: to grow, like the seed from the earth, from the substance of God's invisible grace that he welcomes into himself. Adrienne von Speyr, Le parabole del Signore (Gleichnisse des Herrn, 1966), translation into Italian by Giuseppe Reguzzoni, Jaca Book, Milano, 2008, p. 44. ISBN 978-88-16-30459-8. External links Parable of the Mustard Seed Category:Parables of Jesus