The Grain of Mustard Seed - Bible Parables Made Simple Volume 1

The Parable Of:

“The Grain of

Mustard Seed”

( The Importance of Faith and How to Obtain it)

The Parable of:

“The Grain of Mustard Seed”

(Matthew 13:31, 32)

Matthew 13:31, 32

31 Another parable put he 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:

32 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.

Comments:

Jesus begins this parable by comparing the “kingdom of heaven” to being like a mustard seed. A comparison of Bible texts using the words “kingdom of heaven” shows that this phrase represents the “Church”. In this instance then, Jesus is comparing the “Church” (kingdom of heaven) to being like a grain of mustard seed.

In the parable the mustard seed is described as being the “least” of all seeds. In other words the mustard seed is very small. The parable then describes how when the mustard seed is grown it becomes the “greatest” of all herbs and becomes a tree.

When we put what we have learned together we see that Jesus is saying:

The Church (kingdom of heaven) is like a mustard seed.

In the beginning it will be very small (least), but it will grow and become the greatest of all at the last.

In this parable a man sowed the mustard seed in his field. In the parable of the “tares among the wheat”

(Matthew 13:24-30; 30-43) Jesus or the “son of man” is the one who sowed the seed (verse 37). The field represents the world (verse 38).

When we put what we have learned from the Bible together, we see that the parable tells us that it was Jesus (man) who “planted” or established (sowed) the Church (mustard seed) in the world (field).

Comparison of Scripture:

When we use the Concordance to look up the word “mustard”, we discover that there are five texts in the Bible where this word is found. Three texts (Matt.13:31; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19) describe the mustard seed as representing the “kingdom of heaven” or the Church. Two texts (Matt. 17:20, Luke 17:6) describe the mustard seed as representing Faith. We will now look at this second meaning as used in the parable.

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, because of your faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamore tree, be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

These two texts make it plain that Jesus wanted us to also associate the “mustard seed” with Faith. It appears then, that Jesus wanted us to see the connection between the mustard seed representing both the Church (kingdom of heaven) and our Faith.

We will look at the parable again and this time we will use the second meaning of “mustard seed” as Faith.

Matthew 13:31 “Another parable put he 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:

32 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.”

We will paraphrase the text by substituting the meaning of mustard seed as “Faith”.

Paraphrase:

The kingdom of heaven is like a tiny speck of Faith (mustard seed), which Jesus (man) took and placed (sowed) in the world (field).Although it is very small (least) at first, later when it has grown, it will be the greatest of all.

When we examine what we have learned we see several things:

1. At the start our Faith will be very small.

2. Our Faith can increase or grow.

3. Jesus is the one who gives us Faith.

4. The Church needs more Faith (Matt. 17:20)

5. As our Faith grows, the Church will grow.

6. Nothing will be impossible for us if we have Faith!

Now, we need to learn more about the word “Faith”. We will begin by discovering the definition of “Faith” by using Strong’s Concordance:

(Greek)

If ye have faith as a ... Matt. 17:20 ... #4102 ...Pistis

Conviction of religious truth, reliance upon Christ for Salvation, Constancy in profession, assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

Thus, “Faith” is belief in Christ and reliance upon Him

for Salvation!

Now, let us learn more about “Faith” by Comparing Scripture.

Romans 12:3, 6 Everyone has been

3...God hath dealt to every  given some amount

man the measure of faith. of faith. Some have

6...according to the been given more than

proportion of faith; others. Each one is

responsible for the

amount given him.

Hebrews 12:2 Jesus gave us our

2 Looking unto Jesus the  faith to begin with

author and finisher of our and He will help us to

faith;.… increase our faith.

Hebrews 11:6

6 But without faith it is

impossible to please him;  It is impossible to

for he that cometh to God please God without

must believe that he is, faith!

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently

seek him.

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is the

substance of things hoped If we can see what we

for, the evidence of things  desire we don’t need

not seen. faith. Faith helps us

to obtain what

II Corinthians 5:7 is not visible.

7 For we walk by faith, not

by sight:

Romans 10:17

17 So then faith cometh Faith is increased as

by hearing, and hearing  we study the Word of

by the Word of God. God or the Bible.

II Corinthians 10:15

15 .…but having hope,  As our Faith increases

when your faith is it gives us hope.

increased ...

James 1:6, 7

6 But let him ask in faith,

nothing wavering. For he We arenottodoubt

that wavereth is like a when we ask for

wave of the sea driven things but are to have

with the wind and tossed. faith that we will

7 For let that man think receive them.

that he shall receive

anything of the Lord.

James 1:3 Sometimes the things

3 Knowing this, that the  we ask for are not

trying of your faith received right away.

worketh patience. This helps us to

develop patience.

I Peter 1:7

7 That the trial of your

faith, being much more Sometimes we have

precious than of gold that hard trials and our

perisheth, though it be faith is tested by

tried with fire, might be God.

found unto praise and

honour and glory at the

appearing of Jesus Christ:

I Peter 1:9 Remember that the

9 Receiving the end of end resultof having

your faith, even the faith is that God will

salvation of your souls. save you!

Ephesians 2:8

8 For by grace are ye Faithis agiftfrom

saved through faith; and God.

that not of yourselves: it

is the gift of God:

Romans 4:29, 30

29 Is he the God of the Everyonewhether

Jews only? is he not also they are Jews or

of the Gentiles also: Gentiles are saved

30 Seeing it is one God, one way; by faith.

which shall justify the

circumcision by faith, and

uncircumcision through faith.

Jude 3 There is acommon

3 Beloved, when I gave Salvation for everyone

all diligence to write unto but some have

you of the common perverted the faith.

salvation, it was needful We are to earnestly

for me to write unto you, “contend” or

and exhort you that ye “struggle” until we

should earnestly contend discover the truth or

for the faith which was once faith that was once

delivered unto the saints. given to God’s people.

I Timothy 6:12

12 Fight the good fight of

faith, lay hold on eternal

life, whereunto thou art

also called, and hast

professed a good profession

before many witnesses. We have tostruggle

II Timothy 4:7, 8  or fight against the

7 I have fought a good fight, devil who wants to

I have finished my course, prevent us from

I have kept the faith: having faith.

8 Henceforth there is laid up

for me a crown of righteousness,

which the Lord, the righteous

judge, shall give me at that day:

and not to me only, but unto

all them also that love his

appearing.

I John 5:4

4 For whatsoever is born  Our faith will give us

of God overcometh the the victory over the

world: and this is the devil and the world.

victory that overcometh

the world, even our faith.

Romans 4:22, 25

22 Even the righteousness of God When we believe

which is by faith of Jesus Christ and have faith in

unto all and upon all them that Jesus and His

believe: for there is no difference: blood, His

25 Whom God hath set forth to be righteousness will

a propitiation through faith  be given to us and in his blood, to declare his our sins will be

righteousness for the remission forgiven!

of sins that are past, through the

forbearance of God;

Revelation 14:12  God’s people will

12 Here is the patience of overcome as they

the saints: here are they that patiently keep the

keep the commandments commandments of

of God, and the faith God and have faith

of Jesus. in Jesus.

Summary:

In the parable Jesus predicts that the Church will begin as the smallest of “all kingdoms” but will continue to grow until it becomes greater than any earthly kingdom. The second meaning of the parable applies to our Faith. Jesus describes how our Faith starts out very small, yet it

has the possibility of becoming great!

Jesus often chided people for their lack of faith: “O ye of little faith”. As we compared the Scriptures to discover more about “faith”, we learned why Jesus took the time to teach a parable about faith. We discovered that “without faith” it is impossible to please God“, and that it is”our faith” that will give us the victory to overcome the Devil and the world. Finally, we learned that our faith grows or increases as we study the Bible.

Doctrinal Truth (Taught by Jesus in the Parable of

“The Grain of Mustard Seed”)

1. Jesus is the one who “planted” or established the Church.

2. Jesus said that in the beginning the Church would be very small, but it would grow until it became great.

3. Jesus also said that our “faith” would be very small in the beginning, but our faith would grow until it too became great.

4. It is plain that Jesus has connected the growth of our “faith” with the growth of the “Church”. As our faith grows so will the Church grow.

5. One definition of “faith” is belief in Christ and reliance upon Him for Salvation.

6. Jesus has given everyone the gift of some faith.

7. It is up to us to see that our faith increases.

8. Our faith increases as we study the Bible or

“Word of God”.

9. It will be impossible to please God without faith.

10. Faith helps us to “see” in our mind things that are not visible to the eye.

11. Faith is the opposite of doubt or unbelief.

12. When we ask God for something we are to have faith to believe that He will give it to us. If we doubt we will not receive anything.

13. If we do not receive the things we ask for right away, we are to have patience. This “testing” of our faith develops patience.

14. Everyone will be saved the same way  by faith.

15. Our faith will give us the victory over the Devil and the world.

16. When we believe and have faith in Jesus and His blood shed for us, His Righteousness will be given to us and our sins will be forgiven.

17. God’s people will overcome as they patiently keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus.