THE PARABOLE OF MUSTARD SEED
Key Verse 4: 31
Jesus speaks of two additional parables to explain what the kingdom of God looks like: that of the seed and that of the mustard seed. Although originally they have the common agricultural background, they are distinguished from each other.
1. The parable of the seed (26-29)
A man throws the seed. This one grows whatever man sleeps or watches. The seed grows without its growth be noticed by the farmer, as the kingdom of God does without his growth noticed by man in general. It is a quasi-automatism. But we must know that it is not possible to have a result without the human workforce that must intervene and play a key role especially at the beginning and at the end of the culture. Jesus says that the kingdom is not like the seed, but like the man. Therefore, the kingdom of God, whatever it belongs to the hand of God, requires as the main factor the hand of men.
2. The parable of the mustard seed (20-34)
Contrary to the previous parable which accentuates the ignorance of the man for his growth which is nevertheless an indispensable factor, this parable of the mustard grain accentuates the fact that the kingdom of God grows exponentially. So Jesus says it is like a grain, not a man. The kingdom of God has an intrinsic power of growth. The beginning is marked by its smallness, because it is said the smallest. But through his remarkable growth processus, he comes to the immeasurable end because it is said the greatest. The work of the gospel is so characterized like Jesus was born in the stable, but after he was resurrected, he drew all man and earth to him. There is a huge kingdom of God who has settled down by his death and resurrection. It was like a seed that falls and dies, after which it spread in a hundred, then each in another hundred, so on. The death of seed refers to tireless work by renunciation. In this way, the wheats developing year in year, until they cover all the earth. If we have faith, and we put it into practice, we can see the kingdom of God grow so extraordinarily.
1. The parable of the seed (26-29)
A man throws the seed. This one grows whatever man sleeps or watches. The seed grows without its growth be noticed by the farmer, as the kingdom of God does without his growth noticed by man in general. It is a quasi-automatism. But we must know that it is not possible to have a result without the human workforce that must intervene and play a key role especially at the beginning and at the end of the culture. Jesus says that the kingdom is not like the seed, but like the man. Therefore, the kingdom of God, whatever it belongs to the hand of God, requires as the main factor the hand of men.
2. The parable of the mustard seed (20-34)
Contrary to the previous parable which accentuates the ignorance of the man for his growth which is nevertheless an indispensable factor, this parable of the mustard grain accentuates the fact that the kingdom of God grows exponentially. So Jesus says it is like a grain, not a man. The kingdom of God has an intrinsic power of growth. The beginning is marked by its smallness, because it is said the smallest. But through his remarkable growth processus, he comes to the immeasurable end because it is said the greatest. The work of the gospel is so characterized like Jesus was born in the stable, but after he was resurrected, he drew all man and earth to him. There is a huge kingdom of God who has settled down by his death and resurrection. It was like a seed that falls and dies, after which it spread in a hundred, then each in another hundred, so on. The death of seed refers to tireless work by renunciation. In this way, the wheats developing year in year, until they cover all the earth. If we have faith, and we put it into practice, we can see the kingdom of God grow so extraordinarily.
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