KINGDOM PARABLES: THE MUSTARD SEED
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Kingdom Parables
a) The seven short parables teach us about the very great value of the kingdom of God. They also teach us of the universal nature of the kingdom.
b) There is something else that many people fail to appreciate, and that's the enormous value of the kingdom of God. People in every nation may possess these true riches if they enter into God’s kingdom.
c) The parables that Jesus told, reflect the great value of belonging to the world-wide kingdom of God. Nothing is worth having, that would rob us of that place. This lesson is about seven such parables.
d) We look at one of the parables that addresses the great value of the kingdom of God.
2. The Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32
“31 Jesus put another parable before them. He said, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it grows larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree. The birds of the air can come and make nests in its branches.'”
a) The mustard plant can grow very large, so that even birds might nest in it and find refuge. The seed however, is as small as those of the other brassicas. It is rather amusing that such a small seed can produce such a big plant.
b) A small hard seed of certain Brassicas (the “cabbage family”). Some mustard varieties are perennial. In good conditions they can, although a herb, grow into a small tree (Matthew 13:31, Mark 4:30, Luke 13:19). Mustard seed (usually either white Sinapis alba or black Sinapis negra) is ground to make the pungent mustard paste, or cracked in a little hot oil to start a stir fry or curry.
c) With this simple fact (that from a small seed a large plant can grow) Jesus illustrates the spreading of the gospel throughout the world. The kingdom of God (the large plant) grows from the planting of the gospel in hearts of men. The word of Christ from small beginnings can cause enormous growth and have influence attracting people to Christ from far afield. This is represented by the birds coming to nest in the branches.
The End ...
1. Kingdom Parablesa) The seven short parables teach us about the very great value of the kingdom of God. They also teach us of the universal nature of the kingdom.
b) There is something else that many people fail to appreciate, and that's the enormous value of the kingdom of God. People in every nation may possess these true riches if they enter into God’s kingdom.
c) The parables that Jesus told, reflect the great value of belonging to the world-wide kingdom of God. Nothing is worth having, that would rob us of that place. This lesson is about seven such parables.
d) We look at one of the parables that addresses the great value of the kingdom of God.
2. The Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32
“31 Jesus put another parable before them. He said, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it grows larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree. The birds of the air can come and make nests in its branches.'”
a) The mustard plant can grow very large, so that even birds might nest in it and find refuge. The seed however, is as small as those of the other brassicas. It is rather amusing that such a small seed can produce such a big plant.
b) A small hard seed of certain Brassicas (the “cabbage family”). Some mustard varieties are perennial. In good conditions they can, although a herb, grow into a small tree (Matthew 13:31, Mark 4:30, Luke 13:19). Mustard seed (usually either white Sinapis alba or black Sinapis negra) is ground to make the pungent mustard paste, or cracked in a little hot oil to start a stir fry or curry.
c) With this simple fact (that from a small seed a large plant can grow) Jesus illustrates the spreading of the gospel throughout the world. The kingdom of God (the large plant) grows from the planting of the gospel in hearts of men. The word of Christ from small beginnings can cause enormous growth and have influence attracting people to Christ from far afield. This is represented by the birds coming to nest in the branches.
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