The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven

 TEXT: Matthew 13:31-33

Background

These two parables are part of the Jesus' discourse with a theme the Kingdom of God in Matthew 13. The initial statement in verse 31 expresses the continuity of the discourse. Jesus tells another pair of parables that are related to the theme, the Kingdom of God. Again, these parables give a vivid description of the Kingdom of God, but looking at the other angle. While the first two parables present the identity of who belongs to God and who are not, the parables of the Mustard seed and Leaven are all about the progression of the Kingdom of God. Jesus presents both the beginning of the Kingdom of God and its future upshot.

Parable of the Mustard Seed

This is the third time that Jesus has used agricultural aspect to describe what the Kingdom of God looks like in another angle. He uses the seed, which is the mustard seed, a man who is definitely a picture of a farmer, and the field. In this parable, Jesus focuses on the seed especially on its description.

Jesus has used "seed" for the third time around in this discourse differently. In the Parable of the Sower, the seed represents the Word of God that has been planted in every man. In the previous parable, the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds, the seed (good seed) represents the children of God. In this parable, the seed depicts the Kingdom. The third usage of seed, Jesus is very particular in what kind of seed by which the Kingdom of God will be compared. He intentionally compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. Why mustard seed and not any other seed? The description tells the very reason why Jesus is very particular in the kind of seed that he used to describe what Kingdom of God looks like.

Jesus intentionally uses the mustard seed for a purpose. The description of a mustard seed fits the description of the Kingdom of God. This kind of seed is the smallest seed compared with the other seeds. Since the mustard seed depicts the Kingdom of God, the other seeds definitely represent the other kingdoms. However, although it is the smallest seed, it will be the largest plant among the garden plants. Further, it is very beneficial for the birds to have a place for their nests.

Parable of the Leaven 

Since bread is the staple food of the Jews,  leaven is very important to them. Leaven is what makes dough expand. Jesus has used leaven to reinforce the idea found in the previous parable. It helps Jesus' audience to understand what the Kingdom of God looks like. Contrary to how the leaven is used to describe evil or sin in another account, in this parable, it has a positive meaning and function. Leaven represents the Kingdom of God that has an intensive influence in the whole world. This suits the idea of the progress of the Kingdom of God.

  

Comparisons 

There are three comparisons in this pair of parables. First, there is a comparison between the size of a mustard seed and other seeds. Jesus emphasizes that among the seeds, the seed of the mustard is the smallest. This is a comparison between God's kingdom and other kingdoms. Second, the size of a leaven has a smaller measure than in three measures of flour. This is not about the comparison between the kingdom of God and the worldly kingdoms, rather, the difference in measurement express how powerful the influence of the kingdom of God that it may saturate the whole world. Lastly, the comparison between the mustard seed and leaven expresses similarity in what they are depicting. There is no doubt that both of them represent the Kingdom of God. Further, they express the greatness of God's Kingdom. The former shows the greatness of the kingdom in terms of outweighing other kingdoms, while the latter shows its influence.

Purpose

These parables describe both the present and future aspect of the Kingdom of God relative to the time the parable was told. The description of the Kingdom of God in terms of a small size as mustard seed and small amount of leaven shows that the Kingdom of God is relatively small at the beginning, but in the end it will be a great kingdom among all the kingdoms. Hence, the purpose of this parable is to give the people a snippet of the future great Kingdom of God in order for them to come and be part of this great kingdom.  

Argument

The two parables presented by Jesus explain that the Kingdom of God will progress from that point on forward. The idea of growing of the mustard seed conveys the idea of progression. A mustard seed is obviously small. However, it will become a large tree sooner, larger than any garden plants. Further, the Kingdom of God is beneficial to those who would find it as refuge like the birds who put their nests on its branches. In like manner, the parable of the leaven expresses the same idea of the progression of the Kingdom. Despite the similarity in the idea being expressed, they differ on how the idea of progression is presented. While the former parable presents the progression of the Kingdom of God in terms of its growth, the latter presents the progression of the kingdom in terms of its influence. The Kingdom of God will saturate the whole earth like the small amount of leaven is able to make the whole dough to puff up.

Another point being expressed, besides the fact that it will progress, is that the Kingdom of God will prevail in the end. In the first parable, the Kingdom of God represented by mustard seed, albeit its size, will surely supersede other kingdoms eventually. The comparison between the grown mustard tree and the other garden trees in verse 32 explains this idea of prevailing. The same idea is conveyed in the parable of the leaven. Its lasting effect of leaven to the whole lump of dough describes its prevailing power.  The Kingdom of God will be the only kingdom that will stand forever.

In conclusion, the argument of Jesus in these two parables is that the Kingdom of God is the greatest kingdom ever. Though it looks small and inferior in comparison with the kingdoms of the world during that time, indeed, it is the greatest. While Roman Empire started to decline in its power and influence until it did totally collapse, the Kingdom of God is still on its progression. Christianity keeps on growing and influencing from Israel to the uttermost part of the world. World kingdoms are rising and falling, but the Kingdom of God is the only Kingdom that remains. In the last days this kingdom will be the only kingdom that will prevail. Other kingdoms will all be gone and perish, but the Kingdom of God will stand forever. This kingdom is the everlasting kingdom that God has promised to the patriarchs, was affirmed to the kings of Israel, was prophesied by the prophets, is confirmed in Jesus Christ and is preached by the apostles. The Kingdom of God is the greatest kingdom that keeps on progressing and prevailing over other kingdoms.

Pastoral Application

1. Making sure to be part of the Kingdom of God.

After knowing that the greatest kingdom is the Kingdom of God, be eager to be part of this kingdom. Jesus has described this kingdom using the parables of the mustard seed and leaven in order for people to realize that the kingdom they are into will not prevail in the end. The Kingdom of God might look weak and inferior, but in the end, it is the Kingdom that will be left. Jesus is inviting all the ends of the earth to be part of the kingdom that He established. If they neglected to be part of this kingdom that Jesus has proclaimed, at the consummation of this kingdom, Jesus will judge them and throw them in the lake of fire. However, for those who are in that kingdom they will be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever.

2. Making sure to be a person of the Kingdom proclaims its greatness.

Knowing that the Kingdom of God is great, the greatest among the kingdoms, it is better for the people of the kingdom of God to advance it through the proclamation of its message. Many people do not know that they are living in the kingdom that is against the Kingdom of God. They thought that they are safe in the kingdom of this world. They do not realize that they are deceived by the allurements of the worldly kingdom. The principles of this world, governed by the evil one, control them in everyday life. There is a sense of necessity and urgency to proclaim the greatness of the Kingdom of God where the work and person of the Lord Jesus have been the center. Once they hear it, they may see the greatness and forsake the kingdom they are living, and desire to enter to that great kingdom. Be one of the heralds of the greatest kingdom ever, the Kingdom of God.