The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 13 Part 7 The Parable of Mustard Seed And Christ's Church

Matthew chapter thirteen is a treasure of truth from our Lord Jesus Christ, that teaches us about gospel ministry and the kingdom of heaven.

Christ's church and kingdom are compared with a mustard grain and the tree it produces. 

Matthew 13:31-32  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. 

This parable teaches about Christ's church and it's humble beginnings.

This parable pictures a representation of the progress of the Gospel in the world and of the growth of grace in people's hearts. 

As before, the field is the world where the gospel is to be preached in all it's glory.

"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field". These words point to gospel preaching and the formation of the church in this world.

This parable has both a personal, individual application as well as an application to Christ's church. 

The man that took and sowed this mustard seed is the Lord Jesus Christ and His field where he sowed it is the world a well as individual hearts

Think about a mustard tree for a moment.

Mustard trees can grow up to 30 feet tall and have a canopy 20 to 30 feet wide. They provide shade in hot climates like Israel.

They are fast growing and produce new seeds in about 65 days after planting.

Mustard trees are very hardy and send down deep tap roots that makes them drought resistant.

In addition a mustard tree can adapt to a wide variety of soil types and climate conditions.

Mustard is good for cooking and medicinal purposes.

For example, mustard has been shown to lower cholesterol levels by producing omega three and omega six fatty acids that help reduce triglycerides. 

These same omega fatty acids also produce phytochemicals that fight against various forms of cancer.

Mustard contains magnesium, manganese, calcium and phosphorus that promote strong teeth, bones and gums.

Mustard can induce sweating to fight fevers and flu and it aids in respiratory relief.

There are many more benefits from consuming mustard so Jesus gave us an excellent picture of the wholesome impact of gospel preaching in people's lives and in the future spreading of Christianity.

The church began like a grain of mustard seed planted in the field, very small and insignificant.

Acts 1:12- 15 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13)  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14)  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15)  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 

The apostle Peter's first sermon is preached in Acts chapter two, but this text tells us who the small group of people were that followed Christ.

There were only eleven disciples of Jesus, since Judas Iscariot hung himself after betraying Christ .

Jesus' mother Mary and His brothers were there and the total number was only 120 people!

Remember that huge multitudes followed Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, but after His crucifixion and resurrection, there were only 120 left.

Luke recorded the birth of the New Testament church and it's humble beginnings were small and seemingly insignificant.

Yet, as Peter's first sermon reached its conclusion, there was an explosion of souls converted to Jesus Christ.

Thus, this picture of the church beginning as one of the smallest of seeds but growing exponentially into a large tree is vivid and beautiful.

Jesus designed this comparison to express the small beginnings of the Gospel and of the ministry of the word.

His parable shows the grace of God at work in the hearts of His people, and of very small number of them who began this Great Commission work. 

Thus, Christ's Gospel and the ministry of it were like a tiny grain of mustard seed, small, common, and not seen as valuable because the grain was so plentiful.

Like a mustard tree that grows rapidly, so Christ's church experienced explosive growth.

Acts 2:37-41 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39)  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40)  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41)  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

We note that a mustard tree grows very rapidly often reaching its mature height in just a few short years.

What a wonderful picture of how the church began!

A mighty miracle from God was given when Peter finished preaching his first sermon, which was guided by the Spirit of God.

From a humble group of only 120 people meeting in the upper room, praying and waiting for God's Spirit to come, came an explosion of new converts.

Ephesians 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Those who heard Peter preach had their hearts pricked by the Spirit of God wielding His sword which is the Word of God.

Take note that people hearing this first apostolic sermon "gladly received" the Word of God preached by Peter.

This corresponds with the word "gospel" which means good news to all men, or as the angels announced at Jesus' birth, "good tidings of great joy" (See Luke 2:8-21).

This connects with the gospel armor that Paul wrote about in his letter to the church at Ephesus.

The sword of the Spirit of God is the Word of God.

Peter preached that Word of God, the gospel of Christ to the Jewish pilgrims in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.

The author of Hebrews tells us that the Word of God is alive, powerful and both cuts and pierces people's hearts when they hear it preached.

This is the wonderful ministry of God's Spirit with the Word of God in the soul of man.

From this humble group of 120 believers in Christ, came an amazing harvest of more than three thousand new converts to Christ!

This corresponds to a mustard tree rapidity reproducing seeds and our Great Commission of making disciples of Jesus Christ one at a time.

Just as eating mustard brings many benefits, so taking in the gospel brings many blessings.

Acts 2:42-47  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43)  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44)  And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45)  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46)  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

Notice the rapid spread of blessing and rejoicing in the lives of those who were born again that day.

They learned from the apostles and heeded the pure doctrines of heaven that they heard preached.

They spent much time together with these other new converts to Christ, praying and sharing meals together.

A reverential and proper fear of God spread across Jerusalem as God began working mighty miracles through His apostles.

A spirit of Christian love, unity and unselfishness prevailed among the new believers in Christ.

They sold their goods in order to help meet needs among this throng of new Christians.

They remained faithful and worshiped God in Spirit and in truth.

They continued in Christian fellowship and God's Spirit working in them helped forge lifelong relationships between believers.

Luke tells us that there was a wholesome gladness in their hearts, and a single-minded purpose of learning to follow Jesus Christ and point others to Him.  

These early Christians vigorously praised God for all the mighty work He was doing among them and His grace flowed into and through them.

Luke tells us that each day God saved more people, as the gospel of Christ was preached and bore much fruit for His kingdom.

Zechariah 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 

Zerubbabel was among the remnant of Jews returning to Jerusalem after 70 years of Babylonian captivity.

He was used by God to help rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

Many people despised the Jews and mocked them as they built the temple. 

Even the old men who saw the grand temple of Solomon wept when they saw the new one because it was much smaller.

Yet, the beginning of Christ's church is like that old hymn, "Little is much when God is in it!"

That hymn reminds us that God can do anything even when the task at hand seems impossible.

John 6:8-9  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9)  There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 

The disciples of Jesus had no idea how to feed a vast multitude of 5,000 men plus women and children.

They found one small boy who had five small barley loaves and two small fish.

Yet, they were downcast and said "What is this little amount going to do toward feeding so many people?"

We know that John tells us how Jesus blessed the bread and fish and that it not only fed a multitude but there were plenty of leftovers.

Little is much when God is in it.

1Kings 17:12-15  And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13)  And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14)  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15)  And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 

Here is another example.

During Elijah the prophet's ministry, he called for a drought as judgment upon wicked king Ahab.

Food and water rapidly became scarce. God directed Elijah to seek out a certain widow to sustain him.

When he arrived at her dwelling, she was preparing to use the last of her flour and oil to bake bread and eat it with her son, and then to die.

Elijah promised her that her little cruse of oil and bowl of meal would not run out and it lasted for the duration of the drought.

Little is much when God is in it.

Thus, the church began with a very small group of believers and God exploded it through the preaching of His Word.

From this little group heaven's gates were opened and great blessings came from God to sustain His people.

Salvation always begins at the individual level. Church membership will not save me, nor will being born in a Christian home confer salvation.

You and I must be born again, just as Jesus said. 

New birth happens when a man, women or young person hears gospel preaching and the Spirit of God brings them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

At the individual level, like mustard brings many benefits, so we experience the many blessings and benefits of salvation.

At the corporate or church level, each Christian is a "living stone" placed into the church, the body of Christ by the Spirit of God.

Each individual Christian becomes part of something far greater than our individual pursuits.

We become part of a vast throng who worship God in Spirit and in truth.

We seek to live our lives in conformity to His gospel as pilgrims in this world, seeking heavenly treasure rather than craving earthly pleasures.

We seek to live out the Great Commission by sharing the gospel with other people, teaching them to obey Christ's commands and teaching them about baptism.

What a great honor and privilege God has bestowed upon each believer in Christ.

Thus, Jesus' parable comparing Christ's church and individual believers to the growth and blessing of a mustard tree is a wonderful way to teach us about the kingdom of God.

May the texts below bless and encourage our hearts as we  seek to live for the glory of God.

Bob

Psalm 68:19  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Psalm 103:1-5  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2)  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3)  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4)  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5)  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.  

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: