What the Parable of the Mustard Seed is All About

Sidebar Ideas: Bible verses to remind us that the kingdom of God is still growing:

• 1 Chronicles 16:11-12
• Job 42:2
• Isaiah 42:1-4
• Isaiah 43:19
• Isaiah 55:10-11
• Isaiah 64:6
• Jeremiah 32:17, 27
• Habakkuk 2:3
• Matthew 5:14-16
• Matthew 13:33
• Luke 1:37
• Luke 18:27
• John 1:5
• John 3:35-36
• Ephesians 3:20-21
• Philippians 1:6
• Philippians 2:10-11
• Hebrews 11:1, 6

This parable is recorded three different times in the New Testament:

“He put another parable before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches’” (Matthew 13:31-32, ESV).

 

“And he said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade’” (Mark 4:30-32, ESV).

 

“He said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches’” (Luke 13:18-19, ESV).

Matthew and Mark include this parable with other stories about seeds, while Luke records it after one of Jesus’ many confrontations with the Pharisees.

The story’s context

When reading the parable of the mustard seed, you might have noticed the context is different depending on which Gospel you’re reading from.

In Matthew 13 and Mark 4, Jesus teaches the story alongside His other main parables. Matthew records it after the parables of the sower and the wheat and tares, and couples it with the parable of leaven. Mark 4 places it as the last recorded parable in the chapter, after the parable of the growing seed.

It’s possible that Matthew and Mark placed the mustard seed parable with other stories about seeds to give a comprehensive idea of what the kingdom of God is like.

In Luke, Jesus tells this story in conjunction with the leaven parable, after the religious leaders criticized Him for healing a woman who had suffered for 18 years.

The Pulpit Commentary says Jesus told the parable because of how people around Him were recognizing the kingdom of heaven in action through His ministry.

“In the seventeenth verse… we read how ‘all his adversaries were ashamed; and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.’ This discomfiture of the hypocrites, and the honest joy of the simple folk over a noble and Divine deed of mercy, accompanied by brave, kind words, seem to have suggested to the Master the subject of the two little parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, in which parables the growth of his glorious kingdom was foreshadowed from very small beginnings. The very small beginning he could discern in what then surrounded him.”¹

Jesus knew His kingdom was growing before His eyes around Him. And though it was small at the time, He wanted those who belonged to that kingdom to have faith in it, and to see it just as He did.

And we can also get a glimpse of why Jesus told this parable when we look at what the mustard seed represents.

The meaning behind the mustard seed

Jesus tells this parable to show that God’s ways often don’t line up with our expectations. Instead of glamorous, fast-paced extravagance, the kingdom of God comes in quietly, sometimes completely flying under our radar. But its humble beginnings grow into something that gives life and refuge to others.

Scholars have different insights into the details of this parable, particularly with the seed itself (species, size, cultural background, etc.). For the sake of this page, we’re just going to focus on the big picture. The key takeaway.

The mustard seed represents a significant characteristic of the kingdom of God. His kingdom’s influence resides in the hearts of His followers (Luke 17:20-21), and through them, it spreads to others as well. It shows that God’s work often starts small and grows into something larger than people anticipated.

The Greek word for “mustard” in the Bible is sinapi, which refers to a genus of plants called sinapis, or brassica. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, these mustard plants could grow up to 10 feet tall.² Not bad, considering the seed itself is as small as a millimeter!³ Strong’s lexicon sums it up this way:

“Because the seed is among the tiniest sown in first-century Galilee yet produces a conspicuously large plant, it became an apt emblem of seemingly insignificant beginnings yielding extraordinary results in God’s economy.”⁴

Maybe your experience with the kingdom of God has felt like a four-foot bush. You see something at work, but it doesn’t feel impressive. It’s discouraging when spiritual growth seems lacking in our faith communities and in our personal lives.

And we’ll talk more about that later. For now, take encouragement in the promise that God will complete the good work He has started in us if we continue to trust Him (Philippians 1:6). The mustard tree will keep growing under the supervision of the Master Gardener.

The parable’s timeless significance

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

The parable illustrates how the kingdom of God starts small in each of our hearts but grows to have a huge impact on our lives and the world around us. It also shows how Jesus will see to it that the kingdom accomplishes its mission of spreading across the world (Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8). We just have to be willing to let Him use us.

We see many examples from the Bible of what happens when God plants something:

• The entire human race came from Adam and Eve, the first two humans to exist on the earth. Tracing our genealogies back to them would create a ridiculously gigantic family tree.
• God promised Abraham he would become a “great nation” (Genesis 12:2, NKJV). His grandson Jacob became Israel, and Jacob’s sons became the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel.
• God restored the nation of Israel through a small, faithful group of Jews who rebuilt the temple and its walls after returning from exile in Babylon (this story is found in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah).
• Twelve ordinary men became the leaders of the early church, which has now expanded all over the world. What started out as an obscure group of believers—who were the minority in their day—has become a widespread movement that continues in its mission to spread the Gospel to every corner of the earth (Mark 16:15).

And the Bible isn’t the only source with these kinds of stories. History gives us other examples of individuals or small, unassuming groups who bring about large-scale movements.

The works of Waldensians, John Wycliffe, and John Huss paved the way for Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other Christians to discover truths that led to the Protestant Reformation.⁵

And widespread revivals, such as the First and Second Great Awakenings, have correlations with small groups gathering.⁶

The Gospel mission hasn’t changed, and neither has its impact. And we can still be active participants in it today.

How can we live out this parable?

Jesus never intended His parables to be poetic ideals we simply smile and nod at. They have both profound and practical implications.

The kingdom of God is something we can continue to cultivate in our lives and in our communities by nourishing the “seed” in our hearts, and then sharing that nourishment with others so the kingdom keeps growing and spreading. It’s a powerful way to “pay it forward” so that other spiritual seeds are planted in others.

Nourish the seed: Maintaining our relationship with God

Just like how seeds undergo a natural yet complex process to become a tree, spiritual growth involves an intricate process as well. A seed by itself can’t just grow into whatever plant it’s supposed to. It needs water, healthy soil, and energy from sunlight, all of which God also created. In a similar way, He’s provided us what we need for spiritual nourishment and growth (2 Peter 1:3).

Nourishing the seed means we maintain our relationship with God. Here are some of the ways we can do this:

• Bible study helps us grow in our knowledge of God. Many call it the “Word of God,” which means God inspired the words of the authors so He could communicate with us. When we read the Bible, it’s like we’re letting God speak to us through them.
• Prayer is how we can talk to God. No fancy words are required. Just talk to Him as you would to a loved one. Some people find it helpful to write their prayers in a journal or even to speak into a voice memo. Documenting our prayers also gives us the opportunity to go back and see how God has been working in our lives.
• Putting faith into action helps us internalize and apply what we learn from our Bible studies and prayers. Sometimes the best way to know something (like what it means to be empathetic and compassionate) is to start practicing it. And eventually, it’ll become part of our behavior.
• Fellowship with a faith community can give us opportunities to mingle with other believers, gain new perspectives and insights, support one another, and become involved in serving others.

Jesus told His disciples that by keeping up their relationship with Him, they would grow spiritually and find opportunities to demonstrate that relationship. Having an ongoing connection with Christ changes our hearts—we reflect His character of love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5, ESV).

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV)

We can think of praying, studying God’s Word, practicing the principles we learn, and connecting with other believers as ways we can cultivate God’s kingdom in our hearts. These actions in and of themselves don’t make us like Jesus, but they help us stay connected to Him. And as we stay connected, His life flows into ours.

And as we grow in our faith, we’ll also find more opportunities to put it into action—or to plant “kingdom seeds” around us, as the parable suggests.

Let’s look at how that can be done in our day-to-day lives.

Planting “mustard seeds” around us (putting faith into action)

Photo by Timur Weber

The good news is we don’t have to be theologians, best-selling authors, or celebrities to make a difference. The kingdom of heaven is mainly made up of ordinary people who love the Lord.

There are big names in Christianity, but there are many more whose names didn’t make it into the history books—yet their faith and sincerity have done more to spread the Gospel than we could ever imagine. How do they do it?

• Praying for others is like partnering with God behind the scenes. Through our prayers, He nurtures our love and concern for others, and sometimes we can even become a part of His work in their lives. So, even if we can’t teach or preach, our prayers can reach beyond our limits (Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16).
• Using our gifts and talents means we can share our faith with whatever skill or interest we have. We can join ministries or create our own. Some people with leadership and communication skills become teachers, pastors, and evangelists. But the everyday layperson can exercise their talents beyond their occupation. You could be gifted in hospitality, encouragement, artistic expression, etc. If there’s something you’re passionate about, enjoy doing, and have a knack for, various aspects of Christ’s character can shine through those things in ways you might not always expect. (Where would we be without those who work behind the scenes?)
• Supporting ministry efforts allows us to partner with others. Maybe you’re passionate about unreached people groups or mental health, but you’re not in a position to be a missionary or counselor. But if you know about groups or individuals who are, then you could look for ways to support and promote their cause.
• Seeking to be more like Jesus is the all-encompassing foundation for these applications. 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that actions have little weight if they are not done out of love. It also shows us how Jesus loved, and how we can practice that in our daily interactions. For example, you might look for ways to comfort those who are hurting or learn how to exercise patience when having a difficult encounter with someone. Every day, there are new chances to demonstrate God’s unconditional love.

All in all, there are countless ways to spread the influence of God’s kingdom. But perhaps the biggest point of the parable of the mustard seed is to encourage us that God is at work even when we can’t see it. We don’t have to worry or wonder if His plans will keep moving forward.

Sometimes it can look like the seed God planted isn’t growing as fast as we think it should—or it might look like it’s been uprooted altogether. But as we grow to trust God and His timing, and continue to let Him work, He will bring about incredible results that can be as surprising as a large tree growing out of a 1-millimeter-sized seed.

Jesus used many parables to teach about the kingdom of heaven, as well as what it means to live life as a follower of God.

1. The Pulpit Commentary, “Luke 13,” comment on Luke 13:18. [↵]
2. Strong’s Greek: 4615. σίναπι (sinapi): mustard [↵]
3. Ibid. [↵]
4. Ibid [↵]
5. Easterling, Joe Mack, PhD, “Big Things Start Small: A Survey of the Role of Small Groups in Christianity’s Major Spiritual Awakenings,” Rawlings School of Divinity (2020), pp. 57-67 [↵]
6. Ibid., pp. 226-227. [↵]

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