30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 “It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 “but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” 33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
Devotional
Jesus’ parable here though the shortest of His parables is one of the most revealing. In it Jesus makes an analogy with the Kingdom to that of a mustard seed. Which as the Lord reveals is smaller than all seeds on earth. Now the word translated earth here means earth as a whole, land as in arable land, country as in national territory with fixed borders etc. Thus Jesus is making analogy through seeds that were commonly known by people in and around Israel. His reference to the mustard seed would then resonated right away with them. For it is indeed the smallest of all seeds known to Middle Eastern peoples being about 3mm (Wikipedia). Now Jesus likens the Kingdom's beginnings on earth to it, for He says: “…when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 “but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Vs. 31-32
The Kingdoms analogies then are this
1) It’s beginnings are extremely small,
2) It is planted in a field, lit. the entire earth.
3) When it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all things relative to it.
4) It reaches out way beyond what one might naturally expect, and thus its influence is exceedingly far reaching as Jesus says it “shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Now birds of the air don’t naturally find shade in a mustard seed plant. Thus the analogy of birds finding shade in it may be indicating the influence of evil on the external elements of the Kingdom because of it's massive growth (See Mark 4:4, 4:15). ***
Verse thirty three and four than conclude this passage by saying: 33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. Vs. 33-34
Now the word translated hear in the phrase: “as they were able to hear it” has several shades of meaning beyond just literally hearing with the ear. It also entails perception, that is the literary devices and analogies Jesus used in explaining the Kingdom of God were not beyond their comprehension. He used analogies that they could easily recognize. But when Jesus was alone with His disciples He explained all things to them. That is the deeper truths within those literary devices which they were pointing too. And that is the key to understanding the Scriptures. First knowing the Lord Jesus Christ personally by repenting of ones sins and believing in Him, then by spending time with Him in His Word, so that the Holy Spirit of God, according to the promise of God, will lead you into all truth (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27). That is why God has given us this revelation and manifestation of Himself through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we all might know Him, and ultimately obey Him. For in knowing Jesus one will find not only remission of all their sins, but also eternal life (John 3:16; 17:3). And obeying Jesus and keeping His commandments there is not only safety from the many moral and Spiritual pitfalls in this world, there is also great reward both here and now and eternally (Psalm 19:11).
I don’t know where you are at today. But I hope that something here has encouraged you, or strengthened you, or maybe even enlightened you to believe in Jesus and thus pursue a greater knowledge of God through Him alone. For I know I learn from doing this, so I hope you do to. Feel free to share any questions or comments but please don’t use the comment box to promote a blog without my first knowing who or what it is your promoting. This is a Christian forum therefore I hope that Christ will be honored by my blogs and any questions and comments made.
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
*** I think the Believers Bible Commentary is where I gleaned that thought from. I don’t currently have a copy of it, but I’m fairly certain I read that in their commentary.
Devotional
Jesus’ parable here though the shortest of His parables is one of the most revealing. In it Jesus makes an analogy with the Kingdom to that of a mustard seed. Which as the Lord reveals is smaller than all seeds on earth. Now the word translated earth here means earth as a whole, land as in arable land, country as in national territory with fixed borders etc. Thus Jesus is making analogy through seeds that were commonly known by people in and around Israel. His reference to the mustard seed would then resonated right away with them. For it is indeed the smallest of all seeds known to Middle Eastern peoples being about 3mm (Wikipedia). Now Jesus likens the Kingdom's beginnings on earth to it, for He says: “…when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 “but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Vs. 31-32
The Kingdoms analogies then are this
1) It’s beginnings are extremely small,
2) It is planted in a field, lit. the entire earth.
3) When it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all things relative to it.
4) It reaches out way beyond what one might naturally expect, and thus its influence is exceedingly far reaching as Jesus says it “shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” Now birds of the air don’t naturally find shade in a mustard seed plant. Thus the analogy of birds finding shade in it may be indicating the influence of evil on the external elements of the Kingdom because of it's massive growth (See Mark 4:4, 4:15). ***
Verse thirty three and four than conclude this passage by saying: 33 And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. Vs. 33-34
Now the word translated hear in the phrase: “as they were able to hear it” has several shades of meaning beyond just literally hearing with the ear. It also entails perception, that is the literary devices and analogies Jesus used in explaining the Kingdom of God were not beyond their comprehension. He used analogies that they could easily recognize. But when Jesus was alone with His disciples He explained all things to them. That is the deeper truths within those literary devices which they were pointing too. And that is the key to understanding the Scriptures. First knowing the Lord Jesus Christ personally by repenting of ones sins and believing in Him, then by spending time with Him in His Word, so that the Holy Spirit of God, according to the promise of God, will lead you into all truth (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27). That is why God has given us this revelation and manifestation of Himself through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we all might know Him, and ultimately obey Him. For in knowing Jesus one will find not only remission of all their sins, but also eternal life (John 3:16; 17:3). And obeying Jesus and keeping His commandments there is not only safety from the many moral and Spiritual pitfalls in this world, there is also great reward both here and now and eternally (Psalm 19:11).
I don’t know where you are at today. But I hope that something here has encouraged you, or strengthened you, or maybe even enlightened you to believe in Jesus and thus pursue a greater knowledge of God through Him alone. For I know I learn from doing this, so I hope you do to. Feel free to share any questions or comments but please don’t use the comment box to promote a blog without my first knowing who or what it is your promoting. This is a Christian forum therefore I hope that Christ will be honored by my blogs and any questions and comments made.
Scripture Quotations
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
*** I think the Believers Bible Commentary is where I gleaned that thought from. I don’t currently have a copy of it, but I’m fairly certain I read that in their commentary.
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