The Mustard Seed
Luke 13:18-19II Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:40 - 32
Kacy Madsen
Setting:
With
that in mind, the parable of The Mustard Seed is introduced as a parable representing
characteristics of the kingdom of God, specifically in reference to the growth of the
kingdom (Hultgren 385). This parable is
widely thought to have come from the mouth of Jesus in response to unbelieving Jews who
failed to see how the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus represented the mighty
kingdom Israel had been expecting. Jesus
rebutted this challenge with the charge “look to the mustard seed” (Hultgren
397).
The
parable of The Mustard Seed is found in Luke 13:18-19, with close parables in Mark
4:30-32; Matt. 13:31-32; and in the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas 20.
A
careful study of this parable reveals recurring themes that should be addressed. First, the symbol of the mustard seed should be
analyzed regarding two characteristics: 1) its infinitesimally small size, and 2) its
connotation of an unclean element. According
to Hultgren, the mustard plant was “an annual herb … [with a seed] measuring
.075 inches in diameter;” however, the subsequent plant can become 6, 12, or in rare
instances 15 feet high (395).
The
mustard seed owes its reputation as a weed -- an unclean thing -- to the rabinnic Law of
Diverse Kinds. This law evolved from
“scriptural prohibition against commingling different classes of plants, animals, and
fibers,” and serves the “purpose of maintaining the order of creation”
(Scott 382). "Order," in this case,
represents "holiness," while disorder denotes uncleanness. Therefore, “because of the potential for
uncleanness in planting a mustard seed, a hearer would be sensitive to where and how the
mustard seed was planted …. By planting the seed in a garden the gardener risked
breaking the Law of Diverse Kinds [and thus] creating the garden as an unclean space”
(Scott 383).
The
second symbol that must be considered is that of the tree that the mustard seed becomes. According to Jeremias there is an eschatological
character established by the metaphor of the tree (Ezek. 17:23; 31:6, and Dan. 4: 9, 11,
18), where “the tree which shelters the birds is a common metaphor for a mighty
kingdom which protects its vassals (i.e., the people of God)” (147).
The
use of the mustard seed as a symbol associated with the kingdom of God would have been
controversial to its first hearers because of the mixed images it evoked. In the Biblical
community it was noted for its smallness and its uncleanness. Jesus' forced his audience
to reconcile the mustard seed and its intrinsic connotations with the image of the tree,
representing the growth and realization of the kingdom of God.
Message:
The parable of the Mustard Seed is one whose message lies in Jesus’
ability to capitalize on the power of contrasting ideas and on thought-provoking imagery. Return to Jesus’ charge to look to the
mustard seed: “in spite of its small size, a great plant grows from it”
(Hultgren 397).
In
the community of Jesus’ time the kingdom of God was present in the smallest manner,
in Jesus' and his disciples’ teaching and healing.
“Such small, seemingly insignificant beginnings [could] hardly appear to be
signs of the glorious kingdom to come” (Hultgren 400).
But the parable of the mustard seed was given to provide certainty that indeed the
kingdom would come. According to Hultgren,
“by means of the great contrast between the tiny mustard seed on the one hand, and
the tree or huge shrub on the other, the accent [of the parable] was on the certainty and
powerful significance of the coming of the kingdom even though its glory may not have been
visible [at that present time]” (401).
Jesus
utilized the imagery of the mustard seed to challenge His followers. He, therefore, sets before the people a parable in
its truest sense -- introducing the riddle, the seeming contradiction that a great and
glorious kingdom would emerge from insignificant, blemished beginnings.
Application:
Life is realized in the smallest of beginnings.
In the human body growth and maturation are directed by DNA- proteins wound in a
double–stranded helix, which is composed of amino acids, which are composed of
molecules so small no microscope could bring them into view. Considering this, should it surprise us that a
tree could emerge from the germination of a tiny mustard seed, or that God's rule could be
realized through the ministry of one man?
Our
limitations are drawn by the boundaries we build around ourselves. Those boundaries are composed from awareness of
our humanity -- our blemished imperfection, our fear of failure. While we cower in our shadow of imperfection, the
world moves and breathes around us as molecules collide and coagulate forming the backbone
of creation. The beauty of the parable of the
mustard seed is the portrayal of life -- the vision of strength and protection that
emerges from the seed of an insignificant, unclean weed.
It
is amazing how God can use us in spite of obvious ineptitude if we make ourselves
available to be used. Only in the hands of
our Creator can our full potential be realized. Despite
our imperfection, weaknesses, and faults, God can bring from our efforts a great harvest. He can bring out of our insecurity and
insignificance a tree that will shelter the heads of those around us, which will provide a
sanctuary of stability and support -- a Kingdom.