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Jesus and the Parables (Part II): The Parable of the Mustard Seed
By Preston Davis

The Diagnosis: Death

Continuing from Part 1, let us begin this discussion by revisiting Man's Fall from Grace in the Garden of Eden. Orchestrated by our great adversary Satan (Genesis 3:1), we willingly disobeyed Gods commandment to abstain from a certain Tree (Genesis 2:15-17). We ignored His counsel and rejected His leadership and disobeyed His command (Genesis 3:6). In fact, the term "fall from grace" seems rather tame, almost like …we slipped....made a mistake and *bam* hit the ground. This is not the case. We were condemned by our own greed. We did not fall…we jumped. We knowingly rebelled against God Almighty and when questioned, we blamed everyone else up to and including God Himself for the whole ordeal (Genesis 3: 12). Thus as a result we were cut off from paradise (Genesis 3:23-24) and mankind found itself in big trouble. We we're slaves to death without the means to redeem ourselves. We were doomed.

The Cure: A Redeemer

What was God's response to man's rebellion against His Law? First, God utters a strange prophecy (Genesis 3:15) aimed directly at the at the instigator of the Fall, the entity indwelling the Serpent: Satan, the Devil.

Genesis 3:15 is the first recorded prophecy in the Bible and it is spoken by God Almighty Himself. Known by Bible Scholars as the Proto-Evangelium (The First Gospel), it is the first earthly unveiling of the outworking of Gods Plan of Salvation. It is also the first Messianic Prophecy. In this one statement lies the ultimate destruction of our adversary, Lucifer. And in this one statement lies the method of deliverance for sinful humanity. In this one statement lies the pathway for the coming of the "Anointed One", the "Meschiach Negiv" or in English, "Messiah, the King": the Birth, Ministry, Death and Resurrection of the Messiah. And finally, in this one statement lies the creation of a Theocratic form of government known as "The Kingdom" under the righteous rule of the Messiah - Jesus - the King of Kings.

The Kingdom in the Old Testament

This future physical "Kingdom" which follows after the arrival and acceptance of the Messiah had been anticipated and prophesied about for thousands of years since that first Scripture was uttered, and has been written about and commented on extensively by many Old Testament Prophets.

For example, Approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah speaks of this coming Kingdom …

Isaiah also prophesied concerning the coming King (Messiah)

Isaiah also states concerning the Day of the Lord and His Kingdom….

Approximately 600 years before the birth of Christ, the Prophet Daniel prophesied that Jesus (the Son of Man) will be given Dominion over the Kingdom (as the Messiah)

So since that "1st Gospel" of Genesis 3:15, thousands of years before Jesus birth, Jews have been learning about - and hence had become extremely familiar with - the promises concerning "The Kingdom". They had heard it spoken by the mouths of Old Testament Prophets. Later generations knew of "The Kingdom" from a lifetime of instruction in books like Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel and studied their meaning intently. In past times of distress, when Israel was under the control of the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Hellenistic(Greek) world empires, they prayed for "the kingdom". They knew of God’s promise that “one day” the Kingdom of God would indeed be established. They also knew that for this to happen, God Himself would send a deliverer, in Hebrew - the “Meshiach Negiv” - and in English - “Messiah the King”. They knew from the Scriptures that this “deliverer” would come from the line of David. They knew that this “Messiah” would subdue all the nations of the earth and establish a Theocratic Kingdom based on God’s Rule from which He would Rule and administrate from Israel as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Christ presents Himself and offers the Kingdom

Now comes the Carpenters Son, Jesus. He began His public ministry with a simple, yet profound statement:

As explained above, the Jews understood exactly what Jesus was saying. He was saying:

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, because I AM is among you (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58), and I AM the Messiah. I AM the redeemer (Galatians 3:13, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:15, Revelation 14:3-4). I AM the descendant of David (Matthew 1:1, Mark 10:47, Luke 18:38)) who is Israel’s rightful King (John 6:15, 18:37, 10:10, Acts 17:7). I AM the only begotten Son of the Living GOD (John 1:1). And if you will accept me AS KING, then I will establish the Kingdom of Heaven ...right here…right now….in Jerusalem.(Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Revelation 11:15)

The Jews by and large, were not impressed. Since King Herod's death there had been several charismatic orators claiming to be THE Messiah and in all cases there claims had been utterly disproven. Many so-called "messiahs''" wound up dead, taking many "followers" with them.

But Jesus was different.

After announcing that the Kingdom of Heaven "had arrived" and was "among" them, Jesus went on to perform many miracles and preach many Sermons all targeted at having the Nation of Israel come to a decision about His claim that He was the Messiah. Through His many miracles, sermons and public deeds Jesus completely fulfilled all the prophecies concerning Himself in Scripture. If the Nation of Israel had accepted His claim, He would have established the Kingdom right then and there. But they did not.

Israel's Rejection of the Messiah

The Nation of Israel had indeed come to a decision; they had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. The very people He came to save had refused Him based on the explanation given by the religious leaders who stated that Jesus was given power to do His miraculous deeds not through the power of the Holy Spirit, therefore not by God, but rather through the power of Satan (Beelzebul). The Religious leaders by attributing Jesus' miracles to Satan had in fact, blasphemed the Holy Spirit, thereby committing the "Unforgivable Sin". In this act lies the official rejection of Jesus as the Messiah (King) of Israel by the Nation of Israel.

Jesus Passes Judgment on Israel

Immediately after Israel's official rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus lashes into the Scribes and the Pharisees ("a brood of vipers") and passes judgment on Israel. Jesus warned that those who were against Him would be "scattered" (Matthew 12:30). That judgment would come to fruition with the total destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 AD, the complete subjugation of the Jewish peoples by the Roman Empire, the elimination of the nation of Israel and the dispersion of the Jews from Israel to the ends of the earth and the Nation of Israel ceased to exist. This remained so until 1948 when the Nation of Israel was once again established.

Jesus offers the Kingdom to the Gentiles

The events of Matthew 12 marked a major milestone in Jesus' Ministry and Mission. The Jews as a Nation had rejected the Kingdom by rejecting Jesus as God's appointed King (Messiah). In response, In Matthew 13, Jesus expands His offer of "the Kingdom" not only to Israel, but to the entire non-Jewish human race (i.e. Gentiles ). Jesus would illustrate through the use of 7 parables that a "mystery kingdom" would now exist and grow until the appointed time (the time of the end).

"Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (50–51)" states:

This is a crucial chapter in the Bible, one that every believer should seek to understand thoroughly. The rebellion against Christ reached its peak, and He turned from the nation to all who will come to Him (Matt. 11:28–30). The big question now is, "What about the kingdom, now that the King has been refused?" The answer to that question is in Matt. 13. In this chapter, Christ outlines the "mysteries of the kingdom" and explains what the "kingdom of heaven" is like during this present age.

From the point of the reject on ANYONE - Jew OR Gentile - who accepts Jesus as the Messiah (i.e. anyone who is saved) can "Inherit the Kingdom". This was dramatically acted out by Jesus walking out of the House and sitting by the Sea.

Let us consider a typological breakdown of this Matthew 13:1:

Continuing from "Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (50–51)" we see a typological breakdown of Jesus actions immediately after the rejection by Israel.

"Out of the house" - "The house" here refers to the literal house in which Jesus had been teaching, but it can symbolize the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6). By leaving the house, He was saying (symbolically) that He had left the nation and would now turn to the Gentiles.

"By the seaside" - The sea in Scripture stands for the Gentile nations of the world (Rev. 17:15; Isa. 60:5). Christ now goes to the Gentiles and begins a new phase of His ministry (see Matthew 10:5–6; Matthew 12:17–21, Matthew 39–42).

The Kingdom Parables

So since (in Matthew 12) the Jews as a nation had officially rejected Jesus, He now (in Matthew 13) offers the "Mystery Kingdom" to those independent believing Jews and to the Gentiles. But while the Jews had an understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven, the group to which he now addressed (the gentiles) likely did not have ANY understanding of what the Kingdom of Heaven was. Hence, Jesus begins to explain the "Mysteries of the Kingdom" (Matthew 13:11) but unlike the plainly spoken Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus delivers His lesson through a series of "encrypted messages" called parables such that only believers would be able to comprehend their meaning. Those who had refused him as the Messiah could hear the message but would not understand it's meaning. (Matthew 13: 11-15).

The Scriptures teach in Matthew 13 that that very day (the day of the "Unforgivable Sin" of the Pharisees)Jesus went out and began to preach to a "great crowd" using only Parables (encrypted messages only legible to believers), and from that point on Jesus only spoke to the masses in Parables and without a parable he did not speak. So profound a change in public speaking was this that even His disciples had to ask him why the change in speaking style.

Quoting again from "Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (50–51)" wherein Wiersbe provides commentary of Jesus' answer to His disciples question of "...why speak to them in parables?" we read:

The condition of the people’s hearts made it necessary for Christ to use parables. Christ quotes Isa. 6:9–10 to explain why He was using parables: the hearts, ears, and eyes of the people had become dull, hard, and blind. By using parables, He was exciting the curiosity of the concerned, those who really wanted to know the truth. But He was also hiding the truth from the rebellious; He would not cast these pearls of truth before swine (Matthew 7:6). The parables did not keep people from learning the truth; rather, the parables excited their interest and encouraged them to learn. This is a fulfillment of Matthew 11:25—the proud will not see, but the babes will learn the truth and be saved.

Jesus then provides 7 Parables which will serve to explain to the faithful listeners what the "Kingdom of Heaven" is like.

1. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9)
2. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)
3. The Parable of The Mustard Seed and the Leaven (Matthew 13:31-33)
4. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)
5. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value (Matthew 13:45-46)
6. The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50)
7. The Parable of New and Old Treasures (Matthew 13:51-52)

The Characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven

Firstly, we will review the overall characteristics of the "Mystery Kingdom" based on all 7 parables, then we will sharpen our focus on the Parable of the Mustard Seed and finally in future articles, we will deconstruct the remaining 6 parables.

By examining all 7 parables, the following characteristics can be deduced concerning the "Kingdom of Heaven":

1. The Kingdom of Heaven is what is commonly called "Christendom" because it will contain both true(pure) worship and false worship. (Matthew 13:37-38)
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is made up of both believers and unbelievers pretending to be Christian and these will be allowed "to grow together" until time of the end initiated by the Rapture and culminating with the Judgment at the Great White Throne (Matthew 13:1-9, 41-43)
3. The Kingdom of Heaven will contain both good leaders and wicked leaders who are instruments of Satan. (Matthew 13:31-32)
4. The Kingdom of Heaven is greatly loved by God and was purchased at "Great Price". (Matthew 13:45-46)
5. In the last days the Kingdom of Heaven will be sifted and separated to remove the bad characters from the body. The Good individuals will enter into the presence of the Lord and those unrighteous individuals be separated from the presence of the Lord and confined to a place called the "fiery furnace'. So great will be the torment that it is called a place of Weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:47-50)

From these five points it should be clearer that the "Mystery Kingdom" of which Jesus illustrates will include not only true Christians, but also various pseudo-spiritual movements, cults and other corrupt movements of Christendom. It should also be clear that the kingdom of Heaven is NOT (at this time) a physical government, but rather an assembly of persons who are join by a belief in Jesus as the Christ(Messiah). The Kingdom Parables illustrate that the Kingdom will also contain many who will claim belief, but their actions (or inaction) will disprove their claim and they will be sifted out of the Kingdom. Another point which can be made is that the Kingdom of Heaven is NOT the Church. The Church (made up of those faithful TRUE believers) is IN the Kingdom and will be preserved through the cleansing (sifting) period outlined in several of the Kingdom Parables.

Earlier Jesus plainly warned that "not every saying Lord, Lord will enter into the Kingdom" (Matthew 7:22). He also stated that persons would proclaim to do mighty works in Jesus' name, yet He would condemn them as "workers of lawlessness" and say to them that He "never knew them" (Matthew 7:22, 13:41).

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Finally, we will isolate one Parable: the Parable of the Mustard Seed. The Bible records that Jesus went on to explain the meaning of the parables to His Apostles, however the Bible only records a few of the explanations. Jesus identified the 1st Parable (The Parable of the Sower) as the KEY to understanding ALL of the parables.

In the first parable, Jesus identified the true nature of the characters in that Parable. For example, consider (Matthew 13:3-4):

Here the "Sower" is Jesus, the "seed" is the Word of God, the "seed which feel by the wayside" represents those who hear the word but do not understand it (Matthew 13:19a) and the "birds" are the agents of Satan who snatches away the Word from their hearts (Matthew 13:19a).

Consider that in the 4th parable there are "Birds" mentioned as well. If we hold to Jesus; statement that understanding the first parable is the KEY to understanding ALL the parables it is clear that these birds also are agents of Satan.

Consider also that most Mustard Trees are in fact shrubs, growing to a height of about 2 to 4 feet, with some growing to a height of about 10 ft (although rare). Yet in this parable, the Mustard Seed grows beyond it's normal limitations as a garden plant and becomes a TREE. And so great a tree is it that (yet again) the "Birds of the Air" come and make "nests" within it. If we read this scripture in context and if we follow Jesus instruction to use the 1st Parable as a KEY, then we can infer that these birds "agents of Satan" will infiltrate Christendom and seek to destroy it from within.

Dr. Ariel Fruchtenbaum's commentary on this passage in "The Messianic Bible Studies" states as follows:

The fourth parable is found in Matthew 13:31–32 and makes two points. First, there will be an abnormal, external growth of this Mystery Kingdom until it becomes a monstrosity. Secondly, this monstrosity will become a resting place for birds. In essence, the seed that becomes this huge, monstrous mustard plant or tree is the picture of Christendom. The growth will be abnormal and external. The tree becomes a resting place for various types of birds.

Yeshua (Jesus) said that the understanding of the first parable is the key to understanding all the others. In the first parable, the birds were agents of Satan. The birds of the fourth parable are "dirty birds," because they are also agents of Satan. These birds represent various pseudo-spiritual movements within Christendom. They refer to the various cults and other corrupt movements of Christendom.

There will be an abnormal, external growth of this mustard seed until it becomes a monstrosity and becomes a resting place for birds or agents of Satan, the various false cults and other movements, which are part of Christendom, but not part of true, biblical faith.

Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (1983). Vol. 40: The Messianic Bible Study Collection (11–12). Tustin, Calif.: Ariel Ministries.

A Message For Our Time

So why is this parable important for every Christian today? Because we do not want to be deceived. Jesus commands us to be "on watch", to "be awake", to "discern the signs of the times" and in His Parables of the Kingdom He identifies Key Characteristics of the members of this Kingdom and the final result of their actions.

1. We can see from the Parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13 that the 'Mystery Kingdom" is a prophetic title for a movement that started from a meager (even desperate) few believers into large and growing collection of people, beliefs and practices concerning Christianity collectively called "Christendom".

There are so many different types of "Christianity" today that it can make ones head spin. In Catholicism alone there is the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, and many other Churches self-identified as Catholic including the Apostolic Catholic Church, American Catholic Church in the United States, Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church, Catholic Charismatic Church of Canada, etc. including one called the True Catholic Church

In Anglicanism there are just as many including the Anglican Communion, the Continuing and Independent Anglican Church.

In Protestantism there are Pre-Lutheran Protestants, Lutheranism, Anglican Churches, Reformed Churches, Presbyterianism, Congregationalist Churches, Anabaptists, Brethren, Methodists, Pietists and Holiness Churches, Baptists, Apostolic Churches, Pentecostalism, Charismatic's, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Millerites (Jehovah's Witnesses). There are also Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Nontrinitarian groups, Messianic Judaism, New Thought and more.

2. It can also be seen from the Kingdom Parables that "Christendom" can be further categorized into two main groups: True Christians and False Christians.

It can be seen that God will allow both groups (True and False Christians) to grow uninterrupted until "a day" (i.e. a period of time) when there will be a separation of the groups. And on that Day of Separation those who were found to be False Christians will be cut-off from the presence of God.

3. Finally it can be seen from the Kingdom Parables that Satan will vigorously oppose the Kingdom by using one of his favorite methods of subterfuge: imitation. He will plant false leaders who will take up positions of power within Christendom and they (by word and deed) will lead many away from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Gods Word (Not Man's Word) is the Final Authority

So what are we to do? How can we know who is true or false? We are not God, hence we cannot look at any person (other than ourselves) and determine who is true or false. Who is "qualified" and who is not. How do we even know that we are truthfully following Jesus? We have but one recourse: to examine our actions in light of Biblical Doctrine. If our actions and those of our Brothers are not consistent with Biblical Teaching then we have an urgent reason to change our actions. Study God's Word for yourself. Study the Holy Scriptures and rely on the Scriptures as your primary source of truth and the final authority on what is right. If everything in our experience (thoughts and feelings) is telling us to turn right or left, but the Bible says to straight ahead then we would do well to ignore even our own thoughts and feelings and trust in the Lord, say a prayer ..then go straight ahead…on faith alone.

Just because someone holds a "title" does NOT make them a Christian. Power should not be confused with righteousness. Just because some authority (preacher, teacher, deacon, lay leader or other) makes some argument, does NOT mean that that argument is Biblically accurate (i.e. the Truth). Compare everything that anyone teaches you to the Holy Scriptures for yourselves, study, commit to Prayer and let the Holy Spirit show you the truth.

We are to be like the Bereans who listened intently to Paul's message and accepted it, but then they went home and studied their scripture TO SEE if what Paul was saying was in fact Scriptural.

Paul's response to this was to call the Bereans noble. In fact, Paul considered the Bereans MORE NOBLE than those in Thessalonica who had accepted His teaching without any deeper research or study.

Conclusion

In these last days, far too many Christians are falling for misleading doctrine and outright lies. Far too many are being "deceived". This is because far too many Christians are not studying their Bible. A charismatic sermon is a wonderful thing, but it does not offset the need for a regular bathing in the Word. A research brief (such as this) is a great study aid, but it pales in comparison to one who falls on his/her knees and asks God to reveal His word to their Heart. God Himself through the Holy Spirit will teach you all that you need to know …if you ask Him.

Because of Calvary,
Preston Davis

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