* The Parable of the Mustard Seed
* The Parable of the Yeast
* The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Bible Memory Verse:
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
Matthew 13:31-32
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. (32 Though it is the smallest of all your seed, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.’”
Matthew 17:20
“He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’”
Mark 4:30-32
“Again he said, ‘What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? (31It is like a mustard seed which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. (32 Yet, when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
Luke 13:18-19
“Then Jesus asked, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? (19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden, it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.’”
Luke 17:6
“He replied, ‘If you had faith as small as a mustard see, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,”{ and it will obey you.’”
1. How big is a mustard seed?
2. How big does it grow?
3. What is the mustard seed compared to, what is it like—what does this mean?
“Although the kingdom will seem to have an insignificant beginning, it will eventually spread throughout the world.” NIV Study Bible If we let Jesus grow in our lives, we’ll stand firm and strong and reach out to others.
“For the listeners to Jesus’ parable, a mustard seed could only grow into a small bush-not more than four feet high and only a few birds would be able to make a bedraggled nest in its branches. As a symbol, therefore, the mustard seed is the reverse of what the Israelites at the time had in mind when they envisaged the Kingdom of God. They believed that, through Israel, God would establish his sovereignty and rule over all the nations of the world. Yet, the parable clearly states that the Kingdom of God has nothing to do with a vindictive triumph over one’s enemies or worldly success. What this parable clearly implies is that, if you think that your church, your nation, or your ethnic group is going to be delivered by God, and enjoy a magnificent triumph–or if you expect that the world is going to be converted to Jesus Christ–you are mistaken; it isn’t going to happen. What the Gospel is interested in is you. Not what you can do; just plain you.” Taken from Internet
“The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. It is so small that if you were holding one in your hand and you dropped it you would have a very hard time finding it because it is so hard to see. Jesus compared this to loving God. When children or adults begin to love Jesus, their love is like a tiny mustard seed. It starts out very small at first. Then when you keep on listening to what Jesus says and obeying Him, then the love grows bigger and bigger.” Taken from Internet
“The sower is Jesus Himself. He is the planter who came to atone for our sins so that we might become fruitful. The mustard seed was the smallest seed known at the time. While it becomes more of a shrub than a tree, it can reach about 10 feet high. The mustard seed represents the Gospel, starting very small but growing to reach millions throughout the world who will inherit the kingdom. The field represents all the people of the earth who will receive Him. The tree is rooted in Jesus Christ and has grown a harvest far beyond its initial planting. The King James Version says “it is the greatest among all herbs,” growing far reaching branches beyond natural explanation. The birds’ of the air in this parable probably come from the Greek word “orneon,” signifying ”to perceive, to hear.” The tree offers a refuge for His faithful to rest in Him. A tree, whose large branches offer a sanctuary for birds, was a familiar Old Testament symbol for a mighty kingdom which gave shelter to the nations. The tree represents earthly greatness and refuge to the nations. The tiny mustard seed, growing to be a tree, symbolizes Jesus’ offer of refuge and life in God’s Kingdom.” Taken from Internet
“The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Yeast both teach an essential quality of the kingdom of God: Growth. Both the mustard seed and the yeast begin relatively small and seemingly insignificant. They both grow to penetrate their surroundings. They both maintain a positive influence disproportionate to their size. They both provide for the needs of others. Can the same be said of our faith? Can the same be said of Trinity Bible Church? Are we contagious?” Taken from Internet
“With this simple parable, Jesus offers encouragement to that small band of disciples following Him over the hills of Palestine. They would be a part of something that would grow and bless the world immensely!” Taken from Internet
* The Parable of the Yeast
Bible Memory Verse:
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18
Matthew 13:33
“What shall I compare the kingdom of heaven to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Luke 13:20-21
“Again he asked, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? (21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.’”
1. What does yeast do to flour?
2. What is yeast compared to? What do the kingdom of heaven and yeast have in common?
3. Compare the meaning of the Parable of the Yeast to the Parable of the Mustard Seed or the Parable of the Growing Seed (if already discussed).
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 2 Corinthians 3:7
“Also known as the Parable of the Leaven, and told right after Christ’s parable of the mustard seed, this parable is obviously designed to follow up his earlier parable. While the parable of the mustard seed spoke of the small beginnings and rapid progress of the gospel in the world, the parable of the yeast speaks of the workings of grace within the soul.
Yeast was a foreign element:
The yeast was something materially different from the flour itself
Something placed in it by a living, active process
The yeast does not belong to the nature of the flour
Before man can possess it, it has to be given by the Holy Spirit
The resulting new nature is spiritual and from above
Yeast is of a moving and exciting nature–No sooner is it introduced to the flour than a moving process begins, The soul is stirred up, the powers of the mind and the passions of the soul are excited–Darkness gives way to light. Chaos and confusion gives way to order, Insensibility gives way to feeling, Apathy gives way to desire
Yeast is of an assimilating nature:
Transfers its own nature to the yeast with which it comes into contact
Does not destroy its identity, but alters its qualities
This process of assimilation is: Holy:
a. Renovates the heart
b. Extinguishes the love of sin
c. Destroys the power of sin
d. Sanctifies the understanding and fills it with divine knowledge
e. Controls the judgment and brings it under the power of truth
f. Sanctifies the affections, making them spiritual and heavenly
g. Purifies the conscience and fills it with peace
h. Subjugates the will to the authority of the Savior
i. Silent–Creates no noise or confusion
j. Gradual–First one part is leavened, and then another. Sin is forgiven at once, but sanctifying grace is gradual
k. Complete–Until it worked all the way through the dough, Contemplates the perfection of the Christian character “ Taken from Internet