THE MUSTARD SEED

The Parable of the Mustard Seed is recorded in each of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; and Luke 13:18-19.

The three renderings of Jesus’ parable are largely identical, except for one notable exception. Matthew’s Gospel begins… “The kingdom of heaven is like…” (Matthew 13:31) whereas Mark and Luke begin… “The kingdom of God is like…”(Mark 4:30; Luke 13:18).

The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs sixty-eight times in ten different New Testament books (five times in Matthew), while “kingdom of heaven” occurs thirty-two times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew. 

Why does Matthew refer to the “kingdom of heaven”?

Matthew’s Gospel was written especially for a Jewish audience. In Jewish tradition, God’s name was considered so holy that it was often avoided in everyday speech. Instead, Jews commonly used the substitute term “Heaven” to refer to God.Interesting! Clearly, “kingdom of heaven” is synonymous with “kingdom of God.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches” (Matthew 13:31-32).

How could something so small grow to be something so large? The mustard seed, about the size of a grain of sand, could grow to twelve feet tall!

So it is with the “kingdom of heaven.” Beginning with a seemingly insignificant baby born in Bethlehem’s stable, the “kingdom of heaven” continues to grow… With every life saved by grace through faith, the kingdom grows… with every faithful prayer, the kingdom grows… with every act of Christ-like compassion, the kingdom grows… with every worship-filled hallelujah, the kingdom grows!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).