Parable of mustard seed and leaven - Lesson 15

While each may have a little different wording, just like any preacher can use the same illustration and change just a little to fit a situation or group you are talking too.

Insert Mt13:31-33, mention Mk4:30-33; Lk13:18-21

Matthew 13:31–33 NASB95

31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” 33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

Background:

Parable of leaven only fond in two of the synoptic (Luke, Matthew)

These parables come along side the parables given at the Sea of Galilee. Were they to the large crowd or the fewer when He went into the house we do not know for sure, it has appearances of the former (crowd)

Jesus does address “the Kingdom” in these parables that are put together, so could they be under the kingdom parables section, of course, but the point of Womack here is to look at kingdom growth not kingdom description.

Both parables speak of growth from something small to something greater, larger. Or as Womack put it from smallness to greatness.

While delivered at the time of Sower, tares that had some negative aspects to it, these point to the positive. Great growth experiences by the kingdom dwellers and the kingdom.

Mustard seed represents extensive growth influenced by outside circumstances (planting, soil, rain, sun) and the cultivation of the seed

The leaven represents intensive growth influenced by the inside, the yeast as it becomes a part of the dough works itself through the dough.

One commentator, in general, said that the mustard seed shows the men’s sphere, men’s view sowing; and the other in the sphere of women in baking at home. Jesus is speaking in way that the audience would understand, in that culture at that time it was much different that in our western world today.

Explaining the text:

The mustard seed while small is not “literally” the smallest seed, but to His audience it would have been. Nor would it grow to the the “largest” of garden plants. - - - Jesus often spoke in hyperbole's, and metaphors, the plant does not become a tree, it is like a tree.

The yeast, where the amount is unconsequential, it is about the impact that the yeast has in the flour.

Leaven, yeast in the Jewish culture was thought of and used in a negative sense (Exo12:15; 1Cor5:6-8; turn to Mt16:6, 11-12) in our parable it is used in the positive sense.

Lightfoot “Standing either for good or bad, leaven was a figure for any strong or pervasive influence.” (Lessons from the Parables, pg. 36)

Purpose and application:

These two are rich in meaning regarding the phenomenon of growth. So, Womack puts forth what were the functions of these parables?

First, Jesus wanted to impress on his disciples that, out of such a small beginning, a great kingdom would come - - - filling the earth.

The mustard seed with its very small beginning would grow to be a very large tree (plant).

The yeast, leaven, small in amount would impact the lump, the whole.

Insert Jn14:12

John 14:12 NASB95

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

Expand on Jn14:12, We as larger can impact, give people the gospel moreso than the few. We can bringing the healing hands of God to the spiritual body!

Next, These two elements each work differently, one from the inside the other from the outside.

The leaven, yeast, works from the inside the lump, quietly, unseen, but it does its works

The mustard seed is doing it’s work in plain sight, you see the growth, the stages of growth as it happens.

So how does this show in the church?

There are those who work quietly, unseen, but work for the kingdom and help the growth of the kingdom without any fanfare (Womack) or recognition, but yet it is vital work

Then there are those who are involved in the open like the mustard seed, the evangelistic work of the kingdom.

Both are important, both impact the kingdom, both are done by kingdom dwellers.

Finally, Womack uses: We are victimized by bigness if we don’t have big church’s we think them unsuccessful.

Oftentimes we think, I can think at times that unless we do some big, great work we/I Am failing God.

God’s ways are not our ways (Insert Isa55:8-9)

Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

God will accomplish His work one person at a time!

God does not have to use great big mass conversions. He cares about the individual soul.

God uses the kingdom of the beloved Son (Col1:13; and our parable today) the kingdom of heaven to become the roosting place of the birds and the yeast caused the dough to rise. God’s word is still all powerful and will not return void (then read Isa55:11)

Isaiah 55:10–11 NASB95

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Learning to live the Parables:

Life is a process of continual beginning

We are always in process of becoming until the day we finally arrive in heaven. Our life today, our Christian life today cannot be separated from the things, the people, the events that are before us on a daily basis. We are constantly changing, growing, shrinking, doing, becoming. - - - the Greek concept that Womack uses is of the present time: they saw the present tense as something that is always in process. The mustard seed, the yeast/leaven, are continuing to do their job, we are continuing to be conformed into the image of the Son (see Rom8:29) and we are being transformed daily See Rom12:2) as we allow Him to work in us and on us..

The gospel must be carried to others.

The seed had to be planted

The leaven had to be placed

As Christians we have our part to do, to sow, to place and to be seen (insert Mt5:13-16) We are to be examples to others that they may glorify our father who is in heaven. Impact, the early church, the persecuted church (Act8:4) carried the gospel out, and the church grew by multiplication!

Matthew 5:13–16 NASB95

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The church provides a refuge for all humanity

Christ is the place of refuge, his church is the place of refuge, eternal refuge. While the O.T. shows cities of refuge (Num35:11-28, Jos20:1-9) the person seeking refuge needed to go there for protection

In the parable the birds had to go to the tree/plant for the refuge, they were not forced to go, they had to choose to go. They had to take the initiative, the plant was there for them, they just needed to choose to take refuge in the plant.

While we are saved by grace through faith, God took the initiative and provided the way (Jn14:6); man chooses to accept God’s way and receive the grace, mercy, forgiveness being offered and take refuge in it.

Parable of mustard seed and leaven - Lesson 15

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Introduction:

Background:

Explaining the text:

Purpose and application:

Learning to live the Parables: