The Mustard Seed and Yeast
Matt 13:31-35
[Read Matt 13:31-35]
These two parables – at first glance – are quite easy to understand.
The Kingdom of God has very small and inconspicuous beginnings but in time has magnificent and mighty results.
And as is the case with parables – the ordinary is extraordinary.
Like a small seed which grows into a large garden plant. Today – a mustard plant would be referred to as that – more a plant than a tree.
But the point is that this particular plant is especially large and provides shelter and protection – and all from such small beginnings.
The yeast works through enough dough to make a 50kg loaf of bread.
Small beginnings but massive results.
So insofar as understanding these two parables – shall we say “Here endeth the lesson”.
But the next two verses after these two parables point us in a very important direction in order to further understand the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast.
Verses 34-35 comment that, in speaking in parables, Jesus was fulfilling what had been spoken through the prophet.
Specifically - "I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”" (Matthew 13:35)
That quote comes from Psalm 78:2.
[Read Psa 78:1-8]
Just put aside the two parables in Matthew for a moment.
Asaph – the writer of Psalm 78 – begins to tell a parable himself.
Psalm 78 operates as a parable.
And he begins his parable by talking about the fact that there was a time when they knew the secrets of God which have been in existence from the foundation of the world.
Good things. Noble things to know.
Glorious things about God. The wonders of God.
And further more – Asaph talks about teaching the next generation, and even those not yet born, about these things so that they will grow knowing God.
That is what the first 8 verses are talking about.
Then you get to verse 9. Then for the next 60 verses or so Asaph continues with his parable.
This parable which is true.
It recites the terrible history of Israel and how they consistently rejected God and broke faith with Him.
Psalm 78 is appalling. It is a terrible history of the people of God rejecting Him; forgetting His wonders; being indifferent to Him; of forgetting He is a God Who is slow to anger – but when He is angry He is not to be trifled with.
It recites the grace and mercy of God; His wrath and judgement; and His constant forgiveness of their sin.
As one commentator puts it “no matter how heinous the infidelity, God stands ready to begin again”.[1]
The parable, the riddle, the mystery is why God still reaches out.
The mystery is how God still reaches out.
It is a tragic parable – Psalm 78.
Tragic.
It is the story of people losing their minds. Their memory of God. Losing their heart. Losing their heritage in God.
Losing their humanity.
Losing their purpose and destiny in God.
And so this parable of Psalm 78 wanders through this hall of shame.
It is very bleak reading. It is dramatic and we ourselves, if we are honest, are not in a position to judge them too harshly.
Not when we take stock of our own journey.
When we consider how fickle we can be. Well-intended to be sure; but fickle.
Passionate about God – and then not so passionate.
Sometimes because of a definite and conscious decision. Other times subtle, slight adjustments to how life of following Christ – but with Psalm 78 repercussions.
We are not immune to the forces of Psalm 78.
In fact 1 Corinthians 10 says “If you are standing firm, take heed unless you fall”.
And so Psalm 78 stumbles along. Punctuated with reminders of God’s patient intervention with His wonderful acts of grace.
But they are spurned – and He still comes back for more.
Time and again.
As you read Psalm 78 in its entirety – you are left wondering where it is all leading to.
Especially after such a glorious beginning. Of a people in touch with their God and committed to passing on the stories of His glory.
Of a people in touch with the purposes of God established from the foundations of the world.
But – with such profound loss and extraordinary sin – Psalm 78 seems to be heading towards a dead-end for humanity. Literally.
Surely God’s grace is exhausted.
But then – seemingly out of nowhere His grace explodes onto the scene again.
"Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever. He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them." (Psalm 78:67-72)
And so it ends with the tribute to King David.
And this side of it all – especially in the light of Matt 13:34-35 – we see how it pointed to David and yet beyond.
To an even greater King Who would come and speak in parables about those things of God hidden from the foundation of the world.
A new King David Who would interrupt the story of Psalm 78 in our time.
An equally tragic unfolding of lives and history.
Of nations, families, individuals – and even churches – who are disconnected from the great stories and acts of God which ought to be told from one generation to another.
Yet with the passage of life and the attending to life – we find that we too can be guilty of turning our back on the grace of God.
And like Psalm 78 – that which started so promisingly is racing headlong to disaster.
But at the end of the story – out of nowhere it seems – stands another King.
Greater than David.
One Who shepherds with skill, integrity and power.
One Who begins to retell Psalm 78.
"This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”" (Matthew 13:35)
And now in Christ – we now are gifted knowledge about the mystery and purpose of God.
Throughout the New Testament – the phrase “from the foundation of the world” is used to speak of the love of the Father to the Son (John 17:24); about the reward of the Kingdom (Matt 25:34); chosen in Christ to be holy and blameless (Eph 1:4); that Christ was destined to suffer for us (1 Peter 1:20); and that the Book of Life has been established (Rev 13:8).
This sense of the revelation of God’s purpose and plan is most beautifully and powerfully described by Peter:
"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things." (1 Peter 1:10-12, NIV)
So – reading the parables of the seed and the yeast in the light that Jesus is the fulfilment of where Psalm 78 was going – how does that help our approach to these two small parables?
Now in Christ, the Kingdom is here.
The King is here.
And in the midst of life – like Psalm 78 – in which the knowledge and pursuit of God is within grasp one moment and cast aside the next; there stands a King Who shepherds with skill and integrity.
One Who reveals to us the hidden things of God from the foundation of the world and calls us to make known the wonders and deeds of God to the next generation.
Into this life and world in which we live; this story in which we are caught up in, Psalm 78 – He is present.
His Kingdom is present.
But where?!
Like a small mustard seed.
Like yeast.
“But I don’t see it!!! I don’t know if I can believe it!!!”
I know. Life’s like that. We’re like that.
Like Psalm 78.
A few verses at the beginning which speak of the presence of God; His wonders; and our response and responsibility with that.
A few verses at the end with an astounding promise of a King like no other Who will lead us with all that is good.
And in between – 80% of our lives described as lurching between grace and sin; rebellion and revelation of God; pursuit of God and fleeing from Him; awareness of God and denial of Him.
Into that – Christ speaks these parables.
Into that – the fulfilment of Psalm 78, the Parable-teller par excellence declares to us…to you…that in this time a seed has been planted; yeast has been mixed in…
The things hidden from the foundation of the world have been made known to you.
And so Psalm 78 continues to be lived in and lived out but you are invited to live it differently.
Now with the King Who shepherd you with skillful hands and integrity of heart.
The King whose Kingdom is growing in presence and influence before your very eyes!!
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[1] Marvin E. Tate – Psalms 51-100 WBC (Dallas: Word, 1990), 296 quoting (Clifford, “An Interpretation of Psalm 78,” 138).