It also appears in the non canonical gospel of thomas verse 20.
Mustard seed matthew.
The grain of mustard seed was as in matthew 13 31 the proverbial type of the infinitely little.
Just as in the parable of the mustard seed matthew 13 31 32 jesus uses rhetorical hyperbole to make the point that little is much when it comes from god.
To remove mountains was as we see in 1corinthians 13 2 this may however have been an echo of our lord s teaching the proverbial type of overcoming difficulties that seemed insurmountable.
The seed s growth attracts the presence of evil depicted as birds matthew 13 4 19.
The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast.
Matthew 13 31 32 another parable he put forth to them saying.
31 he put before them another parable.
Matthew 13 31 32 new revised standard version catholic edition nrsvce the parable of the mustard seed.
In the gospels of matthew and luke it is immediately followed by the parable of the leaven which shares this parable s theme of the kingdom of heaven growing from small beginnings.
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field.
The mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds found in the middle east so the conclusion is that the amount of faith needed to do great things is very small indeed.
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and planted in his field.
But when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.
So the picture painted in the parable of the mustard seed by jesus is of the humble beginnings of the church experiencing an explosive rate of growth.
Matthew 17 20 if our faith even if it s the size of a mustard seed is placed in the all powerful god great things can happen.
Revelation 18 2 to dilute the church while taking advantage of its benefits.
32 it is the smallest of all the seeds but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and make nests in.
The parable of the mustard seed is one of the shorter parables of jesus it appears in matthew 13 31 32 mark 4 30 32 and luke 13 18 19.
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field which indeed is the least of all the seeds.