Matthew 13:31-33, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-21
“Notice what you notice.” Two parables today – the mustard seed and leaven. A common denominator seems to be growth. The mustard seed is small, yet when planted grows into a 10-foot tree. And leaven “grows” the flour mixture to make bread or cakes. But the two examples are actually opposite to one another. The mustard seed is itself and outside influences – soil, water, nutrients – act upon it and cause its growth. Leaven, however, is the growth agent. It acts upon the flour mixture and causes the growth.
Jesus’ application for these two parables is the kingdom of God / kingdom of heaven. So He may be speaking of a small “mustard seed” group of people – Himself and His twelve disciples – who started small, but would grow infinitesimally over time to become the Kingdom. And as leaven affects the bread lump, these same disciples would be change agents for the entire world.
Or maybe we can make this personal? Outside influences – parents, teachers, pastors – advance us in our “mustard seed” Christian growth. By contrast, the leaven that is us affects those around us and helps them in their Christian growth. That is, we are leaven for the Kingdom.
I have to make mention of Mark’s particulars again. Matthew and Luke both say that the mustard seed “becomes a tree”. Mark, however, paints us the more complete picture: …it grows up…and puts out large branches… (Mark 4:32). A small item, but more picturesque, more detailed. Matthew and Luke also say that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches (Mt. 13:32; Lk. 13:19 uses past tense terminology). Mark, however, says that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade (Mark 4:32). Branches vs. shade? Go figure.
Slava Bohu!