Stories About a Mustard Seed And Yeast
January 19, 2020
Commentary
The mustard seed symbolizes false growth (v. 31). It was the smallest garden seed known yet it produced a plant that grew to a height of twelve to fifteen feet in one season and the birds of the air would sit in its branches (v. 32). Jesus did not explain this parable but its meaning could represent “Christendom” which has become a worldwide power with many branches. It had a very humble beginning but grew rapidly into a large organization. Some interpreters say the birds lodging in the branches represent Satan’s followers at work. This could well be represented in the World and National council of churches today.
The leaven may symbolize false doctrine (v. 33). Throughout the Bible, leaven is a symbol of evil Matt. 16:6-12). In Bible times women in every household baked their own bread. Each time she baked she would save a small piece of leavened dough from a risen batch just before it was baked. When the next batch was mixed she took the saved piece from the previous batch and hid it in the new batch so it could ferment and make it rise. Sin is like leaven or yeast! It grows, it corrupts and it puffs up (I Cor. 5:2). It is not just false profession of unsaved church members but false doctrine that they will attempt to bring into the church. The nature of it is such that once the process of leavening begins, it is hard to stop. Satan never stops trying to introduce false doctrine and false living into the Church. That is the way modernism has spread throughout the various denominations of our day.
Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these (vv. 34-35). In fact He never spoke without using them which fulfilled the prophecy spoken by the prophet. This is why I think it is important to tell stories and use illustrations when preaching or teaching.
Application
Allowing a little sin (leaven) in my life or home will affect all that I do. For instance just one person with an angry spirit can cause disharmony in our entire household. All sin needs to be dealt with.
Matthew 13:24– 35 (NET)
24 He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat and went away. 26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnel also appeared. 27 So the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the darnel come from?’ 28 He said, ‘An enemy has done this!’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather it?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the darnel you may uproot the wheat along with it. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
31 He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”
34 Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable. 35 This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”