The Parable of the Mustard Seed

The Parable of the Mustard Seed is also in Mark 4:30-32 and Luke 13:18-19. The Parable of the Yeast (Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20-21) and the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29) are similar.

There are different opinions about the meaning of this parable. Most commonly, the seed is seen as representing the kingdom of God initiated in the world by Jesus. Just as the tiny seed grows into a large tree, the kingdom of God will grow into a powerful spiritual kingdom. Similarly in Matthew 13:33, just as a small amount of yeast grows to leaven an entire loaf of bread, the kingdom of God will grow large and powerful until it eventually controls the entire world. In both cases, great results come from tiny beginnings.

Yeast is used as an evil symbol other places in the Bible (Mark 8:15, 1 Corinthians 5:6). That has led to an alternate interpretation that the seed represents evil introduced into the Church by Satan (Boice pp. 24-27). The evil will grow to corrupt and undermine the Church. However, this interpretation does not fit well with Jesus' other teachings, and the yeast could just as well be a symbol of anything, good or bad, that permeates whatever it touches (Lockyer, Leaven).

Related Verses

 * Matthew 3:2, 10:7, 17:20
 * Mark 1:15, 4:30-32, 9:1
 * Luke 10:9, 13:18-21, 17:20-21