The Lesson of the Mustard Seed

Everything Jesus taught is part of the Gospel, that is why the first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Therefore everything contained therein is part of what Jesus was trying to convey to show us what it means to come to Him and live a vibrant life under the New Covenant that was established in His blood.

As I read and pray I'm always looking for ways to make plain those truths that have been diluted or lost in hopes that at least a few might understand and apply them to their lives and become fruitful in God's kingdom. To that end is this article concerning the mustard seed. May the Lord bless the reader and give understanding.

Matthew 17:20So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Luke 13:17-19 (New King James Version)
17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. 18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

This is probably one of the least understood parables that Jesus gave us and it is sad because it gives us key insight into why we fall so short of God’s ideal and purpose for our lives.

First of all it needs to be understood that Jesus chose to use the mustard seed in His illustration only because of it’s very small size rather than it’s uniqueness. He wanted to point out that any person no matter how insignificant they may seem has great potential in Him. He could have used any seed in His illustration because all seeds bear the same basic characteristics. Can a cherry seed when planted in the ground produce anything but a cherry tree? Can a carrot seed when planted in the soil produce a stalk of celery? Of course not neither can a mustard seed produce anything at all except a mustard bush. So then is the mystery of the mustard seed. Indeed if the mustard seed had a brain and could think it would think “if only someone would put me in some soil and water me and the sun would shine on me then I could be all that God has designed me to be and I would grow up to be a mighty mustard plant and provide shade for God’s creatures and I could bear more seed to produce after my own kind and fulfill the purpose for which I was created.

By this comparison Jesus is trying to tell us that if only we would realize what we were created for and what we were redeemed for and the power He had put at our disposal through the Holy Spirit then we indeed could command the mountain to move and it would have to obey. Just as the mustard seed has a genetic code that will cause it to produce in a predetermined fashion, we too have a brand new genetic code,

Ephesians 2:10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

How do we know what these works are in order to “walk in them”?

Concentrated day to day communion with God through prayer and reading of the word and continually asking Him to deliver us from the flesh. Self is powerful and will always attempt to exalt us rather than Him.

We must come to the cross again and again to crucify self in order to walk upright and remain in His path.

In order to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives and produce as the mustard seed we must die to self, and our agenda.

John 12:24 (New King James Version) 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

A mustard seed or any other seed is useless as long as it is stored in a plastic bag and kept in a safe place. To produce it must be exposed to certain elements that only God can provide, namely soil, warmth, moisture and light. The same applies to the Christian whether he be leader or layman. To grow and produce according to God’s plan and purpose he must expose himself to “the water of the word, and to prayer and the light of God’s love and be planted in good soil which I believe is the physical place where God plants us in order to not only be nurtured and grow but to give out of our growth because if something flows in it must also flow out or it will become stagnant.

I believe that as a group seeking God’s perfect will we must decide whether we really want only His will or if we want Him to endorse our plans and desires.

Any group of people who work together in unity can build something awesome but it may not even represent God. Many a mega church has been built because enough people got together and formed a vision and put their resources and energy into it but do not represent the heart of God nor the truth of the Gospel. Just because something is big and impressive does not mean God is in it.

Genesis 11:6And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.

Men always seem to get sidetracked into building a kingdom for themselves rather than God’s kingdom. Very few churches can be said to represent the kingdom of God because Jesus said:

Luke 17:19-21 (New King James Version)
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there! For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Every new convert who becomes obedient to the word becomes a vital part of His kingdom. Jesus uses the term “kingdom” for a very good reason and it is worth examining. In Jesus day rulers of nations were “kings” and every square inch of territory and every person in that territory was accountable to the king. The king was sovereign and could order someone’s head removed on a whim. If one wanted to experience the kings favor he would need to be humble and yield to the will of the king. Now we know that God is gracious and has given us free will and will not demand our head on a platter if we do not do things His way, however the principal is clear that if we really want God’s favor and blessing then we must determine not to desire anything but His will and way and to only build His kingdom.

I think God is waiting for a people who will not take His glory. He is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 32:21They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.

Many a church building or group is an idol which is protected jealously by it’s founders and often by means that are very ungodly and unscriptural.

May God help us in our weakness.

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