Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told the multitude and His disciples, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field? from where then has it tares? But he said, No; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirty-one of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus tells His disciples, “the kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed” where we read:
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
The verse reads, “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, ...” Matthew began with the word, “another” which means “one certain other” “parable” or “a narrative which is fictitious by agreeable to the laws and usages of human life by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature and history of God's kingdom, are figuratively portrayed. They are earthly stories with heavenly meanings” “put he forth” which means “ Jesus presented and set before” “unto them” or “to the multitude”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the multitude another “earthly story with a heavenly meaning”.
The verse continues, “... The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:” Matthew added the words, “the kingdom” which means “the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “of heaven” or “belonging to the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” “is like to” which means “is similar to and resembles” “a grain” or “a kernel of a seed” “of mustard seed” which means “the germinating part of a plant which in oriental countries grows from a very small seed and attains to the height of a tree”, “which a man took” or “that a male human being lay hold of in order to carry away or make one's own” “and sowed” which means “and scattered the seed” “in his field” or “within the man's piece of land, bit of tillage, farm or neighboring hamlet”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred “heaven's kingdom” to a certain man who “scattered” a “single mustard grain” into his farmland.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see Jesus employ another “earthly story that has a heavenly meaning” to share about “the kingdom of heaven”. This time He refers to the “kingdom of heaven” like a man who “planted” a “mustard seed” in his field. Jesus has much more to say about this “mustard seed”, but let suffice to know this “seed” is small but grows to a massive size. The gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ is the most important “seed” or “word” given to mankind, and those who yield their lives to Him have the promise of “everlasting life” with God.Let all who read these words consider carefully the power within the “spiritual mustard seed”.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus shares how the mustard seed is, “the least of all seeds”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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