Greater than All Herbs - Mark 4:32

Mark wrote how Jesus asked, “Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth”, and in chapter four and verse thirty-two of his book, Mark shares how Jesus said the “mustard seed”, “becomes greater than all herbs” where we read:

But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

The verse reads, “But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches;” Mark began with the words, “but when” or “however, nevertheless, moreover and at the time and moment” “it is sown” which means “the mustard seed is scattered and cast forth”, “it grows up” or “it arises, sprouts and springs up”, “and becomes greater” which means “and appears larger in size” “than all herbs” or “than each, every, the whole and everyone of the other potted herbs or vegetables”, “and shoots out” which means “makes ready, produces and bears” “great branches” which refers to “large and numerous tender shoots, twigs and boughs”. Mark shared how Jesus said the “mustard seed” grows to be larger than any other potted herb or vegetable and it produces large and numerous “shoots and boughs”.

The verse continues, “so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” Mark added the words, “so that the fowls” or “insomuch, therefore and wherefore the birds and flying winged animals” “of the air” or “belonging to the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it” “may lodge” which means “may dwell, rest, camp and remain” “under the shadow of it” or “beneath the shade of the mustard plant”. Mark shared how Jesus said the “branches” of the “mustard plant” becomes so large that “birds” find lodging within the “shade of it”.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how this “mustard plant” has “abnormal growth”. It grows so large that “birds” which are a symbol of “evil” in the Bible “lodge” within it's branches. The Kingdom of God often expands so quickly that all sorts of aberrations occur within it, and when there is large and expansive growth, not all who say they are part of God's Kingdom are actually in it. God knows the difference between those who actually within His Kingdom and those who only pretend to be. May all who read these words consider their position within or without the Kingdom of God and submit themselves to Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares about Jesus that with, “many such parables spoke he the word unto them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".