Luke 13:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."

NIV: It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches."

NASB: It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.'

CSB: It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."

NLT: It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.'

KJV: It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

NKJV: 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.”

Jesus is describing the kingdom of God as something which begins exceedingly small. Then it grows, slowly but steadily, until completion. Once growth starts, it cannot be removed. Here, it is a small mustard seed that becomes a tree. Next, it is a little bit of leaven gradually worked through a great amount of flour (Luke 13:20–21).

In the chapter before, Jesus touched on the same theme. A cloud, far off, becomes a thunderstorm. The southern wind becomes a scorching heat (Luke 12:54–56). The Jews know this theme well, as their nation started with a single grandson of Abraham. Even so, they are impatient and want the kingdom to come immediately (John 6:15).

In other passages, Jesus is recorded describing mustard as the "smallest" of seeds. His point is exaggeration for effect, not a claim that the mustard seed is the smallest in the entire plant kingdom. Rather, it is the smallest planted by Jewish gardeners. Further, mustard seeds were a metaphor for a ridiculously small quantity or size, often contrasted to massive plants such as cedar trees.

In the Old Testament, birds roosting in a tree represent a powerful nation or leader where people of many nations find shelter. For instance, Assyria (Ezekiel 31:6) and Babylon (Daniel 4:20–22). Although the parallel isn't obvious here, Jesus will soon describe the influx of Gentiles into God's kingdom: "And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God" (Luke 13:29).

Luke 13:18–21 records two short similes that describe the kingdom of God. The first compares the kingdom to a mustard seed that grows into a tree that the birds can rest in. The second compares the kingdom to leaven that is worked through an entire batch of dough. In both cases, growth is slow at first. But once growth starts, it's unstoppable. Similar stories appear in Matthew 13:31–33 and Mark 4:30–32. Next, Luke records Jesus explaining that the door to the kingdom is narrow and lamenting that so many Jews will reject that path (Luke 13:22–35).

Jesus uses real-world examples to show that tragedy and death can come to anyone, even the righteous. No one should delay in reconciling to God; time is running out. Jesus heals a woman in the synagogue, on the Sabbath, triggering an angry response. Jesus scolds the synagogue leader, then preaches about the inevitable spread of the gospel around the entire world. However, He also notes that most people will reject this message, including the people of Israel.

Luke 9:51—19:27 is sometimes called "Jesus' Travelogue to Jerusalem." The segment describes how Jesus prepared the disciples for their future as He approached His own death and resurrection. Interspersed are a few altercations with religious leaders. There are calls for the crowd to repent of their sins and reconcile with God before it's too late. In Luke 13, two stories in particular reveal Jesus' heart. In one, He heals a long-suffering woman on the Sabbath; healing is a type of rest. In the last, He mourns the fact that, for now, the Jews as a nation will reject their Messiah.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.