Matthew 13:32 - Printer Friendly

ESV: It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

NIV: Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."

NASB: and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE SKY come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.'

CSB: It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches."

NLT: It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.'

KJV: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

NKJV: which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

This parable began with an unexpected, even jarring comparison, from the viewpoint of ancient Israel. Christ has compared the kingdom of heaven to a tiny mustard seed (Matthew 13:31). Israelites would have known exactly what Jesus meant by the kingdom of heaven. They understood that it was promised in Scripture, and it would be glorious.

Now Jesus finishes the comparison, explaining that glory is exactly how the process will end. That tiny mustard seed grows into the largest of all the garden plants. Though the tree sometimes resembles a bush, it can also grow as tall as 8–12 feet high. The tree grows large enough to host nests for birds.

Christ depicts the kingdom of God as starting very small, then growing to enormous size. In the context of garden plants of that era, this was exactly the role mustard played: a notably tiny beginning with a notably massive result. Spiritually, Jesus is teaching that the kingdom will not appear in full glory out of nothing. It will begin tiny, in the hearts of Jesus' disciples, and it will grow from there as more and more people come to faith in Jesus. Eventually, Jesus will return and establish His glorious kingdom on earth, populated by all those who swore allegiance to the King.

Critics have occasionally made much of Jesus referring to mustard as "the smallest of all seeds." Among all the plants on earth, and even in the middle east, there are those with even tinier seeds. Such complaints miss the purpose of the parable, and its audience. Jesus' listeners understood His meaning as much as a modern person would understand an expression such as "my brother is the biggest football player, but he's sensitive." Literalism is not the point—the contrast is what's being implied.

Further, literature of that era would often use mustard seeds as the go-to metaphor for smallness, much as modern English speakers often do with "a grain of sand."

Matthew 13:31–35 contains two short, closely-related parables about the kingdom of heaven. One refers to a tiny mustard seed which soon outgrows all the garden plants; it becomes like a tree. The other parable describes the leaven a woman puts in flour to make it grow. Both parables show that the kingdom of heaven will be tiny, at first—with just the disciples. Quickly, though, it will grow into something surprisingly large. Matthew quickly reminds his readers that Jesus taught only in parables at this time, fulfilling yet another prophecy.

Matthew 13 focuses mainly on a series of parables. Jesus first describes these to a large crowd along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Later, in a house, He explains to the disciples the meanings of the parables of the sower, the weeds, and the fish caught in the net. Jesus then travels to Nazareth, teaches in the synagogue, and is rejected by the people of His original hometown.

Matthew 13 follows Jesus from the overcrowded house at the end of the previous chapter to a crowded beach on the Sea of Galilee. He teaches a large crowd in a series of parables, which He doesn't fully explain. However, He reveals their meaning to His disciples inside a nearby house. Jesus pictures the kingdom of heaven as a sower, a sabotaged field of wheat, a mustard seed, and a pearl dealer, among other things. He then travels to His original hometown of Nazareth where He is rejected by the people He grew up with. This leads Matthew back to depictions of Jesus' miracles, after sadly recording John the Baptist's death.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.