The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

Matthew 13:31-35

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:

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.

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.


Classification: The church of the future - its planting and growth

Interpretation: The mustard seed= The kingdom of Heaven, the church. Joseph Smith even compared it to the Book of Mormon.

The mustard seed grows, becomes a place of rest for birds, has deeply planted roots. Some have called it a noxious weed because once planted it is nearly impossible to get rid of. Some say because of that (it being called a noxious weed) Jesus shouldn't have used the mustard tree for his comparison. I think it's perfect.

Application: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has definitely grown from one boy with a vision to millions worldwide (15 million!) and still growing. Its gospel roots are deeply planted and not coming up. It's branches have given rest to so many who are tired of the world and its views.

"Now we can discover plainly that this figure is given to represent the Church as it shall come forth in the last days. Let us take the Book of Mormon, which a man took and hid in his field, securing it by his faith, to spring up in the last days, or in due time; let us behold it coming forth out of the ground, which is indeed accounted the least of all seeds, but behold it branching forth, yea, even towering, with lofty branches, and God-like majesty, until it, like the mustard seed, becomes the greatest of all herbs...it has sprouted and come forth out of the earth, and righteousness begins to look down from heaven, and God is sending down His powers, gifts and angels, to lodge in the branches thereof." -Joseph Smith

When I began to study this parable I only thought of the application it has towards individuals and their faith. I never saw it as applying to the church as a whole. I would hope that my faith and testimony has become a place of rest and safety for my children while they develop their own testimonies.

The Leaven

Bible Dictionary: "Leaven": Anything that in cooking produces fermentation, a lump of old dough being generally used. No leaven was allowed during the Passover feast or in offerings made to God with fire. It was probably forbidden because there was associated with it the idea of corruption. In the New Testament it was as a rule symbolic of sin but in the parable of the Leaven it is compared to the inward growth and influence of the kingdom of heaven (church) upon the earth."

This parable goes right along with the parable of the mustard seed because it talks about the growth of the church from little bitty to huge. I read on Wikipedia that three measures of meal would produce enough bread to make over a hundred loaves suggesting that the reason this woman was making so much bread was for a feast. How many times have we been told to feast on the words of Christ? And share that feast with friends and family?

"The large quantity of flour may hint at a planned festive occasion, since the bread produced could feed a hundred people." -Ben Witherington, Women in the Ministry of Jesus: A study of Jesus' attitudes to women and their roles as reflected in his earthly life. 

I like that this particular parable is about a woman who goes about her work and influences and creates an abundance of nourishment for many. As women of the Relief Society this is what we do. We make food. We bring food. We seek out those in need of spiritual and temporal nourishment and we do all we can to provide that. Our normal mundane tasks that can feel like drudgery actually has a huge impact on the lives of those around us, particularly our families, friends, people we visit teach and others within our ward.

Etching by Jan Luyken circa 1700, Amsterdam