The parable tells the story of a mustard seed whose vegetation sheltered a bird.
This story is told differently in three books of the Bible:
- Gospel of Matthew;
- Gospel of Mark;
- Gospel of Luke.
An icon depicting a plot from a parable.
The birds found shelter in a large tree. Now it doesn’t matter that at first it was just a tiny grain. Photo: diocese-aveiro.pt Here is a version of the first of them:
“He set forth another parable to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which, although smaller than all the seeds, when it grows up, is larger than all the grains and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air fly in and take refuge in its branches.”
(Matt. 13:31-32)
“Speech of the Lord...” Interpretations of the Gospel parables
Blzh. Jerome of Stridon (according to St. Matthew the Evangelist)
The Lord was sitting on the ship, and the crowd stood on the shore: it was in the distance, and the disciples listened, standing closer. He also offered them another parable, like a rich householder who feeds his invited guests with various dishes, so that each, according to the properties of his belly, receives appropriate nutrition. Therefore, about the previous parable [the evangelist] did not say: another,
a:
another,
for if he had designated it with the word, another, then we could not expect a third;
but he said otherwise,
so that many more would follow.
Let it not be painful to the reader that we present the parables in their entirety; because what is mysterious must be explained much more fully, so as not to introduce a greater meaning in comparison with what is being explained through excessive brevity. The Kingdom of Heaven is the preaching of the Gospel and the understanding of Scripture, leading to life, and also what is said to the Jews: The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people bearing its fruits.
So, this kind of kingdom is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.
By the man who sows in his field, many understand the Savior, because He sows in the souls of believers. Others understand the man himself who sows in his field, that is, in himself and in his heart. Who is he who sows, if not our spirit and feeling, which, receiving the seed of preaching and warming what is sown with the moisture of faith, give it the strength to sprout in the field of its chest. The Gospel teaching is the briefest of all teachings. At first glance, it does not even seem to have the ability to inspire confidence in its truth, preaching that God is a man, that God is dead, and preaching about the temptation [for everyone] - the Cross. Compare the teaching of this kind with the teachings of philosophers, with their books, with brilliant eloquence, with the sophistication of the style of their speeches, and you will see how much smaller than other seeds the sowing of the Gospel is. But when those teachings grow, they do not reveal anything touching, ardent, or vital in themselves; Only the sluggish, exhausted, weak boils in them and quickly produces grain and grass, which quickly dries up and disappears. And this preaching [that is, the preaching of the Gospel], which at first seems insignificant, when it is sown, whether in the soul of the believer, or in the whole world, does not turn into grass, but grows into a whole tree, so that the birds of the air, under which we must mean either the souls of believers, or the forces constantly engaged in serving God - coming and living in his branches. By the branches of the gospel tree growing from a mustard seed, it seems to me, we need to understand the difference in dogmas on which each of the above birds rests. Let us also take the wings of the dove so that, ascending into heights, we can live on the branches of this tree and make nests for ourselves from the teachings, and, escaping the earthly, rush to the heavenly. Reading about the mustard seed, the smallest (of) all grains, and about what the disciples say in the Gospel: Lord, increase our faith
(Luke 17:5), as well as the Savior’s answer to them:
The Lord said: if you had faith the size of a mustard seed and they said to this fig tree: be uprooted and planted in the sea, then it would obey you
(Luke 17:6), many think that either the apostles asked for little faith, or the Lord was in doubt about their little faith, although, As you know, the Apostle Paul considered faith, compared to a grain of mustard, to be the greatest.
Really, what is he saying? If I have all the faith, so much so that I could move mountains, but do not have love, then this will not be of any use to me
(cf. 1 Cor. 13:2-3). Thus, what, according to the word of the Lord, is accomplished by faith, like a mustard seed, according to the teaching of the Apostle, can only be accomplished by faith in its entirety.
Hieronymus of Stridonsky, Blessed. Interpretation of the Gospel. Minsk: “Rays of Sofia”, 2008.
The usual interpretation of the parable of the mustard seed: even a simple person is capable of accomplishing great things
The most direct and popular interpretation of the parable of the mustard seed tells us that a person, like the maid's seed, may not look respectable, but have outstanding results in his activities.
Russian proverbs that are similar in meaning:
- water wears away stones;
- They are greeted by their shirt, they are escorted by their intelligence.
The parable tells how the contribution of ordinary people brings souls into the Kingdom of God.
But the Bible does not encourage such a worldly interpretation of the parable. It is customary to see in it a message specifically on spiritual thought.
Like a mustard seed, the unremarkable commoners of the apostles will sow grains of faith in the soul of every person, and they will give large branches - the Church of Christ, which will open the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Anyone can take refuge under its shadow, and there are more and more of them, like seeds on the earth.
It is not for nothing that Jesus Christ, when telling a parable, suggested precisely the image of a bird. After all, she moves freely between heaven and earth. So believers will easily enter the Kingdom of God.
Interpretation of Theophylact of Bulgaria
Another saint, Theophylact of Bulgaria, offers an interesting personal vision of this parable. Archbishop of Bulgaria at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries.
Theophylact calls on each of the parishioners to be a mustard seed. To appear insignificant in appearance, not to be arrogant, not to boast of one’s virtue, but at the same time to ardently and zealously follow all Christian commandments. If everyone adheres to such principles of life, then the birds of heaven in the form of angels will rest on his shoulders. This is how the priest interprets the parable told by Jesus.
The Monk Isaiah the Hermit believed that the parable teaches a person to cultivate virtues in himself
The Monk Isaiah the Hermit believes that a person should be like a mustard seed in properties, about which he says this:
“(There is) a sacrament (in the word) about the mustard seed, as the fathers said, in order to (awaken us) to explore its meaning judging by what is written (about it):
The Kingdom of Heaven is like the grain of a pea, which every man in his village takes from all the seeds:
And when it grows, there is more than all the potions, and there is a tree, as if it were to come to the birds of the air, and soar on its branches.
Such is the mustard seed, such are its good properties! (And the Lord, exposing them) wants man to imitate him in all his things (in everything that he said about him).
Having said that it is the least of all seeds,
Isaiah the Hermit
Reverend
So what are these qualities? Read on:
“He instills in us humility, so that we place ourselves lower than every person; (saying) that it has become perfect (increased), reminds of meekness
and longsuffering; that it is fiery in color - reminds of purity, so as not to have any filth in the flesh; that his inner being is bitter - inspires hatred of passions, for it is bitter for those who desire peace; what a pleasant action it is
the taste is not detectable unless you chew it and grind it, this speaks of ill-suffering (the embitterment of the flesh by deprivation); when someone rubs it, it bites the eyes - it reminds
about the deplorability of deeds (or ascetic labors); they use it to smear it (mustard from it) on dead members so that they do not spoil.”
Isaiah the Hermit
Reverend
The parable teaches long-suffering, meekness, purity and other useful qualities
That is, the parable calls for imitating Jesus Christ:
“Let us understand its meaning and follow its properties, and let us anoint our damaged members with it so that they do not spoil and become infested with worms.
For this is to incarnate, to imagine the Lord Jesus in oneself; to take care, according to our strength, to set ourselves up - for Him according to it (according to the property of a mustard seed), testing ourselves, whether we are from this grain or not - whether from its structure and humility of heart, whether from its grinding (into powder), from Is it because of its bitterness or because of its taste?
It is the work of God’s mercy to fill us with strength for this, according to His will. His glory is the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen".
Isaiah the Hermit
Reverend
Bible craft – Tree from seeds
Necessary:
- Template page
- Colour pencils
- Glue
- Pumpkin seeds (or other large seeds)
What to do:
- Color the template page
- Add glue to the branches
- Glue on seeds to make leaves. Let dry.
Simeon the New Theologian wrote that the parable teaches us to deeply understand the Teachings of Christ
The Monk Simeon the New Theologian taught that with a parable the Messiah illustrated how the soul of a righteous man responds to the Teachings of Christ:
“Of course, He called the kingdom of heaven grain for you. This grain is the grace of the Divine Spirit. And the field is the heart of each of the people, where the one who receives the Spirit throws it inside, hiding it in the inner parts so that no one sees it, and guards it with all care, so that it grows and, becoming a tree, rises to the sky. So, if you say that not here, but after death, all who ardently desire it will receive the kingdom of heaven, then you are perverting the words of our Savior and God. For if you do not take the mustard seed that He spoke about, if you do not sow it in your field, you will be left without a seed at all.”
Reverend Simeon
New Theologian
12 apostles on the icon. According to one interpretation, the mustard seed from the parable is one: simple, unsightly people to whom the savior entrusted a great mission. Photo: pravmir.ru
Understanding the Teachings of Christ is not an easy task; it requires effort, but it promises benefits in posthumous existence:
“If you have taken the seed, but choke it with thorns, or give the grain to the birds to be plundered, or carelessly leave your field without irrigation, and your seed will not sprout, will not grow, and will not bear fruit; then tell me, what benefit will this seed have for you?
When at another time, if not now, will you receive this seed? - After death, you say.
But you are deviating from the natural order: in what field, I ask you, will you then hide this grain? With what labor will you cultivate it so that it grows?
Truly, brother, you are full of error and completely deceived. For this time is a time of labor, and the future is a time of crowns.”
Gospel. What is Q source
Differences in interpretation should not confuse believers
You see that the interpreters do not agree. And that's okay. For example, John Chrysostom compares Christ to grain:
“Now, if we delve into this subject with all care, we will find that this parable can be applied to the Savior himself. After all, He too was insignificant in appearance; and He is short-lived in our world and great in heaven; He is both the Son of man and God, the Son of God; He is innumerable, eternal; He is invisible, heavenly, accessible only to the faithful; He was crushed and through suffering became white as milk; It surpasses every other plant in greatness; He is the Word inseparable from the Father; He is the one on whom the birds of the air live.”
John Chrysostom
blissful
How can all this be reconciled with previous interpretations, where the seed is the apostles, where the family is knowledge?
It's simple. First of all, there was actually no bird with the tree. This is just an image, and therefore it is not surprising that it is convenient for illustrating various ideas. Secondly, many of the words of Jesus Christ very easily open up a second and even third level of meaning, so variability of interpretation is a distinctive feature of the Messiah’s statements.
A number of interpreters believe that Jesus Christ did not use black mustard as an image, but Persian salvadora. Photo: researchgate.net
Archpriest Vasily Rozhdestvenky wrote very well on this topic in Trinity Leaves:
“He Himself is both the mustard seed and the Sower.
In Him alone, as in a small seed, His entire Church was initially contained; from Him it spread; in Him alone she now finds her life; He is its only, eternal Head, and without Him there would be no Church.
He is also the Sower, who voluntarily gave Himself up to death and through this gave life to His Church to all who believe in Him.”
Vasily Rozhdestvensky
archpriest
So we should not limit ourselves to one interpretation. It makes sense to study the issue comprehensively and listen to what resonates in the heart.
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Games and activities
Going for leaves
Bring paper and pencils on your leaf collection trip. When you find a tree, rub the tree's bark and leaves if you find any on the ground. You can try to determine the name of the tree. There are electronic apps and books that can help you. You can continue the game by giving the task to find the longest or widest piece of paper, etc.
Build a bird's nest
Gather some branches, straw, sticks, etc. Try making a bird's nest that is strong enough to hold the egg (a plastic egg may be cleaner
