Mark 4:30-32 – Parable of Mustard Seed

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

We say something is like something else in order to help us relate to it, a simple example being – what do frogs legs taste like? Chicken.  Whilst we agree that they might not exactly taste the same as chicken it gives us a familiar comparison for an otherwise very uncertain thing.  Should we not have this reference point we might be decidedly more uncomfortable with trying frogs legs for the first time.  Whilst this example is extremely basic it gives us a good reference point when reading these parables.  Each of them are showing us something that the Kingdom of God is like.  Here, we see the comparison with a mustard seed, apparently the smallest of all the seeds.  Perhaps something that could seem inconsequential, or even too simplistic.  Yet, when planted, this tiny seed grows to become a place of safety, peace and refuge for those around it.  The Kingdom of God is evident in our lives, not because of a lack of challenge and turmoil, but because of the peace and shelter that our lives offer to others.

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