Mustard Seed
Lets have a look at the places where the Mustard seed is mentioned in Bible
Matthew 13:31-32
Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 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.”
Matthew 17:20
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
Mark 4:30-32
Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”
Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 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.”
Luke 17:6
The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!
Size of a mustard is very small. So even if we have a little faith as the size of the mustard seed, it will be sufficient enough for God to work on our faith and make it Grow. That is the usual conclusion we come to.
Is there anything more than that?
Yes.
If we look at the Hebrew Names Version of the Bible, the same verse is given as
Luke 17:6
The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
It is indeed given as 'like' and not 'even as small as'.
This is the significance that is lost!
What is the lost significance? Both looks the same and gives the same meaning.
No.
Let's have a look at mustard seed.
Appearance of a Mustard Seed:
Tiny and perfect round shaped
I believe apart from the size of the Mustard seed, it is also important to notice the shape of the mustard seed, Perfectly round shaped. Our Faith should be similar to that, in perfect shape. In other words, flawless or perfect. we cannot find a little imperfection in mustard seed. Faith should be like that, without doubts.
Even if we have 99.99% Faith it is still not perfect. that .01% of doubt makes the Faith imperfect. God wants us to have Faith without Doubts.
I believe there is more to it, in HNV version,
Matthew 13:31-32
He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all 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 lodge in its branches
Birds of the air come and lodge in its branches. We almost forget this part since we get a significant amount of information from the first part of verse. The birds might not signify anything but add weightage to the statement for how big the tree can grow. But considering that, this parable was said by Jesus. I liked to know if there is more meaning in this parable.
Lodge in its branches, when one's faith is grown into the size of tree, it can accommodate others who need a shelter. When our faith is fully developed, we can help others and be a shelter or a shade for someone who needs the faith.
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