The mustard seed is the central element of one of the parables that Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples and followers. It is dedicated to the Kingdom of Heaven. With her help, the son of God tried to explain what it was.
Gospel parable
In the New Testament, the parable of the mustard seed is found in several main gospels at once. From Mark, Luke and Matthew. She is traditionally given great attention in Christianity, the parable is often cited as an illustration of their sermons by Orthodox and Catholic priests.
According to the text in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ immediately began to compare the Kingdom of Heaven with a mustard seed. A man takes it and sows it on his plot. Initially, the size of the mustard seed is very small. Most of the other grains in the field are much larger and more representative. Therefore, it seems to everyone around that a richer harvest can be expected from them. However, when the mustard seed grows, it turns out that it has become much larger than many of the cereals that grew with it in the neighborhood. And soon it becomes a real tree, to which birds flock from all over the area to hide in its branches.
Comparison with the Kingdom of God in the Gospel of Mark
Mustard seed is compared to the Kingdom in the BibleGod's. Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Mark addresses his disciples with the question - what can be likened to the Kingdom of God in the world around us? What parable can you think of for him?
He himself answers this question. He gives the example of a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds when it is sown in the ground. But when the sowing has already ended and the time has come for the seeds to sprout, it turns out that it has become much larger than all the cereals surrounding it. In the future lets out big branches. Under their shadow, the birds of the sky have been sheltering for many years.
Gospel according to Luke
This parable is most succinctly stated in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus again addresses the disciples with questions, about the same as in the Gospel of Mark. Then he quickly moves on to the essence of his parable.
Immediately notes that any mustard seed planted by a person in his garden, as a result, grows into a large and fruitful tree. From now on, birds only do what they take refuge in its branches.
As we can see, in several Gospels at once the meaning of the parable is no different, and its content depends solely on brevity and the size that each of the authors aspired to.
What is a mustard seed?
Before proceeding to the interpretation of the parable of the mustard seed, you need to figure out what each of the apostles understands by such a seed. The most accurate answer is given by Brockhaus's special encyclopedia. This one-volume fundamental publication, which is rightfully considered one of the mostcomplete and rigorous studies of the Bible. It was first published in Russian in 1960, when a detailed translation from German was made.
The dictionary states that the parable is actually dedicated to the seed of black mustard. Despite the fact that this is an annual plant, its height can reach two and a half and even three meters. It has a branched stem, which may cause some ignorant people to mistake it for a tree. At the same time, it is really very attractive to various birds. Especially for the goldfinches. They not only hide in its dense crown, but also feed on he althy oil seeds with a diameter of about one millimeter.
Interpretation of the parable
The parable of the mustard seed, the interpretation of which is given in this article, should teach us how small the unbelieving and ignorant person is. Only preaching, planted in the human soul, as in fertile soil, is able to bear fruit, rich seedlings.
Similarly, Jesus Christ likens the Christian church to a mustard seed. At first it was small and inconspicuous. But after the teaching of the carpenter's son began to spread throughout the world, its significance increased more and more every year. As a result, the birds that take refuge in the branches of the mustard tree will be entire nations that will find shelter under the shadow of this world religion. As we can see, Jesus was right about this. Today, Christianity has become one of the major world religions on the planet.
The Church walks the planet
Describing how a mustard seed grows, one gets the feeling that in a similar way Jesus Christ illustrates how the Christian church is expanding into new countries and continents.
Thus, many researchers single out two images at once in this parable. Not only multiplying the influence of the church, but also spreading the apostolic preaching.
Orthodox theologian Alexander (Mileant), Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who headed the entire South American episcopate from 1998 to 2005, argues that this comparison was clearly confirmed by the rapid spread of Christian teaching in many pagan countries.
The Church, which at the beginning of its journey was inconspicuous for most of the surrounding religious community, represented by a small group of Galilean fishermen, has covered the entire planet in two thousand years. Starting from wild Scythia, ending with sultry Africa. Starting from dank Britain and ending with the mysterious and mysterious India.
Archbishop Averky (Taushev) agrees with him. Another bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, who headed the episcopate in Syracuse in the 1960s and 1970s. He also writes that preaching grows in the human soul, as in the parable of the mustard seed. For children, this image is very clear and accessible. They immediately understand what is at stake.
Of course, notes Averky, most likely, one will not be able to see the effect from one sermon. But over time, barely noticeable trends will capture the soul of a person more and more. She iswill finally become a full-fledged receptacle for exclusively virtuous thoughts.
Interpretation of John Chrysostom
The original interpretation of this parable is offered by St. John Chrysostom. This is the famous Archbishop of Constantinople, who lived in the 4th-5th centuries AD. Together with Gregory the Theologian and Basil the Great, he is still revered, is one of the Ecumenical teachers and saints, the author of numerous theological works.
In one of them, John Chrysostom compares a mustard seed with Jesus Christ himself. The saint claims that if you delve into this parable with all care, it will turn out that it can be applied to the Savior himself. He, like the grain in the parable, was unsightly and insignificant in appearance. His age was small, Christ lived only 33 years.
It is quite another matter that his age in heaven turned out to be incalculable. In addition, several hypostases were combined in it at once. Son of man and son of God. He was crushed by the people, but his suffering made Jesus so great that he surpassed all his predecessors and followers who had tried to lead the nations in this way.
He is inseparable from his heavenly Father, therefore it is on his shoulders that the heavenly birds find peace and shelter. With them, John Chrysostom compared all the apostles, disciples of Christ, the prophets, as well as all the elect who sincerely believed in his teaching. Christ succeeded in cleansing souls from filth at the expense of his own warmth, under his canopy he is ready to shelter anyone whoneeds him, from the heat of the world.
After death, his body seemed to be sown into the ground. But he showed an enviable fruitful power, having risen from the dead in three days. By his resurrection, he glorified himself more than any prophet, although during his lifetime he could seem to many both smaller and more insignificant than them. His fame eventually flourished from earth to heaven. He himself sowed himself on earthly soil and sprouted into the world leading to his heavenly Father.
Interpretation of Theophylact of Bulgaria
An interesting own vision of this parable is offered by another saint - Theophylact of Bulgaria. Archbishop of Bulgaria at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries.
Theophylact calls 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 the Christian commandments. If everyone adheres to such life principles, then heavenly birds in the form of angels will rest on his shoulders. This is how the priest interprets the parable told by Jesus.
