That’s what it does. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Mark 4:26-34 EXEGESIS: MARK 1-4. The Mustard Seed . In verse 19, instead of saying "birds of the air," Jesus interprets them as "the wicked one"devouring the seed. Mark 4:31 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Mark 4:31, NIV: "It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth." The detail of branches in which birds nest (v 31) manifestly recalls Ezekiel 17:23. We saw last week that the parable of the seed growing mysteriously spoke of the transition period and how the kingdom of God would grow to maturity by the end of the age. MUSTARD SEED. As a lamp belongs on a lampstand (Mark 4:21-22), God’s reign, like a seed, must grow, even if untended and even if its gradual expansion is nearly impossible to detect. IV. The miracle of Christ's sudden stilling a storm at sea (v. 35-41). However, the Gospel of Matthew provides us with the most peripheral information, as it includes one parable before and after the mustard seed parable, each teaching on the same subject. Matthew 13:4 It does not sound good that the birds eat the seed—and it is not. The "birds of the air" are a negative symbol. OVERVIEW In chapter 1, Jesus called his first disciples and began his preaching and healing ministry. The first time took place between the second (28 A.D.) and third (29 A.D.) Passover seasons of Jesus' ministry (Matthew 13:31 - 32, Mark 4:30 - 32). The Parable of the Mustard Seed is contained in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–19). THE MESSAGE OF THE MIGHTY. "THE GOSPEL OF MARK" The Parable Of The Mustard Seed (4:30-32) INTRODUCTION 1. The mighty mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32) Compared to the previous parable’s matter-of-factness, the story of the mustard seed reads like a dense novella. Intro: As I studied this text, I was reminded of the story of a woman named Martha Berry.She was born just outside the town of Rome, GA in 1866. For instance, while in the Gospel of Mark, it states that the mustard seed “grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants”, in the Gospels of Luke and Mathew, it says that the mustard seed grows and becomes a tree. Contrast between insignificant beginning and mighty achievement is primary - but the seed does grow into a plant. It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." She asked for a playhouse and her father had a cabin built for her. Then the focus shifted toward controversy with religious leaders when Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic (2:1-12), ate with tax collectors and sinners (2:18-22), defended In his version, Mark uses the specific word "Satan," and similarly, Luke has "the Devil. The parable of the grain of mustard-seed, and a general account of Christ's parables (v. 30-34). T. he parable of the Mustard Seed (4:30-32) is another parable of contrast; but again the idea of growth must be given due weight. She was born into a wealthy family that owned a vast estate in that area. Answer: In a rare Biblical occurrence, the mustard seed parable is given on two separate occasions. ― Mathew 13:31-32, English Standard Version. In "The Parable Of The Growing Seed" , kingdom growth caused by the Word is illustrated as: a. Imperceptible - in that we may not always understand how the growth occurs b. Though the parable is the same, note the slight differences in each of these versions. 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