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 is.
Gospel parable
In the New Testament, the parable of the mustard seed is contained in several basic gospels. From Mark, Luke and Matthew. Traditionally, much attention has been paid to it in Christianity; the parable is often cited by Orthodox and Catholic priests as an illustration of their sermons.
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 on its site. Initially, the size of mustard seeds is very small. Most other grains on the field are much larger and have a more representative appearance. Therefore, it seems to everyone around that the harvest from them can be expected to be more rich. However, when the mustard seed grows, it turns out that it has become much larger than the many cereals that grew next to it. And soon it becomes a real tree, to which birds from all around come to flock to take refuge in its branches.
Comparison with the Kingdom of God in Mark's Gospel
The mustard seed in the Bible is compared to the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Mark addresses his disciples with the question - with what can the Kingdom of God be compared in the world around us? What parable for him to come up with?
He himself answers this question. He gives an example of mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds when it is sown in the ground. But when the sowing is already over and the seeds have come to germinate, it turns out that it has become much more than all the cereals surrounding it. In the future, launches large branches. Over the years, heavenly birds have been sheltering under their shadow.
Luke's Gospel
Most succinctly, this parable is set forth in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus again addresses his disciples with questions about the same as in the Gospel of Mark. Then quickly goes to the core 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 see, in several Gospels at once the meaning of the parable is no different, and its content depends solely on the brevity and the size to which each of the authors sought.
What is mustard seed?
Before proceeding to the interpretation of the parable of mustard seed, you need to understand what each of the apostles understands as such a seed. The most accurate answer is given by Brockhaus's special encyclopedia. This is a one-volume fundamental publication, which is rightfully considered one of the most complete 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 black mustard seed. Despite the fact that this is an annual plant, its height can reach two and a half and even three meters. It has a branchy stem, due to which some ignorant people can mistake it for a tree. Moreover, it is really very attractive to various birds. Especially for carduelis. They not only hide in its dense crown, but also eat healthy oil seeds with a diameter of about one millimeter.
The interpretation of the parable
The parable of mustard seed, the interpretation of which is given in this article, should teach us how small an unbeliever and ignorant person is. Only a sermon planted in the human soul, as in fertile soil, can bear fruit, rich seedlings.
In the same way, Jesus Christ likens the Christian church to the mustard seed. At first it was small and inconspicuous. But after the teachings of the son of a carpenter began to spread throughout the world, its significance grew more and more every year. As a result, the birds that take refuge in the branches of the mustard tree will be entire peoples who will find shelter in the shadow of this world religion. As we see, in this Jesus was right. Today, Christianity has become one of the major world religions on the planet.
Church striding the planet
Describing how the mustard seed grows, one gets the feeling that in a similar way Jesus Christ illustrates how the Christian church spreads to new countries and continents.
Thus, many researchers single out two images in this parable. Not only the multiplication of the influence of the church, but also the spread of the apostolic sermon.
Orthodox theologian Alexander (Mileant), bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, who from 1998 to 2005 led the entire South American episcopate, 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 the journey was inconspicuous for the majority of those around it by the religious community, represented by a small group of Galilean fishermen, for two thousand years covered the whole planet. From wild Scythia to sultry Africa. From the dank Britain to the mysterious and mysterious India.
Archbishop Averky agrees with him (Taushev). Another bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, who headed the episcopate in Syracuse in the 60-70s. He also writes that a sermon sprouts in the soul of a person, as in the parable of the mustard seed. For children, this image is very clear and affordable. They immediately understand what is at stake.
Of course, Averky notes, from one preaching of the effect it is most likely impossible to see the effect. But over time, barely noticeable trends will increasingly capture the soul of man. It will finally become a full-fledged repository of exceptionally virtuous thoughts.
Interpretation of John Chrysostom
An original interpretation of this parable is offered by St. John Chrysostom. This is the famous archbishop of Constantinople, who lived in the IV-V centuries of our era. 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 the mustard seed already 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, seemed unpretentious and insignificant. His age was small, Christ lived only 33 years.
It is quite another matter that his age in heaven was incalculable. In addition, several hypostases joined together in it alone. Son of man and son of God. He was afflicted by people, but his suffering made Jesus so great that he surpassed all his predecessors and followers who similarly tried to lead the nations.
He is inseparable from his heavenly Father, therefore it is on his shoulders that 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 was able to cleanse the souls from filth due to his own warmth, under his shadow he is ready to shelter anyone who needs it from worldly heat.
After death, his body seemed to be sown in the ground. But he showed an enviable fruitful power, having risen in three days from the dead. By his resurrection, he glorified himself more than any prophet, although during his lifetime he might have seemed to many less and less worthy of them. His fame eventually blossomed from earth to heaven. He himself sowed himself on earthly soil and grew into the world leading to his heavenly Father.
