Read like a Hebrew

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Misinterpretation by the Greek Church

   The kingdom starts small and grows larger and larger.
   If we have faith like the seed, we can perform miracles, such as moving mountains into the sea—miracles which no one seems able to do.
   We debate whether the birds are angels, demons, or Gentiles.
   We question and defend Jesus’ statement that the mustard seed is the smallest, even though others know it’s not.

This is NOT biblical preaching!

Hear the WORD of the LORD!

The True Meaning of the Parable:

   Jesus is the seed of the woman foretold in Genesis 3:15.
   He became the least of all seeds because He served us through His life, death, and resurrection.
   The Greek word for mustard sounds like the Hebrew for bruised by anger, pointing to Jesus’ suffering and obedience.
   The prophecy of the seed of the woman encompasses His incarnation, humility, trials, temptations, and ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

The mustard seed (Jesus) grew into the great herb:

   Grass was given to cattle to eat, and herbs were given to men to eat.
   The greatest food for men is the body of Christ.
   Eating symbolizes learning, making Jesus not only the Bread of Life but also the ultimate teacher.

In the nativity, this truth is echoed:

   Baby Jesus is laid in a manger filled with grass, symbolizing the Word made accessible to all, feeding both cattle (sheep, or God’s people) and men.
   The grass at His birth mirrors the bread at His death, both pointing to the spiritual nourishment found in Him.

The Tree and the Birds

   The tree represents the cross.
   The birds are those who live in the Spirit, finding rest and salvation in the branches of the cross.

Moving the Mountain

   The Hebrew word for waters, מים (mayim), contains two mems, symbolizing the Father and the Son.
   The Father is Spirit, and the Son is Truth.
   At Sychar, Jesus told the woman at the well that worship would no longer be tied to a mountain but would be in Spirit and Truth.
   The mountain (earthly worship) is moved to the waters (Spirit and Truth).

The Parable as a Riddle

   The parable of the mustard seed, like many parables, contains a riddle—a deep truth revealed to those with ears to hear.
   As Ezekiel 17:2 says:
   "Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel."

The mustard seed parable points to Christ at every turn, revealed through the Word itself. It testifies to His humility, sacrifice, teaching, and ultimate fulfillment of the Kingdom. Let us understand it as a profound revelation of Him who was bruised for our sake and grew into the tree of life for all who believe. You’ve hit the Free plan limit for GPT-4o. Responses will use another model until your limit resets after 11:38 AM.