Can you explain that analogy? In what is the kingdom of heaven like a mustard tree?
How does Jesus describe it?
Mat 13:31-32 WEB 31 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, 32 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.”
What does Jesus say?
The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. What does he say about the size of the seed?
What does he say about how large it grows?
What does he say about the impact of tree, on the animals?
Are you saying the kingdom of heaven tiny as a mustard seed at one time, but then it grew bigger?
What does it look like to you?
Mat 13:31-32 WEB 31 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, 32 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.”
Or is it like a mustard tree because it has bird-analogues living in it?
Mat 13:31-32 WEB 31 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, 32 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.”
What does Jesus say?
What are analogous to the birds exactly?
There's been plenty of speculation about this, but that is tertiary to the point Jesus is making.
Mat 13:31-32 WEB 31 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, 32 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.”
What does Jesus say?
Either way, I agree it is very curious!
Good!
Everything he says should make you very curious.
What does Jesus say?
Mat 13:31-32 WEB 31 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, 32 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.”
Not what you think is being said.... what is he actually saying?
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny seed.
It grows into a huge tree.
I don't know about you, but the largest mustard plant I've ever seen is no more than maybe 4 feet tall and a couple of feet in diameter. Not large enough to handle birds.
So there's something different about this tree.
It's much much larger than a normal mustard plant.
Abnormally huge.
It can handle all the birds that come to lodge in its branches.
Therefore it would appear that it's non-discriminatory. Whosoever wants to come and gain rest and nutrition from it may do so.
Jesus told another parable about a king who was preparing a wedding feast for his son. He'd invited the nobles, and others, but they were too busy to be bothered, so he commanded his servants to go out into the highways and byways, and alleyways and invite everyone they found. To compel them to come.
So, clearly this is a non-discriminatory Kingdom.
If he's inviting people who are in alleyways-- bums, criminals, the worst sorts he has invited.
Birds are varied.
There are the smaller ones, and scavengers, vultures, birds that are seed eaters, and meat eaters.
So, it's pretty clear that God's Kingdom is wide open for anyone who wants to come, and nobody is excluded.
It starts off small. Just a few members. It grows in what some would consider an organic growth. By word of mouth, inviting friends, neighbors, relatives, as it grows, and becomes a Kingdom that fills the entire world.