I’m both captivated and confused by Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field” (Matt. 13:31). Really, Jesus? Are you telling us that the sovereign rule of eternal God—spanning from before the creation of time to the endless future eons when all the saints and angels will worship at the cosmic throne of Christ—is like … a mustard seed?
Well, yes, says Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The kingdom of heaven is indeed like that nearly microscopic seed, brassica nigra, also known as the black mustard plant. Jesus adds more: “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” (Matt. 13:32).
Black mustard is notable in that it can grow from a tiny grain to a six-foot-tall plant in one growing season. Black mustard is also a weed, an invasive species whose green foliage and tiny yellow flowers can quickly crowd out native species to take over both garden and roadside. Not such a positive image, Jesus.
Better images could be recommended. Perhaps the majestic and famed cedar of Lebanon from Ezekiel 17:22-24? Still adorning the modern flag of Lebanon, the cedrus libani grows up to 130 feet (40 meters) tall and 8 feet (2.5 meters) wide. “The kingdom of heaven is like the cedar of Lebanon, which starts as a seed and grows into a massive forest tree” would make much more sense—birds do come and perch in a cedar’s inviting branches.
Yet the gospels do not equivocate. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. The more I think about it, the more thankful I am that Jesus doesn’t heed my advice. On this side of Christ’s return, we don’t often experience God’s kingdom in its bigness. Instead, we resonate with Jesus’ declaration, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed … (n)othing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20; Luke 17:6).
In the kingdom of heaven, small seeds do grow into mighty things. We have a tendency to associate God’s work with the big, shiny, and beautiful. More often than not, though, the Holy Spirit works through small acts of grace and faithfulness to yield a kingdom harvest.
It’s the weekly trip to pray with residents of the nursing home behind the church that God uses to comfort the lonely and hurting. It’s the early morning cup of coffee with a friend going through a divorce that reconnects him to Jesus. It’s taking a few minutes each week to get to know our neighbors that gives us occasion to share our faith. It’s taking an acquaintance to her doctor’s appointment that demonstrates God’s love to someone who has known none.
The same is true of our churches. Compelling vision, excellent facilities, and solid programs have roles to play in the life of the church. But the “mustard seeds” grow it. Small words of kindness, unobtrusive acts of compassion, heartfelt prayers, shared tears and laments—these are the things God uses to put down deep roots and grow strong stems in the church.
That brings us back to the perching birds of the mustard seed parable. Jesus would have confused his original audience with his assertion that birds could “perch” on a mustard plant. Sure, a tiny bird could land on a mustard plant, at least momentarily. But at the end of day, the black mustard plant is little more than a tall weed.
By evoking an image of perched birds, Jesus is reminding us that the kingdom of heaven is more than a floppy weed. It has the strength of Ezekiel’s great cedar. Small kingdom acts of grace and faithfulness attract others to take shelter in Jesus’ strong branches. Small seeds grow into mighty things.