Mustard Seed & Leaven
18Then said he, "Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it." 20And again he said, "Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Luke 13:18-21)
In doing much study concerning the parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven in Luke 13 (can be also found in Matthew 13 - different time period), I have come to the conclusion that the commentators are split 50/50 over the meaning of the parables. Some commentators argue that the parables are to be seen in a positive light, i.e., the parables illustrate the growth of the Kingdom of God. Other commentators, however, argue that the symbols given in the parables (birds, leaven) are to be seen in a negative light and illustrate the permeation of apostate churches, evil, etc. in the Kingdom of God. One commentator varied from both of these ideas and stated that the birds represented the Gentiles who would be brought in to the Kingdom of God, but as one of our deacons stated, "Aren't they grafted in?" For as long as I can remember, I have heard preachers (and now commentators) debate over the meaning of this passage. I do not have a 100% perspective on what it means though I tend to side with the "negative" viewpoint. If any of you scholars, or Bible-studiers, have an answer to this, let me know!
18Then said he, "Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it." 20And again he said, "Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Luke 13:18-21)
In doing much study concerning the parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven in Luke 13 (can be also found in Matthew 13 - different time period), I have come to the conclusion that the commentators are split 50/50 over the meaning of the parables. Some commentators argue that the parables are to be seen in a positive light, i.e., the parables illustrate the growth of the Kingdom of God. Other commentators, however, argue that the symbols given in the parables (birds, leaven) are to be seen in a negative light and illustrate the permeation of apostate churches, evil, etc. in the Kingdom of God. One commentator varied from both of these ideas and stated that the birds represented the Gentiles who would be brought in to the Kingdom of God, but as one of our deacons stated, "Aren't they grafted in?" For as long as I can remember, I have heard preachers (and now commentators) debate over the meaning of this passage. I do not have a 100% perspective on what it means though I tend to side with the "negative" viewpoint. If any of you scholars, or Bible-studiers, have an answer to this, let me know!
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