Parables of the mustard seed and the yeast

Jesus used two short parables to describe to His disciples what the kingdom of heaven is like. Unlike most of the parables in the Bible, the disciples didn’t ask Him what these parables mean because the meaning was clear to them. But the meaning of these parables wasn’t clear to me until recently.

Here’s the first parable:

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 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.”
Matthew 13:31-32

The interesting thing to note about this parable is that Jesus said the mustard seed grew into a tree that was large enough for birds to perch in its branches. Why is this important? Because there are several varieties of mustard plants found around the world today but they only grow to a height of about two feet tall or about 609 millimeters.

Here's a picture of children standing in a field of mustard plants.

Jesus then continued with a second parable:

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13:33

Of course, yeast, also called leaven, causes the dough to rise or expand. So the point Jesus is making with these two parables is that the kingdom of heaven expands. Why? To include the new believers who find salvation in Jesus Christ.

There are different ways that people are led to Christ, such as visions and dreams from God, but it primarily happens when we fulfill the great commission by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others (1 Corinthians 15:1-5).

May God richly bless you as you share the gospel of Jesus with those you encounter along your life’s journey.

References
WikiPedia: Mustard Plant