In Luke’s gospel the best texts carefully link the parable of the mustard seed with what goes before: “He said therefore…” (RV). This context is completely different from that in Matthew. So the reader is left to conclude either that Jesus spoke these two parables together on two different occasions (a thing not unlikely in itself), or that Matthew, according to his usual method, has brought together in chapter 13 a number of parables that were spoken on different occasions.
There has been no little difficulty in identifying the mustard Jesus referred to. But whichever it might be, there is no mustard seed which makes a tree. A bush, perhaps, in specially favourable circumstances.
The facts supplied by the gospels are these:
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Author: Harry Whittaker
Keywords: mustard seed, leaven, parables, parable of the mustard seed, smallest seed, Parable of the leaven
Bible reference(s): Matt. 13:31-33, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-21
Source: Studies in the Gospels.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.