Luke 13:19
It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."
It is like a mustard seed
The phrase "It is like a mustard seed" introduces a powerful metaphor used by Jesus to describe the Kingdom of God. The mustard seed, known in Greek as "σίνεπι" (sinapi), is renowned for its minuscule size yet remarkable growth potential. In the historical context of first-century Palestine, the mustard seed was a common agricultural reference, symbolizing something that starts small but grows significantly. This imagery emphasizes the humble beginnings of God's Kingdom, which, though seemingly insignificant at first, expands into something grand and influential. The mustard seed metaphor encourages believers to trust in the transformative power of God's work, even when initial signs appear modest.

that a man took
The phrase "that a man took" highlights human agency in the Kingdom's growth. The Greek word for "took" is "λαβών" (labōn), suggesting an intentional action. This implies that the Kingdom of God requires active participation and stewardship by its followers. Historically, this reflects the agrarian society of the time, where sowing seeds was a deliberate and necessary task for growth. Spiritually, it calls Christians to engage actively in spreading the Gospel and nurturing their faith, trusting that their efforts, though small, contribute to the larger work of God's Kingdom.

and planted in his garden
The phrase "and planted in his garden" signifies the deliberate placement and nurturing of the seed. The Greek word for "planted" is "ἔβαλεν" (ebalen), meaning to cast or place. The garden, or "κήπος" (kēpos), represents a cultivated space, suggesting that the Kingdom of God is not random but intentionally established in the world. This imagery evokes the idea of the Church and individual believers as gardens where the Word of God is sown and nurtured. Historically, gardens were places of sustenance and beauty, symbolizing the life-giving and transformative nature of God's Kingdom.

And it grew
The phrase "And it grew" captures the miraculous and inevitable expansion of the Kingdom. The Greek word "αὐξάνω" (auxanō) means to increase or become greater. This growth is not merely physical but spiritual, indicating the dynamic and living nature of God's Kingdom. Historically, the rapid growth of the early Church, despite persecution and challenges, exemplifies this principle. For believers, this growth is a source of hope and assurance that God's purposes will prevail, encouraging them to remain faithful and patient.

and became a tree
The phrase "and became a tree" illustrates the transformation from a small seed to a large, sturdy plant. The Greek word "δένδρον" (dendron) refers to a tree, symbolizing strength, stability, and shelter. In the biblical context, trees often represent life, prosperity, and divine blessing. This transformation signifies the Kingdom's ability to provide refuge and support to those who seek it. Historically, the image of a tree would resonate with Jesus' audience, familiar with the significance of trees in their environment and scripture. Spiritually, it reassures believers of the Kingdom's enduring presence and protective power.

so that the birds of the air
The phrase "so that the birds of the air" introduces the idea of inclusivity and hospitality within the Kingdom. The Greek word for "birds" is "πετεινά" (peteina), and "air" is "οὐρανοῦ" (ouranou), meaning sky or heaven. Birds often symbolize freedom and diversity, suggesting that the Kingdom of God is open to all, transcending cultural and social boundaries. Historically, this reflects the early Church's mission to reach all nations and peoples. For believers, it is a call to embrace diversity and extend God's love and grace to everyone.

nested in its branches
The phrase "nested in its branches" completes the parable with an image of safety and community. The Greek word "κατεσκήνωσεν" (kateskēnōsen) means to dwell or settle, indicating a sense of belonging and rest. The branches, or "κλάδοις" (kladois), represent the support and structure provided by the Kingdom. This imagery evokes the idea of the Church as a sanctuary where individuals find spiritual nourishment and fellowship. Historically, it reflects the growth of Christian communities as places of refuge and support. For believers, it is a reminder of the peace and security found in God's Kingdom, encouraging them to create welcoming and nurturing environments for others.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The speaker of the parable, teaching about the Kingdom of God.

2. Man
Represents those who spread the message of the Kingdom.

3. Garden
Symbolizes the world or the sphere of influence where the Kingdom is planted.

4. Mustard Seed
Represents the Kingdom of God, starting small but growing large.

5. Tree
The mature Kingdom, providing shelter and support.

6. Birds of the Air
Symbolize the nations or people who find refuge in the Kingdom.
Teaching Points
The Power of Small Beginnings
The Kingdom of God often starts in small, seemingly insignificant ways, but has the potential for tremendous growth and impact.

Faithful Planting
Like the man who plants the mustard seed, believers are called to faithfully sow the seeds of the Gospel, trusting in God's power to grow it.

Kingdom Growth
The growth of the Kingdom is both inevitable and divinely orchestrated, reminding us of God's sovereignty and purpose.

Providing Refuge
As the Kingdom grows, it becomes a place of refuge and support for many, reflecting God's inclusive love and care.

Participating in God's Work
Believers are invited to participate in the expansion of God's Kingdom, contributing to its growth through their actions and witness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the parable of the mustard seed challenge our understanding of what is significant in God's Kingdom?

2. In what ways can we actively participate in planting and nurturing the seeds of the Kingdom in our own communities?

3. How does the imagery of the tree providing shelter inspire us to create environments of refuge and support in our lives?

4. What are some small beginnings in your life that God has used to bring about significant growth or change?

5. How can we trust in God's sovereignty and timing when we don't immediately see the results of our efforts in spreading the Gospel?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 13:31-32
This parallel passage also describes the mustard seed parable, emphasizing the growth of the Kingdom.

Daniel 4:12
The imagery of a tree providing shelter is used in Daniel's vision, symbolizing a kingdom's influence and reach.

Ezekiel 17:23
Another prophetic vision of a tree where birds find shelter, symbolizing God's Kingdom.

Genesis 12:3
The promise to Abraham that all nations will be blessed through him, connecting to the idea of the Kingdom's expansive reach.
The Grace and Progress of God's KingdomR.M. Edgar Luke 13:1-21
On the Kingdom of GodBishop Dehon.Luke 13:18-19
The External Progress of the Kingdom as Illustrated by the Growth of the Mustard-SeedT. T. Shore, M. A.Luke 13:18-19
The Growth of the Kingdom of GodW. Clarkson Luke 13:18, 19
The Mustard-SeedR. Flint.Luke 13:18-19
The Mustard-Seed and the LeavenJ. Wells, M. A.Luke 13:18-19
People
Hen, Herod, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, Pilate
Places
Jerusalem, Road to Jerusalem, Siloam
Topics
Air, Becomes, Birds, Branches, Cast, Drops, Fowls, Garden, Grain, Grew, Grows, Heaven, Heavens, Increased, Large, Lodged, Mustard, Mustard-seed, Nested, Nests, Perched, Planted, Rest, Resting-places, Roost, Seed, Sky, Soil, Sowed, Thereof, Threw, Tree, Waxed
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 13:19

     4240   garden, natural
     4468   horticulture

Luke 13:18-19

     4402   plants
     8465   progress

Luke 13:18-21

     2345   Christ, kingdom of
     8443   growth
     9155   millennium

Library
A Changed Life
TEXT: "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity: And he laid his hands on her; and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."--Luke 13:11-13. These verses present to us one of the most interesting stories imaginable--of interest to us first because it is one of our Lord's miracles,
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

True Sabbath Observance
'And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13. And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Strait Gate
'And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23. Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not he able. 25. When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Message to Herod
'And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33. Nevertheless I must walk to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.'--LUKE xiii. 32, 33. Even a lamb might be suspicious if wolves were to show themselves tenderly careful of its safety. Pharisees taking Christ's life under their protection were enough to suggest a trick. These men
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xiii. 21 and 23, Where the Kingdom of God is Said to be "Like unto Leaven, which a Woman
1. "The three measures of meal" [3461] of which the Lord spake, is the human race. Recollect the deluge; three only remained, from whom the rest were to be re-peopled. Noe had three sons, by them was repaired the human race. That holy "woman who hid the leaven," is Wisdom. Lo, the whole world crieth out in the Church of God, "I know that the Lord is great." [3462] Yet doubtless there are but few who are saved. Ye remember a question which was lately set before us out of the Gospel, "Lord," it was
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xiii. 6, Where we are Told of the Fig-Tree, which Bare no Fruit for Three Years; and of The
1. Touching "the fig-tree" which had its three years' trial, and bare no fruit, and "the woman which was in an infirmity eighteen years," hearken to what the Lord may grant me to say. The fig-tree is the human race. And the three years are the three times; one before the Law, the second under the Law, the third under grace. Now there is nothing unsuitable in understanding by "the fig-tree" the human race. For when the first man sinned, he covered his nakedness with fig-leaves; [3442] covered those
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 11 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Mat. 7:13, 14. 1. Our Lord, having warned us of the dangers which easily beset us at our first entrance upon real religion, the hinderances which naturally arise from within, from the wickedness of our own hearts; now proceeds to apprize
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Mustard Seed: a Sermon for the Sabbath-School Teacher
At this time of the year, Sabbath-school teachers come together especially to pray for a blessing on their work, and pastors are invited to say a word to cheer them in their self-denying service. This request I would cheerfully fulfill, and therefore my discourse will not be a full explanation of the parable, but an adaptation of it to the cheering of those who are engaged in the admirable work of teaching the young the fear of the Lord. Never service more important; to overlook it would be a grave
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 35: 1889

Accidents, not Punishments
Now, men and brethren, such things as these have always happened in all ages of the world. Think not that this is a new thing; do not dream, as some do, that this is the produce of an overwrought civilization, or of that modern and most wonderful discovery of steam. If the steam engine had never been known, and if the railway had never been constructed, there would have been sudden deaths and terrible accidents, not withstanding. In taking up the old records in which our ancestors wrote down their
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Liii. Repentance Enjoined. Parable of the Barren Fig-Tree.
^C Luke XIII. 1-9. ^c 1 Now there were some present at that very season [At the time when he preached about the signs of the times, etc. This phrase, however, is rather indefinite--Matt. xii. 1; xiv. 1] who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sabbath Healing. Mustard Seed and Leaven.
(Probably Peræa.) ^C Luke XIII. 10-21. ^c 10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day. [Our Lord's habit of teaching in the synagogue, which had been for some time interrupted by his retirement, had probably been revived during the mission of the seventy.] 11 And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up. [The use of the word "spirit" in this verse indicates that the curvature of the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Strait Gate. Warned against Herod.
(Peræa.) ^C Luke XIII. 22-35. ^c 22 And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem. [This verse probably refers back to verse 10, and indicates that Jesus resumed his journey after the brief rest on the Sabbath day when he healed the woman with the curvature of the spine.] 23 And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? [It is likely that this question was asked by a Jew, and that the two parables illustrating the smallness of the
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

At the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple.
ABOUT two months had passed since Jesus had left Jerusalem after the Feast of Tabernacles. Although we must not commit ourselves to such calculations, we may here mention the computation which identifies the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles of that year [4376] with Thursday the 23rd September; the last, the Great Day of the Feast,' with Wednesday the 29th; the Octave of the Feast with the 30th September; and the Sabbath when the man born blind was healed with the 2nd of October. [4377] In that
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Christ's Discourses in Peræa - Close of the Peræan Ministry
From the Parables we now turn to such Discourses of the Lord as belong to this period of His Ministry. Their consideration may be the more brief, that throughout we find points of correspondence with previous or later portions of His teaching. Thus, the first of these Discourses, of which we have an outline, [4708] recalls some passages in the Sermon on the Mount,' [4709] as well as what our Lord had said on the occasion of healing the servant of the centurion. [4710] But, to take the first of these
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Historical Situation
1. When Tacitus, the Roman historian, records the attempt of Nero to charge the Christians with the burning of Rome, he has patience for no more than the cursory remark that the sect originated with a Jew who had been put to death in Judea during the reign of Tiberius. This province was small and despised, and Tacitus could account for the influence of the sect which sprang thence only by the fact that all that was infamous and abominable flowed into Rome. The Roman's scornful judgment failed to
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Early Ministry in Judea
113. We owe to the fourth gospel our knowledge of the fact that Jesus began his general ministry in Jerusalem. The silence of the other records concerning this beginning cannot discredit the testimony of John. For these other records themselves indicate in various ways that Jesus had repeatedly sought to win Jerusalem before his final visit at the end of his life (compare Luke xiii. 34; Matt. xxiii. 37). Moreover, the fourth gospel is confirmed by the probability, rising almost to necessity, that
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Barren Fig-Tree.
"There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Completeness and Universality of his Character.
THE next feature we would notice is the completeness or pleromatic fullness of the moral and religious character of Christ. While all other men represent, at best, but broken fragments of the idea of goodness and holiness, he exhausts the list of virtues and graces which may be named. His soul is a moral paradise full of charming flowers, shining in every variety of color under the blue dome of the skies, drinking in the refreshing dews of heaven and the warming beams of the sun, sending its sweet
Philip Schaff—The Person of Christ

The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course.
1. Christ has instructed his disciples to expect opposition and difficulties in the way to heaven.--2. Therefore a more particular view of them is taken, as arising from the remainder of indwelling sin.--3. From the world, and especially from former sinful companions.--4. From the temptations and suggest ions of Satan.--5, 6. The Christian is animated and encouraged, by various considerations, to oppose them; particularly by the presence of God; the aids of Christ; the example of others, who, though
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Sluggard.
The sluggard. The wishes that the sluggard frames, Prov 6:10; 24:30; 22:13; 20:4 Of course must fruitless prove; With folded arms he stands and dreams, But has no heart to move. His field from others may be known, The fence is broken through; The ground with weeds is overgrown, And no good crop in view. No hardship, he, or toil, can bear, No difficulty meet; He wastes his hours at home, for fear Of lions in the street. What wonder then if sloth and sleep, Distress and famine bring! Can he in
John Newton—Olney Hymns

St. Athanasius,
PART I (AD 325-337) Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria by whom Arius had been excommunicated, died soon after returning home from the Council of Nicaea; and Athanasius, who was then about thirty years of age, was chosen in his stead, and governed the Alexandrian Church for six-and-forty years. Every one knows the name of St. Athanasius, from the creed which is called after it. That creed, indeed, was not made by St. Athanasius himself; but, as the Prayer-book says, it is "commonly called" his, because
J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation

Wesley's Remarkable vitality
1752. Sunday, March 15 (London).--While I was preaching at West Street in the afternoon, there was one of the most violent storms I ever remember. In the midst of the sermon a great part of a house opposite to the chapel was blown down. We heard a huge noise but knew not the cause; so much the more did God speak to our hearts, and great was the rejoicing of many in confidence of His protection. Between four and five I took horse, with my wife and daughter. The tiles were rattling from the houses
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

The Hopeless Condition of the Left-Behind Ones.
What will happen when Christendom awakens to the solemn fact that the real Church, the Church of God, has been removed from this earth and taken to be with the Lord? Again we say, it is not difficult for our imagination to supply the answer. But we are not left to the exercise of our imagination; the Holy Scriptures contain a plain and full reply to our inquiry. The Word of God intimates that following the Rapture of the saints many of the left-behind ones will earnestly seek the salvation of their
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

First Attempts on Jerusalem.
Jesus, almost every year, went to Jerusalem for the feast of the passover. The details of these journeys are little known, for the synoptics do not speak of them,[1] and the notes of the fourth Gospel are very confused on this point.[2] It was, it appears, in the year 31, and certainly after the death of John, that the most important of the visits of Jesus to Jerusalem took place. Many of the disciples followed him. Although Jesus attached from that time little value to the pilgrimage, he conformed
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

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