Can you help me understand this parable?

Question

i have to do this for church. i have to write what the verse mark 4:30-34 is about and what themessage is. my teacher said i could use the internet to help so its not cheating.
please help!!!

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Answer 1

The first means that faith starts small (like a mustard seed) but, grows and flourishes and that one person with a lot of faith can help many.

Also, Mark 4:30 can be read to say that although the kingdom of God (faith and religion) may, on Earth, seem to occupy a small space, taken over by other things in our daily lives but when supplemented and helped by the soil (teachers, priests etc) it will grow and take over our other priorities and eventually offer shelter to many (birds symbolizing people).

The second is just about how Jesus used parables to spread his message to the ordinary people but explained their meaning to the disciples.

Answer 2

This parable does not mean what many people think it means. Jesus gave the interpretation of the symbols when he explained the parable of the sower to his disciples in Matthew 13: 18-23. And when he explained the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13: 37&38. He told them the seed was the message of the kingdom, the one who sowed the seed was the Son of man, the field is the world, the birds are Satan or his messengers. The key to understanding this parable is to realize that for a mustard seed to grow into a tree is unnatural and not good. So I think an accurate interpretation of this parable would be: "The gospel which Jesus took and planted in the world, the gospel of God’s kingdom (reign) began small, yet when the kingdom grows it becomes an enormous monstrosity so that Satan’s people become church leaders."

Answer 3

This parable is about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom begins very small - the mustard seed. Then the Kingdom of God grows and grows until it is the largest thing around. The birds of the air nest in its branches - this means that even thoses who are not part of the Kingdom of God still find shelter, protection, benefits from the Kingdom of God.

In its form the Kingdom of God is those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. It starts small - just the apostles and some disciples. On Pentecost Day there are thousands who join the Church. As St. Paul begins his missions, the church spreads throughout the Roman world. Today there are about 2 billion people who call themselves Christians.

Answer 4

You have some excellent answers here, especially from "confused" (who is certainly not), "white fea.." & "wally". Most people here turned it around to represent faith.., it means exactly what Jesus said it meant. it means "the kingdom of God is LIKE: and then goes on to say what it's like. The "kingdom of God" is the ruling kingdom over all believers in Jesus and it started out very small and insignificant and has grown into the "rule" in many people's lives. We don't live by "law or rules of do and don't" like the Jews/Israelites did under the old covenant God made with Abraham and Moses, but we live by FAITH in God and that HE provided for us through His Son Jesus the necessary provision to BE His children again. This kingdom we enter upon faith in Christ, then is being colonized into a place where we follow our King and do His will "in earth as it is in heaven". God does and says things so that we are impacted on several levels at once. This parable is about the literal kingdom, the church on earth, but also is about how God's lordship in our individual lives begins small and then overtakes all of us spirit, soul and body.
Then of course, Jesus taught His twelve and other immediate followers, his disciples in depth and detail. Someone said to pray and ask the Holy Spirit.., that's good advice. God teaches us all things personally that way even if it come through a teacher or here on this forum.., Ask and you will receive..., Some of our answers will be confirmed and just "seem right" to you and it will help.

Answer 5

The seed answer is Erin.

this is what my theology teacher told us it meant:

faith can start out small, like a mustard seed, but it can grow and flourish

hope this helps :)


The parables...A lot of people followed Jesus for the miracles for themselves, others to mock and blaspheme, and yet others it was free food and a side show..

although the leaders would not listen to Jesus they always sought a sign..


Mt. 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Jesus grosses out others He does not want.

John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

THE REASON JESUS SPOKE IN PARABLES AND WHY THEY COULD NOT HEAR. [ three reasons ]


Mt. 13:15 [1.] For this people's heart is waxed gross,

[2.] and their ears are dull of hearing,

[3.] and their EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED;


lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

[ The word fell on good ground ]

ACTS 17
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,

in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,

and SEARCHED the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.


BUT TO HIS TRUE DISCIPLES AND OTHERS THAT TRULY FOLLOWED.

JOHN 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

lK. 8;9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 Now THE PARABLE is this: The seed is the word of God.

Answer 6

First, it's good that your church is asking you to read and to understand what you're reading. Also, as one of the people who responded said, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into what the Bible really has to say.

Now, remember that Jesus is talking to the 12 disciples, in private, after He had spoken to the crowds. The key is right there in the first verse you're quoting--it's the Kingdom of God. The other responders have mentioned many things, all of them good, and I can only add that the Kingdom of God began with Jesus plus all who believe in Him. Compare this with John 12 or 13 where He said that except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it won't bring much fruit. Just so, Jesus began the Kingdom of God--I haven't found that concept mentioned in the Old Testament--but it's our privilege to share that message with as many as we can!

Hope that helps, and may God bless you!

Answer 7

The majority of preacher will emphasize the size of the seed, saying that just a little faith can initiate huge results. However, they do miss out on another point.
A mustard seed is absolutely pure. It only takes one small seed to spread the falvour through any type of food. This means that it's not only about the size of your faith, but the purity as well.

Answer 8

It means that the Kingdom of God is very small ( the grain of a mustard seed ) is very small right.

but, when it is sown ( spread) it becomes larger and larger....

So, it means that the more the word of God is spread, the more the people will follow it and the kingdom will get larger and larger:)

Answer 9

Jesus was speaking about the growth of his message. Not only on a social, global front. But on a personal one as well. That the seed of justice and love will grow; not only in the world, but within each person who hears and believes it. And it has!

Answer 10

The mustard seed represents us as Christians. The mustard seed by the way is one of the smallest plant seeds in the entire world. It does however reproduce the fastest, spreading its seeds far and wide with the use of the wind. So it is saying that with faith, trust, and a relationship in Jesus, we can grow strong and share our faith (seeds) with the rest of the world.