Day 33: February 29

February 29th, 2024
by Christine Eliason

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 13:24-43

Matthew 13

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

32 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.”

OBSERVATION
Don’t you love the parables of Jesus?

A parable is a story using common objects to tell of a larger concept or idea. It is a word picture or long-form metaphor. All of Jesus’ parables are found in the three synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

This parable compares the Kingdom of God to a Mustard Seed. It has never lost its meaning. Two-thousand years after it was told we still understand the meaning of planting something and watching it grow. We can still easily relate to that. I love to garden, and I marvel every single time I put a seed in the ground how it sprouts and becomes a plant- large or small.

You might wonder why Jesus says the mustard seed is the smallest of seeds and the largest of garden plants when there are smaller seeds and larger plants/trees. This is because He is speaking using hyperbole- an exaggeration to make a point. He is emphasizing the change in size- small to large.

APPLICATION
There is a Messianic prophecy in Ezekiel 17 that correlates with the parable of the Mustard Seed:

22 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.

Jesus here is teaching us how the Kingdom of God will start small with very humble beginnings, and it will be started by people who are from lower-than-expected stations of life. This is the small mustard seed.

He is teaching that as the seed will grow into a large tree that will be home to a variety of birds so will the Kingdom grow exponentially to be a place that will bring truth and peace to the world.

We are a part of that Kingdom. The Kingdom that has faced some very hard times. Persecution has tried to stop it, but it has only grown! What an exciting time to be alive!

This entry causes me to reflect on the Elevation Worship/ Maverick City Music song entitled “Build Your Church”.

On Christ alone, our Chief Cornerstone

No other foundation can we build upon

Not philosophy nor the wisdom of man

All other ground is sinking sand

Upon this rock, You build Your Church

And the gates of hell will not prevail

When we bind and loose, we proclaim Your truth

And in Jesus' name, we will not fail

Never fail, oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh, He's building a church now, now, now

Crucified, raised up from the dead

Led captivity captive, it is finished

Oh, He gave us the keys, His authority

Now we are joint heirs to the praise of His glory, glory

Upon this rock, You build Your Church

And the gates of hell will not prevail (no, no)

PRAYER
Father, thank you for this picture of the Kingdom of God. I stand in awe of the unfolding of the prophecy in Ezekiel to the coming of Christ and how the church grew from twelve of your closest followers to the expansion of your Kingdom on every continent. How even today you call all people to faith and the response has blossomed into the beauty of your church- the representation of your Kingdom here on earth. Help me not to take for granted the privilege it is to be a part of Your Church and the building it.

Posted in Parable, OT Prophecy, Seeds, Hyperbole, The Church