Verses 31, 32. Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven [the heavens] is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of [less than] all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among [greater than] herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”
IN the parable of the sower, the seed is the word of God. In that of the wheat and tares, the wheat represents INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS. In this parable, the grain of mustard seed, in its original character as a herb, corresponds with the CHRISTIAN CHURCH in its lowly form as at first planted in the earth.
The first parable relates to the sowing of the seed; the second, third, and fourth are added as parables of the kingdom by the word "another." The fifth, sixth, and seventh are subjoined by the word "again.”
The parable of the grain of mustard seed corresponds in point of time with the era marked by the address to the Church in Pergamos (Rev. 2.), when the Church, at first planted in lowliness and humility, assumed the appearance of worldly greatness, and passed from under the persecuting power of Imperial Rome, to be the subject of its patronage, in the reign of Constantine the Great; corresponding typically with the reign of Jeroboam, who, by his corruption of religious worship, made Israel to sin.
The tree, with its lofty height and wide-spreading branches, is an emblem of earthly dignity and greatness. (Compare Daniel 4) But the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples, as recorded in Matthew 20:25-2825But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25‑28), are these, "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion [lordship] over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister: and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”
For the Church to become great in the earth is contrary to its original character and design; whereas, with regard to the Kingdom of the Messiah (compare Daniel 2:34, 3534Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:34‑35)), the stone cut out without hands, after having smitten the image on the feet, becomes the great mountain, filling the whole earth. Emblematic of Him who on earth was the meek and lowly One; but, who after He will have exercised judgment upon Gentile power, in its last finished form of evil, will establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace throughout the whole earth.
The One who sowed the mustard seed is the Lord Jesus; the field is the world, as belonging to Him; the grain of mustard seed is the Christian Church as at first planted in the earth. The great tree is Christendom as it appears in its outward form of earthly dignity and worldly prosperity. The birds of the air are those evils, introduced by the enemy, which are harbored and sheltered beneath its patronage.
The fear of the apostle Paul was that the Church should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ (2 Cor. 11:2, 32For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2‑3)); and this corruption was foreseen and foretold by the Lord Jesus. What is needed in these last times is that the Church should return to her first love (Rev. 2:4, 54Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:4‑5)). The love of a chaste virgin espoused to one husband, and to do the first works in lowliness and humility, and in separation from the world, as the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, watching and waiting for His return, and desiring to be found of Him in peace, at His coming, without spot and blameless.