Chapter 5—“Like a Grain of Mustard Seed”
This chapter is based on
Matthew 13:31, 32
;
Mark 4:30-32
;
Luke
13:18, 19
.
In the multitude that listened to Christ’s teaching there were many
Pharisees. These noted contemptuously how few of His hearers ac-
knowledged Him as the Messiah. And they questioned with themselves
how this unpretending teacher could exalt Israel to universal dominion.
Without riches, power, or honor, how was He to establish the new
kingdom? Christ read their thoughts and answered them:
“Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what
comparison shall we compare it?” In earthly governments there was
nothing that could serve for a similitude. No civil society could afford
Him a symbol. “It is like a grain of mustard seed,” He said, “which,
when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that
are upon the earth, yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh
greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the
birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.” (R.V.).
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The germ in the seed grows by the unfolding of the life-principle
which God has implanted. Its development depends upon no human
power. So it is with the kingdom of Christ. It is a new creation.
Its principles of development are the opposite of those that rule the
kingdoms of this world. Earthly governments prevail by physical
force; they maintain their dominion by war; but the founder of the new
kingdom is the Prince of Peace. The Holy Spirit represents worldly
kingdoms under the symbol of fierce beasts of prey; but Christ is
“the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
John
1:29
. In His plan of government there is no employment of brute
force to compel the conscience. The Jews looked for the kingdom
of God to be established in the same way as the kingdoms of the
world. To promote righteousness they resorted to external measures.
They devised methods and plans. But Christ implants a principle. By
implanting truth and righteousness, He counterworks error and sin.
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