Matthew 13:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Seeing the Lord had said above that three parts of the seed perish, and one only is preserved, and of that one part there is much loss by reason of the tares that are sown upon it; that none might say, Who then and how many shall they be that believe; He removes this cause of fear by the parable of the mustard seed: therefore it is said, Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed.

Although they may appear to be few, their influence encompasses the entire cosmos, allowing the birds of the air, representing those with elevated thoughts and insights, to find their abode upon them. Therefore, strive to be like a mustard seed, seemingly insignificant (for true virtue does not seek praise), yet filled with warmth, zeal, fervor, and a spirit of righteous condemnation. In this way, you will surpass the frail and imperfect, becoming perfected yourself, so that the heavenly birds, or angels, will find their rest upon you as you live an angelic existence. Indeed, the angels also rejoice in the presence of the righteous.

A grain of mustard seed may allude to the warmth of faith, or to its property as antidote to poison. It follows; Which a man took and sowed in his field.

The kingdom of heaven can be likened to a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds. This highlights the humble beginnings of the message, as expressed in the words ‘Fear not, little flock!’ (Lk. 12:32). When it flourishes, it becomes a large tree, surpassing all other seeds, for the gospel has spread to every corner of the earth. As it is written, ‘Into all the earth’ has gone the sound of their message (cf. Ps. 18:5). The birds of the air find shelter in its branches, symbolizing how the weary Gentiles discover solace through faith. 'Come to Me, all you who are burdened’ (Matt. 11:28), He calls to them.

The kingdom of heaven is the preaching of the Gospel, and the knowledge of the Scriptures which leads to life, concerning which it is said to the Jews, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you. (Mat. 21:43.) It is the kingdom of heaven thus understood which is likened to a grain of mustard seed.

As it develops, it surpasses all other herbs... The term ‘Ego,’ referring to the seed, is minimal in quantity yet maximal in quality or potency; consequently, it significantly increases in size. Similarly, the disciples, initially a small group, grew into an innumerable assembly. There stands a tree, allowing the birds of the air to come and nest in its branches... This serves as evidence of its vastness and strength. Some interpret the branches as the faithful, representing believers in whom heavenly beings, or angels, reside as protectors. Others suggest that the branches symbolize the virtues typically cultivated by the doctrine of faith; the birds represent those who transcend worldly concerns, soaring with the wings of intellect toward the heights of understanding and aspiring to the heavens.

Or; The Lord compares Himself to a grain of mustard seed, sharp to the taste, and the least of all seeds, whose strength is extracted by bruising.

The word regarding the mustard seed contains profound mystery, as the church fathers have noted, prompting us to explore its meaning based on the written account: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it has grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matthew 13:31-32). This illustrates the mustard seed and its remarkable attributes. The Lord, through this parable, aims for humanity to emulate Him in all His teachings. By calling it “the smallest of all seeds,” He encourages us towards humility, urging us to regard ourselves as lesser than others.

Why do those who speak irreverently invite the judgment of the Lord upon themselves? Why do those who revere God provoke the flames of Gehenna? They claim: God is unaware of the final day of the age. Indeed, He may not have revealed it, but He chose not to respond to foolish inquiries. Can the Creator of all time truly be ignorant of the hour or the day? All the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Him (Colossians 2:3). It is not unusual for the uninformed to predict the signs and dreadful events of the last day, describing them in terms similar to those of today. Rather, as I mentioned, He has not provided a definitive answer to this earthly question. Tell me, what benefit is there in knowing the day of the end? It is beneficial for us to remain unaware of it so that we may treat each day as if it were the final one, remaining vigilant and expectant for our Lord.

Christ Himself is the grain of mustard seed, who, planted in the garden of the sepulchre, grew up a great tree; He was a grain of seed when He died, and a tree when He rose again; a grain of seed in the humiliation of the flesh, a tree in the power of His majesty.

The kingdom is akin to a mustard seed and leaven. The tiny mustard seed expands into a large shrub, while the leaven infiltrates the entire batch of dough, causing it to rise. This presents two images: on one hand, it symbolizes the Church, which began with just the apostles and a few others and eventually flourished, encompassing all of humanity; on the other hand, it represents the spiritual journey unfolding within each individual. The initial seed is the commitment and resolve to be saved through faith that pleases God in the Lord and Savior. This determination, though powerful, resembles a small point at first. In the beginning, it only engages the mind and personal effort, but from this foundation, the entire spiritual life emerges.

Although it is the tiniest of all seeds, the size of its seed is remarkably small when compared to the plant it becomes; yet, when it matures, it surpasses all grains and grows into a tree, providing shelter for the birds of the air in its branches. In the hot regions like Judea, the mustard tree can reach heights unimaginable to us: a man on horseback can ride beneath its limbs, large ovens are fueled by its branches, and flocks of birds perch upon it without the branches breaking, even under the weight of a person. The seeds of this plant were regarded for their medicinal properties, making the plant widely recognized.

The mustard seed we refer to in this context is significantly distinct from what is commonly recognized by that name. In our region, it is an annual crop, relatively small, and associated with grains. Conversely, in the East and Palestine, it grows to the stature of substantial trees and bears fruit only a few years after the seed is sown. It can be climbed like a fig tree, providing shelter for birds of the air. However, the seed from which such a large tree arises is exceedingly tiny, prompting the Jews to use the mustard seed as a metaphor for something diminutive (cf. Mt 17:20, Mk 4:31, Lk 13:19, Lk 17:6). Through this parable, the Lord intended to illustrate the means by which the gospel message would proliferate.