He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”
33 He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, 35 to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation [of the world].”
Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed and to yeast. Both parables reveal the same truth: God’s Kingdom begins in a way that may appear small and insignificant, yet it produces results far beyond what anyone would expect.
The mustard seed was commonly used as an image of smallness. Yet from that tiny seed grows a large plant in which “the birds of the sky come and dwell” (v. 32). This image recalls Old Testament descriptions of great kingdoms as trees that provide shelter for many nations (Daniel 4:9; Ezekiel 17:22–24; 31:6).
Jesus began His public ministry with a small group of disciples in Galilee, an obscure region of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless, after His Resurrection, the Gospel would spread throughout the world as His disciples carried out His command to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The birds dwelling in the branches therefore point toward the gathering of people from every nation into God’s Kingdom.
The parable of the yeast presents the Kingdom’s power in another way. Yeast works quietly within the dough. It may remain unseen, but its effect eventually reaches the whole batch.
The amount of flour in the parable is unusually large—enough to make bread for more than one hundred people. Jesus uses this abundance to emphasize the extraordinary effect produced by something so small. The Kingdom may begin almost unnoticed, but it possesses the power to transform everything it touches.
God’s Kingdom works in this way within the world and within each human heart. Grace often works quietly as we hear God’s Word and respond faithfully to the many opportunities He provides. These actions may appear ordinary, yet God can use these responses to bring about changes far greater than we may ever recognize.
Christians are also called to become instruments of this transformation. Like yeast within dough, they are to live faithfully within the world, allowing the Gospel to influence their families, communities, workplaces, and society through their words and example.
Matthew then explains that Jesus’ use of parables fulfills Psalm 78:2: “I will open my mouth in a parable, unfold the puzzling events of the past.” Through familiar images, Jesus reveals what had been hidden from the foundation of the world—the saving plan of God now being fulfilled in Him.
The Kingdom does not depend upon impressive beginnings, visible power, or immediate success. Its growth comes from God. What He begins in apparent smallness will accomplish His purpose.
Lord Jesus, strengthen our faith when Your work seems small or hidden. Help us to trust the power of Your Kingdom and to allow Your grace to transform our hearts and the world around us. Amen.
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Sources and References
- Brown, Raymond E., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. Page 656, paragraphs 89–90.
- Casciaro, Jose Maria, gen. ed. The Navarre Bible: New Testament, Expanded Edition. Dublin: Four Courts Press; New York: Scepter Publishers, 2008. Pages 93–95.
- Collins, John J., Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, OP, and Donald Senior, CP, eds. The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century. Third Fully Revised Edition. With a foreword by Pope Francis. London: T&T Clark, 2022. Pages 1199–1200.
- Hahn, Scott, and Curtis Mitch. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010. Page 31.
- Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010. Pages 180–181.
- The New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2011. Notes on Matthew 13:10–15, 31–35.
- Aguilar Chiu, Jose Enrique, et al., eds. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. New York: Paulist Press, 2018. Page 936.
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