Characteristics of the Mustard Seed

Characteristics of the Mustard Seed

In Jesus’ day, the mustard seed was considered a weak, unclean thing because it could be combined in a mixture with other plants, animals, and fibers. Such mixing was considered a violation of the Jewish rules of order and cleanliness. The beauty of Jesus’ reference to the characteristics of the mustard seed is that the kingdom comes from God’s rule through faith in the lives of those once considered unclean and insignificant. Also, the kingdom comes from a small beginning, one person. Yet, the person was God Himself in the form of a human. So size did not limit power. We often think only of Jesus’ reference to the mustard seed as a reference to size. Indeed, He did put much emphasis on the fact that even small faith can move mountains, but there is even more to His message about the influence of the mustard seed as well as its faith potential.

From Jesus and His 12 disciples arose the church, which became a powerful force in the world, similar to the mustard seed’s tree that could grow as high as 15 feet, large enough for birds to perch on. The mustard seed has rapid growth. It can bring forth a great harvest. In like manner, if we exercise faith in God even as small as that of a mustard seed, God can use us insignificant, unclean people to bring about a great harvest. With Christ, we are no longer unclean but a temple of the Holy Spirit, God Himself. The early church did experience and still does phenomenal growth. It might be important to add that mustard had been used for five centuries before Christ for its healing properties. Jesus heals.

Jesus did not mean for us to have little faith, but faith like that of a mustard seed which is unaffected by its surroundings. Jesus did not champion little faith. It’s faith that is unwavering that moves mountains. One knows that in gardens many varieties of vegetables will take on the characteristics of other plants surrounding them. But the mustard seed is not like that. A person can plant a mustard seed even on top of another seed, and it will still be the same–mustard. Thus our faith should be like that of a mustard seed. No matter what the conditions around us, our faith should stay the same and stay focused on Jesus and His will, trusting that He is in control.

The fact that the mustard seed’s tree became a reality lets us know that God’s kingdom has come through Jesus and that His ultimate reign is assured as well. So Mustard Seed Faith is not a contradiction but an earthly object that Jesus elevated to the status of a spiritual symbol of a heavenly reality. Jesus does the same for us. He takes us where we are and makes something beautiful of our lives. Thank you, Jesus.