Mark 4:30-34

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 ¹And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?

31 It is like ²a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,

32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

33 ³With many such parables he spoke ⁴the word to them, ⁵as they were able to hear it.

34 He did not speak to them ⁶without a parable, but ⁷privately to his own disciples he ⁸explained everything.

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 30-32, see Matthew 13:31, 32; Luke 13:18, 19
• 2. Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6
• 3. Matthew 13:34
• 4. See ver. 14
• 5. John 16:12; 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12
• 6. [John 16:25]
• 7. ver. 10; [Mark 13:3]
• 8. [2 Peter 1:20]