Mark 4:30

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? ¹

Mark 4:30 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 4:30

And he said
Still continuing his discourse on this subject, and in order to convey to the minds of his disciples clearer ideas of the Gospel dispensation, the success of the Gospel, and the usefulness of their ministration of it, for their encouragement, how unpromising soever things might then be:

whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison
shall we compare it?
It was usual with the Jewish doctors, when about to illustrate anything in a parabolical way to begin with such like questions; as, (hmwd rbdh hml) , "to what is this thing like" ^F4? when the answer is to such or such thing, as here.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 T. Hieros. Bava Bathra, fol. 16. 2. T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 82. 1. & Sabbat, fol. 108. 1. & passim.

Mark 4:30 In-Context

28 All by itself the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.

29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come. ”

30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it?

31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.

32 But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

Cross References

• 1. (Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19)