Matthew 13:32

Which, indeed, is the least of all seeds.

The least of all the field or garden seeds sown in Palestine. Less in proportion to the size which it obtains at its maturity.-- P. The mustard-seed is not the least of all seeds in the world, but of all which the husbandman was accustomed to sow; and the "tree," when full grown, was larger than the other herbs in his garden.-- Maclear.

But when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs.

All herbs cultivated in the fields or gardens of Palestine. Not absolutely, but in relation to the small size of the seed. The herb of our English garden is but. pygmy in comparison with the giant growth of. richer soil and. warmer clime. Dr. Hooker measured. mustard-plant in the Jordan Valley ten feet high.-- Biblical Things not Generally Known. It grew into an herbaceous plant, as tall as. horse and his rider.-- Thomson. The growth of. mighty kingdom is not here for the first time likened to that of. tree. Many of our Lord's hearers must have been familiar with such. comparison from the Scriptures of the Old Testament.-- Trench. Daniel uses the growth of the tree to typify that of an earthly kingdom (Daniel 4:10-12), Ezekiel to symbolize that of the kingdom of God (Ezekiel 17:22-24. comp. Psalms 80:8-11). This is the point to which the Lord calls special attention, not to the greatness of the mustard-tree in itself, but its greatness as compared with the seed from whence it springs; for what he would teach his disciples was not (merely) that his kingdom should be glorious, but that it should be glorious despite its weak and slight and despised beginnings.-- Trench.

And becometh. tree.

Professor Hackett, after long and doubtful search, found on the plains of Akka, on the way to Carmel,. little forest of mustard trees, which he thus interestingly describes: "It was then in blossom, full grown, in some cases six, seven, and nine feet high, with. stem or trunk an inch or more in thickness, throwing out branches on either side.. was now satisfied in part.. felt that such. plant might well be called. tree, and, in comparison with the seed producing it,. great tree. But still the branches, or stems of the branches, were not very large, or apparently very strong. Can the birds,. said to myself, rest upon them? Are they not too slight and flexible? Will they not bend or break beneath the superadded weight? At that very instant, as. stood and revolved the thought, lo. one of the fowls of heaven stopped in its flight through the air, alighted down on one of the branches, which hardly moved beneath the shock, and then began, perched there before my eyes, to warble forth. strain of the richest music. All my doubts were now charmed away.. was delighted at the incident. It seemed to me at the moment as if. enjoyed enough to repay me for all the trouble of the whole journey."

A PPLICATION.--"The interpretation of the parable lies almost on the surface. Here, again, the sower is the Son of man; but the seed in this case is not so much the 'word' as the Christian society, the church, which forms, so to speak, the first-fruits of the word. As it then was, it was smaller than any sect or party in Palestine or Greece or Italy. It was sown in God's field of the world, but it was to grow till it became greater than any sect or school,. tree among the trees of the forest,. kingdom among other kingdoms,--a great organized society; and the birds of the air, i. e., the systems of thought, institutions, and the like, of other races, were to find refuge under its protection." This parable, like most others respecting the kingdom of God, has. double reference,--general and individual. (1) In the general sense the insignificant beginnings of the kingdom are set forth; the little babe cast in the manger at Bethlehem; the man of sorrows, with no place to lay his head; the crucified One; or again the hundred and twenty names who were the seed of the church after the Lord had ascended; then we have the kingdom of God waxing onward and spreading its branches here and there, and different nations coming into it. (2) The individual application points to the small beginnings of divine grace;. word,. thought,. passing sentence, may prove to be the little seed which eventually fills and shadows the whole heart and being, and calls all thoughts, all passions, all delights, to come and shelter under it.-- Alford.