Some of these things are to be seen in the Lord’s Kingdom of Heaven parables. As already noted in the first parable it is difficult to cultivate the truth. A sower went forth to sow the Word of God, but more often than not it fell on places where it couldn’t germinate or grow. And then in the good soil where the truth did sprout, the wicked one came along and made sure that there was an abundance of prickly thorns or luscious wild oats and tares.
This third parable adds some more information about our corrupted social condition. This is the first of the entire set which the Lord Jesus doesn’t interpret for us. Why is that? Could it be that expects us to grasp what has already been taught and grow with it? He wants us to look at the mustard seed and to understand it based upon the information which He has already given to us. In fact this is the only way to study and to learn from the Word of God. Every time a verse or two is lifted from the context in which God set it – we are headed toward disaster. Often our neighbors do that inadvertently – everyone considers himself to be an expert in things. But even worse than that, there have been hundreds of professional Bible-twisters and cult-starters whose primary tool is the out-of-context quotation.
Let’s use the parable of the mustard seed as an illustration of what I mean. The highlights are – tiny seed, big tree, birds in the branches. The theologian, Carl Marx, taught that this is a Biblical prophecy of the salvation of the proletariat. Marx’ version of socialism and communism was going to become a huge tree and into it would fly all the peoples of the earth. It would take root in Europe but its branches would shade even Asia and the Americas. What evidence is there in the parable itself to suggest such a thing? That is imagination alone. Sure there is the suggestion of the exceptional growth of something originally small, but what is that tiny mustard seed?
There is another very common interpretation which is much more pleasant, but perhaps doesn’t have any more merit than the idea of communism. I have heard these verses applied to the spreading of the gospel or Christianity. The gospel is definitely a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Christianity began in lowly beginnings at Bethlehem and Nazareth – a stable, a baby – a tiny mustard. But that small seed mushroomed into a huge tree shading the entire world through its missionaries. And it is still growing until during the upcoming Millennium every weed, every pest, every dirty and diabolical detail will be overcome by the righteousness of Christ. At that time all the wonderful little creatures of the universe will enjoy the Lord’s bounties. But in the mean time they are still invited to rest in its branches and enjoy its fruit.
Despite some of the truth of what I just said, is that what the Lord is teaching in this parable? Remember that it is part of our job as Biblical exegetes to stay within the context.
Let’s start with the UNNATURAL GROWTH of a very TINY SEED.
As I’ve mentioned a couple of times, I have never been a farmer – I’m not an expert in such things. But I have read, seen, experienced and learned a few things during my few years upon this earth. For example, my mother didn’t like prepared mustard – the kind which squeezes out of the yellow bottle. She either bought powered mustard in a can or she grew her own on small bushes. Fresh mustard or mustard recently reconstituted with a bit of water is infinitely more flavorful and powerful than anything French’s tries to sell. What I am trying to say is that I have seen mustard seeds – and what I saw was very small. I have seen mustard in small bushes, and I can picture them getting to be perhaps 3 or 4 feet high. But I’ve never seen a mustard the size of a spreading oak or a lofty maple tree. I’m not an expert, but it seems to me that for this tiny sed to grow into an hundred foot herb tree would be very unusual.
Now clearly, the Bible teaches that trees can have symbolical meanings – that is no just a guess on my part. The Lord Jesus used a fig tree to represent Israel – a kingdom, a nation. In Daniel 4 – Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a tree – and God said that the tree was Babylon. Ezekiel 31:3 describes the kingdom of Assyria as a cedar tree – a conifer common to that area. Based on these things when you read of trees in God’s Word you are learning about trees – or perhaps about some sort of kingdom. Since Matthew 13 is a chapter full of parables, we should quickly realize that this is not just a tree. But if this is referring to a kingdom, which kingdom? Does the parable actually tell us?
Then there is a second question – Is this the same seed as found in the first two parables? We have no name or description given to us about the seed in either of the first two parables. But the way in which the sower was working, and then with the introduction of the tares, it appears that the good seed was something like wheat, barley or oats. Mustard is not the sort of crop that an ordinary farmer would sow over a hundred acres of land. Despite that possible difference, let’s say that we are still talking about the roots of true Christianity. As we noticed before, the good seed is not necessarily proof of good growth or a good harvest. The good seed can be corrupted by such things as the environment or the work of an enemy.
And what is the environment for strengthening and sustaining this little seed’s unnatural growth? Just like the daisy in your garden, as grows the root, so grows the stem and eventually the flower. Why was this mustard so unusual? The only way to support that huge trunk and monstrous canopy was a root sent deep into the earth. It is my opinion that this parable is about corrupted Christendom – not true Christianity – and its strength is to be found in its union with the world.
The Bible teaches that in the days just prior to the return of Christ, the world will be filled with corrupted Christendom. There will be a ton of religion, but not the kind with much resemblance to that of the disciples of Christ. In fact in the last days there will be more and more pretended christs – even anti-Christ. II Thessalonians tells us that the final hours of this modern era will be characterized by a falling away from the truth but with a clinging to the semblance of religion. II Peter tells us that the last days will be filled with scoffing toward the things of God. There will be a concerted attempt to deceive even the professed saints of the Lord. The kingdom of Heaven on this earth right now has been corrupted and distorted. And if you’ll look around – this distorted version is growing astronomically.
In Revelation 2:12-16 Christ spoke to the church at Pergamos. “Pergamos” means “married” – or “elevated by marriage.” The context of what the Lord said indicates that particular church was filled with the world and worldly lusts. That church was married to the world. Ever since Constantine united religion and government, Christendom has had an ungodly heaven/earth relationship. Those churches since the beginning of the fourth century which remained true to God and His Word, have felt the oppression of the Wicked One. It will always be that way, even was it was in Elijah’s day, David’s day and Jeremiah’s day. When church unites with the world, there will be unnatural, spectacular growth, but the Lord is not pleased.
What about those UNWANTED GUESTS in this mustard tree?
Who are the birds taking up residence in this corrupted Christendom tree? If we let our minds wander, we could come up with all kinds of answers. But God has already told us who they are – let the scriptures interpret themselves. In the parable of the sower (or the soils) birds came and ate up the seed of the Word of God. In verse 10 Christ explains that they work for the Wicked One – who is elsewhere described as the Prince of the Power of Air. Since all three of these parables were deliberately given to us in the same context, I think that we should try our best to interpret similar images in similar ways. These birds are not new Christians who have flown in to take up residence in Heaven.
This tree has become a sanctuary for evil. Just look about you at the state of religious Christianity. Forget, for a moment, about what the Muslims and Hindus are saying and doing. What is happening under the umbrella of Christendom? First there are the outer fringes of Christendom which have wormed their way into the inner core. Do you remember when Mormonism was considered to be as heathen as volcano worship? Without changing anything of real importance, Mormonism is an accepted part of modern Christianity. It is a branch of the Christian mustard tree. Just because Mary Baker Paterson Glover Eddy’s religion calls itself “Christian Science” some people think that it both scientific and Christian, while it is really nether one. Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Christians, just because they talk about Jehovah? We could talk about a dozen other recent cults which are widely perceived as Christian today.
But the greater problem are those long time sects and denominations within accepted Christianity which are filled to overflowing with the world. I haven’t researched the subject but I wish that someone would and then let me know – What is the percentage of so-called “Christian” denominations publically promote homosexuality? There are certainly several dozen which openly accept homosexual priests and ministers. I tell you that there are crows and ravens in the branches of this Christendom. How many Christian denominations no longer teach that Christ was virgin born? How many deny the justice and judgment of God, just because the idea of Hell disgusts them? How many so-called Christian leaders encourage euthanasia, abortions and even drug use? Some of the most horrific wars have been fought with Christianized arguments. Someone told me the other day, I’ve forgotten who it was – Someone told me that when they are forced to be out of town on Sunday, unless they know of a good church to attend, they don’t just pick one from the phone book and visit. I understand. I have been disgusted attending what I had hoped to be a descent worship service. How many Baptist churches refuse to use the Bible any more, because they have never studied the history of the destruction of the Word of God? Another person recently told me about visiting a church in which the hard-driving rhythm of the “worship music” was so loud that it actually hurt their ears. It didn’t appeal to the spirit, but to the flesh – it wasn’t worshipful, it was hurtful. Look at all the really ugly birds sitting in the branches of the Kingdom of Heaven. There are the prosperity gospel preachers, and the thousands of “feel-good” preachers. And there are the preachers who minister strictly for the prosperity and in order to feel good. The Bible mentions of lots of these ugly birds – Balaam, Nadab, Korah, Judas, and Diotraphes. Religious History gives us too many name to even waste our time trying to remember their names.
We’ve been warned against them elsewhere in the scriptures. Don’t “marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” The apostles “told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” I believe that when Christ gave us this parable it was to warn us.
A couple years ago I read an article about my favorite goose – Branta cana-densis – the Canada Goose. Apparently they are so plentiful in some places – parks, golf courses, airports – they are a hazzard. They get walk ways and parks slick and sticky and full of disease. And they are aggressive, trying to keep people away from their nests and food. Several years before that I read of a swarm of starlings, so thick that they blotted out the sun. They flew into a small rural community and ate just about every green plant in the place. When they sat in the trees the color changed from green to black. And the sound was deafening. The Kingdom of heaven is suffering in the same way from the birds of Satan.
Our parable doesn’t describe the ULTIMATE END of our mustard tree.
But again, we can reach into the context and determine a few things. “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Obviously, these verses are speaking more of the individual birds than of the kingdom itself. But that there will come a time of complete judgment and correction. Of that there can be no doubt.
We can thank God that the conclusion of this confusion is in the Lord’s hand. One day, in the not too distant future, the Lord will drop His sickle into the religious hodgepodge and the wicked will be separated from the righteous. “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” Before the time of this harvest in Revelation, the Bible says that you and I will be taken from the field or the tree. With the coming of the Lord for His saints, the rest of humanity will be open and exposed to the scythe. Eventually there will begin an extended period when the Lord’s wheat will flourish – the great Millennial Kingdom. Are you ready for that day? Are you ready for the preceding judgment?