Why the Mustard Seed?

I try my best not to question the Word, but often I come across imagery that just doesn’t translate into something meaningful to me. That is, until I take a deeper look.

One example of this is when Yeshua compares our faith and the Kingdom of YeHoVaH to a mustard seed. I get it — it’s small and grows into something big. Yet, I am quite sure there are smaller seeds and bigger plants or trees that could have painted this picture just as effectively, if not better.

But, what if that wasn’t the only message that Yeshua was trying to get across? 

Let’s start with the metaphor where the parable of the mustard seed is first used. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Yeshua likens the Kingdom of YeHoVaH to the mustard plant.

“And He said, “To what shall we compare the reign of Elohim? Or with what parable shall we present it? Like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth, and when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all plants, and forms large branches, so that the birds of the heaven are able to nest under its shade.”
– Mark 4:30-32 (ISR)

What exactly did Yeshua imply by “greater”? I have a feeling that it does not suffice to say size alone.

Mustard is an herb. While it is quite large compared to other herbs, what is so special about it is how densely it grows. Wild mustard spreads quickly, densely covering the surrounding area. Due to this trait of the plant, it greatly suppresses weeds from growing.

This was HUGE to me! So often the Scriptures refer to the harvest of the wheat and tares. This imagery reveals to us that the Kingdom of the Almighty has the power to suppress the growth of the tares! It is the Kingdom above all kingdoms. Praise Yah!

The mustard seed is also likened to faith.

“And Yeshua said to them, Because of your unbelief, for truly, I say to you, if you have belief as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move. And no matter shall be impossible for you.”
– Matthew 17:20 (ISR)

When we look at the characteristics of the mustard plant, there are a few details that can be pondered on:

  • Germination takes place in the cool season.
  • It flourishes in fertile soil, and grows rapidly.
  • Within 4-5 weeks, the plant covers the ground.

The teacher in me loves homework, so I will leave it to you to dig deeper into these and see what connections YeHoVaH reveals to you.  

My final point is the most impactful of all.

I felt a yearning to research the Hebrew word for mustard, which is חרדל. Each Hebrew letter has a picture associated with it, stemming from the ancient Paleo-Hebrew alephbet. Here is the breakdown:

  • Chet (ח) – Fence/Inner Room
  • Reysh (ר) – Head/Person
  • Dalet (ד) – Pathway/Door
  • Lamed (ל) – Authority/Shepherd Staff

So, when looking at the Hebrew word pictures for the word mustard, we see that the innermost part of a person is the pathway or door to the Shepherd. 

The Hebrew word for mustard literally gives a definition for faith. How awesome is that!

I try my best not to question the Word, but often I come across imagery that just doesn’t translate into something meaningful to me. That is, until I take a deeper look.

The Breath of Life

I love how descriptive the Word of Yehovah is. We are often given metaphorical imagery to help us understand spiritual concepts.

These comparisons not only give us a tangible idea of what Scripture describes but, I imagine, that each metaphor also carries secret keys to understanding the physical world.

We are often called “the body of Messiah” in the Scriptures:

“For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Messiah, and members each one of one another.”
– Romans 12:4-5

We also know that we are created in the image of Elohim. Imagine, then, all the ways that our bodies reveal the glory of our Creator!

Recent studies have shown that the average human body is composed of approximately 37 trillion cells- not including the at least equal amount of foreign cell bodies that live in us, too.

97% of all cells in the body fall into one of six categories: red blood cells, glial cells, endothelial cells, dermal fibroblasts, platelets, and bone marrow.

Over 70% of ALL cells in our bodies are red blood cells. This means that most of our actual body is responsible for carrying oxygen to other cells. The other really important thing that red blood cells do is remove carbon dioxide from our cell tissues.

Glial cells, once thought to simply be neuron-insulators, are now being investigated more deeply as some scientists believe they could be responsible for our creative thoughts. They make up 90% of our brain. Another important function of glial cells is, again, to transport oxygen and nutrients to neurons.

Endothelial cells create a one-cell thick lining in all of our blood vessels. They ensure a smooth ride for our oxygen-carrying RBCs.

Dermal Fibroblasts are found in our skin, and aid in healing when we are wounded!

Platelets, another vital component to healing in our bodies, specifically work to seal any breaks in the endothelial lining of our blood vessels.

Lastly, we have bone marrow cells that are responsible for the cultivating of our blood cells.

This means that 97% of the human body is directly involved with the transport of oxygen to our cells.

“And YeHoVaH Elohim formed the man out of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils breath of lives. And the man became a living being.”
– Genesis 2:7

We that make up the body of Messiah all have this breath of life! What an interesting parallel the Father has given us in the design of our own bodies.

Just as our cells minister to one another, we are to do the same.

We are each filled with the Ruach haKodesh, the Holy Spirit, and we manifest different gifts that we are to use in support the body of Messiah as a whole.

How amazing! Baruch Hashem YeHoVaH!

I leave you with this…

As these cells bring life-breath to the functioning tissues of our bodies, they also rid the body of waste.

“And, according to the Torah, almost all is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
– Hebrews 9:22

Our blood moves throughout the body, cleansing it. Individual cells are the vessels for cleansing. They are carried by the blood and they are filled with the breath-of-life!

I encourage you to dwell on this thought. We know of the power of the Blood. It courses through our (endothelial-lined) veins.

Each of us has the privilege of being vessels of the Holy Spirit.

Let us continue to work together as one body of many members, until the day He is crowned as King of Kings.