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(The parables of the mustard-seed and the leaven)
Matthew 13:31-32
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took,
and sowed in his field: [32] Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs,
and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
Matthew 13:31-35 (The parables of the mustard-seed and the leaven)
The scope of the parable of the seed sown, is to show that the
beginnings of the gospel would be small, but its latter end would greatly increase;
in this way
the work of grace in the heart, the kingdom of God within us, would be carried on.
In the soul where grace truly is, it will grow really; though perhaps at first not to be discerned,
it will at last come to great strength and usefulness.
The preaching of the gospel works like leaven in the hearts of those who receive it.
The leaven works certainly, so does the word, yet gradually.
It works silently, and without being seen,
Mark 4:26-29,
(And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
[27] And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
[28] For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself;
first the blade,
then the ear,
after that the full corn in the ear.
[29] But when the fruit is brought forth,
immediately he putteth in the sickle,
because the harvest is come. )
yet strongly;
without noise,
for so is the way of the Spirit,
but without fail.
Thus it was in the world.
The apostles, by preaching the gospel, hid a handful of leaven in the great mass of mankind.
It was made powerful by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, who works, and none can hinder.
Thus it is in the heart.
When the gospel comes into the soul, it works a thorough change; it spreads itself into all the powers and faculties
of the soul, and alters the property even of the members of the body,
(Romans 6:13
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that
are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. )
From these parables we are taught to expect a gradual progress; therefore let us inquire,
Are we growing in grace? and in holy principles and habits?
And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan
fainted by reason of the famine. [14] And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the
land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. [15] And when money failed
in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should
we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. [16] And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle,
if money fail. [17] And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for
the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
[18] When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how
that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies,
and our lands: [19] Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we
and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
[20] And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed
over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. [21] And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders
of Egypt even to the other end thereof. [22] Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned
them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. [23] Then Joseph
said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall
sow the land.
Genesis 47:13-26
(Joseph's dealings with the Egyptians during the famine)
Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an
account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin.
There was no bread, and the people were ready to die.
See how we depend upon God's providence. All our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two
or three years.
we shall be willing to become his servants.
Genesis 47:13-26 (Joseph's dealings with the Egyptians during the famine) Care being taken
of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is given of
the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin.
There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God's providence. All our wealth
would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years.
See how much we are at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love. Also see how much we smart
by our own want of care.
If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these
straits; but they regarded not the warning.
Silver and gold would not feed them: they must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We
cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor.
The whole is consistent with Joseph's character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God.
The Egyptians confessed concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives.
What multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the most tremendous
destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress!
The Egyptians parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it
then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who will both save our
souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here, in this present world?
Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be willing to become his servants.
See how much we are at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love.
Also see how much we smart by our own want of care.
If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits;
but they regarded not the warning.
Silver and gold would not feed them: they must have corn.
All that a man hath will he give for his life.
We cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor.
The whole is consistent with Joseph's character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God.
The Egyptians confessed concerning Joseph,
Thou hast saved our lives. What multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from
the most tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress!
The Egyptians parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who
will both save our souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here, in this present world?
Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be willing to become his servants.
Here we can see the preparation for the Great Exodus of the children of Israel.
No one would and could see the hand of God in this situation.
This looked like that Joseph was betraying both, God and his fellowman by his actions.
God had a plan
Joseph, who was a dreamer and was sold as a slave, by his brothers.
I suppose that neither Joseph or his brothers knew what God had purposed for his chosen people.
We know that trials and troubles comes our was often.
As it stated above that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed.
Here we have a perfect example of how that a seed of God was among the worst famine.
This famine was to last seven years.
This would cause many to sell everything, even themselves to slavery, to Pharaoh.
Times was really rough and there seemed to most, that there was no way out.
Paul experienced a like situation, He was in a storm.
Acts 27:20 (KJV)
And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved
was then taken away.
Paul, did no allow the storm to control his ability to go steal away and seek the face of God.
Acts 27:22-23 (KJV)
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. [23]
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
The kingdom of God does not come with observation:
Luke 17:20 (KJV)
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luke 17:21 (KJV)
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
When we look at the situation around us and see with our eyes and begin to say, that because of this, God is causing the
situation. We could find ourselves in grave trouble.(
Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will
be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die,)
God has said that there would come a time that there would not be a famine of bread, but, a famine for the word of God.
Amos 8:11 (KJV)
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for
water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
When Jesus came, this prophecy was evident, the fact that when Jesus come there had not been a
prophecy for four hundred years.
The last words that Malachi spoke to the time that Jesus was born was Four hundred silent years. There was a famine for
the word of God
Evidence was presented at the preaching of John the Baptist. Thousands came to hear him.
Matthew 3:4-6 (KJV)
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and
wild honey. [5] Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, [6] And were baptized
of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Spiritually speaking, there was a real famine for the word of God. Rumors had been told that this was Elijah, who was to
come.
Matthew 11:14 (KJV)
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
These knew that God would destroy the world. They had thought that the End was near and all
mankind that had not received the word of God would be left to go through the Tribulation.
These were scared, they had thought they were going to be left out of the Kingdom. They were
thinking that they would have to endure the great time of trouble that was to come on all the world.
These here that came to John’s Baptism, had no idea that the kingdom was so near to them. They could only imagine
that if the Messiah did come, he would set up a kingdom on the earth and they wanted to be a part of it.
Psalm 27:5 (KJV)
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall
set me up upon a rock.
They had remembered these words and had, when John started to baptize with water, published it throughout the regions.
Isn’t it amazing how individuals react when there is no hope, or when they think that they are going to be left out
of the hope that God has for mankind?.
Joseph was a prime example of how God delivers his people. Seventy Five of his kinsmen were out of food and had heard that
there were food in Egypt.
Acts 7:11-15 (KJV)
Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
[12] But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. [13] And at the second time Joseph
was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. [14] Then sent Joseph, and called his father
Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. [15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
Many today are looking for the Kingdom of God. Many are looking and running here and there and
are finding excitement for the moment.
Many have put their trust in the flesh.
Just like these above that sold all their possessions in order to keep from starving, even they sold themselves to Pharaoh.
The flesh demands that we listen to that messenger, especially when we are fasting and praying for Spiritual food for our
Souls.
Jesus was temped to sell his soul:
Matthew 4:3 (KJV)
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
The flesh cries out for the satisfaction that it desires.
Matthew 17:20 (KJV)
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
This surly was a great mountain to these people who was there in the land of Egypt at that time.
The flesh begins to get real desperate to fine satisfaction to its lost hope.
The Mustard Seed was being planted in the earth with Joseph and the Mountain had become large and was going to become such
a large mountain that it could not be moved by any man.
The cries were great among the children of Israel in the land of Egypt.
For four hundred years they were in slavery and was agonizing in their Souls to be delivered. They had no Ideal what God
had planned even from the moment that Joseph was being sold by his brothers. They thought that they were getting rid of this
dreamer. This dreamer was the fulfillment of their hope that would come four hundred years later.
This mustard seed was there in the middle of their Slavery.
This mustard seed was growing and could not be seen with observation.
The time finally came for God to take that Mustard seed and Plant it into the Heart of one Child. This child was called
a fair child.
Hebrews 11:23 (KJV)
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was
a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
It takes courage to accept God at his word.
This mother of Moses was in the middle of the distress, the first born among the children of Israel was being sought out
to be killed and done away with.
There was no doubt that those Israelites had told among themselves that in the prophets, it stated that there would come
to them a deliverer.
This statement made its way up to the Top of the chain of command.
Satan can take what we saw and run with it and do a great deal of harm to our lives .
Mark 4:31 (KJV)
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
This mountain there among the Children of Israel, had become so high and mighty that it could only be removed by God.
Luke 13:19 (KJV)
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and
the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
The Exodus came with the children spoiling their neighbors and when Jacob came out of Egypt, he came out with great substance.
Hebrews 11:24-29 (KJV)
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; [25] Choosing rather to
suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; [26] Esteeming the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. [27] By faith he
forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. [28] Through faith he kept
the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. [29] By faith they passed
through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Luke 17:6 (KJV)
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine
tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
This tree that is so tall and stands in our way, has been described in:
Ezekiel 31:18 (KJV)
To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees
of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the
sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God.
good seed in his field:
We are the good seed in the field and the harvest is ready to reap.
Rev. 14:15 (KJV)
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.
enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat
brought forth fruit
whence then hath it tares
whence then hath it tares
Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest:
Gather ye together first the tares,
gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:24-30 (KJV)
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his
field:
[25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
[26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
[27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence
then hath it tares?
[28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them
up?
[29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
[30] 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.
This was taken from a Manuscript that another writer penned, as I though it is, and has a very intersting and informitive
description of Revelations of God's word.
This Writer above, zero's in on the Forshadow of what we all can come away with, that is if we look at this time that the
Children of Israel was in Bondage for Four Hundred Years.
There are Four Hundred Years mentioned in Prophecy Three times in the old Testament that is Prophecy to be unfolded.
It was told to Abraham, the Father of Faith, that God's called out people would go into the land of Egypt for Four Hundred
Years...Genesis 15:13 (KJV) And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land
that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Again we have another Four Hundred Year that stands out in Prophecy, which is what God told Ezekiel to Prophesy...Ezekiel
4:1-6 (KJV) Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even
Jerusalem:
[2] And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and
set battering rams against it round about.
[3] Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face
against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.
[4] Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the
days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.
[5] For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety
days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
[6] And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of
Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
The total of these are 430 Years.
We want to take the Four Hundred Years, and the Thirty Yeas, which was the time that Moses Received the Law on Mt Sinai...Galatians
3:17 (KJV) And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four
hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Here we have a very Interesting Revelation of God's Word.
From this we will take the Next Four Hundred that the above writer speaks about, that is, the Four Hundred years between
Malachi and the Birth of Jesus Christ.
Then we would add Thirty Years to that, which would again give us Four Hundred and Thirty Years.
This is the Revelation of that which, along with, that of God allowing Joeseph to provide food for the deliverence
of God's People from Egypt.
As I have written in other Revelations of God's word, that Egypt represents that of the Flesh, and the Desires to turn
to the flesh to satisfy the famine that we face in our lives.
Jesus being Thirty Years old, was there in the River Baptizing along with John.
This gives us Three Periods of Four Hundred & Thirty Years.
1 Four hundred and thirty--- "The Law Given"
2 Four hundred thirty years --- " The Seige Of Jerusalem.
3 The four hundred Silent Years --- Plus Thirty Years later, Christ institutes a New Law, the Law of Mercy"
The writer above made mention of all that came out to the Baptism of John, that they were told that the end was near.
We are now told once again that the end is near, and that we have other Prophecy's that we believe to give us warning signs
of the Coming of Christ once again.
This time to Gather the Tare's and burn them.
Also to Gather the Good Wheat, that Mustard seed that has grown to be the Tallest Tree in the earth, into the barn, or
into the Kingdom of God.
I have written that John the Baptist took the place of Elijah, and that Jesus Christ was the fulfilment of that Moses spoke
about...Deut. 18:15 (KJV) The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren,
like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
God the Father instructe those that were there at that time to "Hear Ye Him"
Another Revelation that is possible, not saying that this is supposed to be that which would place fear upon the reader,
as it did when John was Baptizing, is, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock Mass. in the year of 1620.
If we ould take the Revelations of the Four Hundred Years and Add that to our being a Christian Nation, this would place
us at the year of 2020.
With the Jews Returning to the land of Israel, and becoming a nation in 1948, do we have what is now called the "Seventy
Year that is determined upon My People"
It was 70 Years that the Children went into Captivity in Babylon
It was 70 Years that the man made Temple was torn down as Jesus fortold the Disciples that it woud be.
If we take another, the Third Seventy Years, and we Add it to the time that the Jews became a Nation, this would take us
to the year 2018, within Two years of the year of 2020.
We know that Jesus told us the following...Matthew 24:32-34 (KJV) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When
his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
[33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. [34] Verily I say unto
you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Some have said that that Generation that Shall not Pass is the Generation that will behold the Son of Man Coming back again
for the Saints.
He is saying that those that were Standing there as he uttered the Revelaion, woud not die, or pass until all things woud
be fulfilled, meaning that he did Fulfill all that was to come at the Cross.
Daniel 9:27 (KJV) And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he
shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,
even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
What he is talking about here is that which I described above, those that were standing there was to witness the fulfillment
of Jesus Splitting the Week in Half.
Here is where John was coming in the Sprit to replace Elijah, and Jesus was coming to Replace Moses the two wittnesses.
They were the Oblations and those Jews that were filled with Satan, cause it to Cease, that is they Crucified Jesus,
Cut the Head of John off, and thought that the Seed would not ever Grow into a Large Tree.
That would leave Satan to be the Largest Tree in the Earth...Matthew 3:10 (KJV) And now also the axe is
laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
This Axe is now laid at the Root of the Tree, that Tree that Daniel was Prophesying about...Daniel 4:14 (KJV)
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let
the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
This Axe was the Holy Ghost that is now coming in the middle of the Week, to cut down that tree, and scatter it to
the Four Winds of Heaven.
Here is where Jesus is takin, along with John, the first half of Tribulation, or the Seven Times that Daniel was talking
about...Daniel 4:23 (KJV) And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying,
Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass,
in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the
field, till seven times pass over him;
Here is where Seven Times, or Seven Years of Tribulation woud have Come on the People that was coming out to John's Baptism.
They were littery scared to death.
God brough forth the Man Child that was to rule the nation, and that would Possess the Kingdom forever...Daniel 7:9-10
(KJV) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
[10] A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times
ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
The books were opened there at the Cross, and the first one to go into Paradise was that Thief on the Cross.
He was usherd into the Kingdom without doing anything except to take hold of Mercy that hung there on the Cross...Ephes.
2:9 (KJV) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is where Giving is More Blessed than Receiving.
God Gave his Son, and God was bless with Thousands and Ten thouands, with many more sons and daughters in
his kingdom.
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