steven-nemes
Puritan Board Sophomore
Some debate arose between myself and some friends last night regarding the proper interpretation of the parables Jesus tells in Matthew 13, particularly these two:
Now I don't have an official interpretation of the parable dealing with leaven and three measures of flour, but as far as the mustard seed one is concerned, I understand it thus: the mustard seed represents the true church in the New Testament era, which begins as a very small community, but gradually grows larger and larger than all other groups, and it is a benefit and a blessing to those who are even not a part of it (the birds).
Now this is my untrained interpretation of it, which seems to me to be a common sense reading of the parable to anyone who has no real extensive knowledge. What is your (and perhaps major historical figures') take on it?
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Now I don't have an official interpretation of the parable dealing with leaven and three measures of flour, but as far as the mustard seed one is concerned, I understand it thus: the mustard seed represents the true church in the New Testament era, which begins as a very small community, but gradually grows larger and larger than all other groups, and it is a benefit and a blessing to those who are even not a part of it (the birds).
Now this is my untrained interpretation of it, which seems to me to be a common sense reading of the parable to anyone who has no real extensive knowledge. What is your (and perhaps major historical figures') take on it?