Plants and Foods of the Bible · The Field · Plant

The Mustard Seed

The smallest seed in the field, through which Jesus spoke about faith and about the Kingdom of God

Key verse
Matthew 13:31-32
Where we find it
The fields and gardens around the Sea of Galilee
What it reminds us of
Small beginnings, faith and growth
Illustration: The Mustard Seed

Stories from Scripture

The Mustard Seed in the stories of the Bible

  1. Jesus and the crowds

    The kingdom that grows like a tree

    Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man sowed in his field. It is the least of all seeds, but when it has grown it is greater than the herbs, and the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

    Matthew 13:31-32

  2. Jesus and His disciples

    Faith as a grain of mustard seed

    The disciples could not heal a sick boy, and they asked Jesus why. Jesus told them that if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed, they could say to the mountain, “Remove hence to yonder place,” and it would move; “and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

    Matthew 17:20

  3. The apostles

    “Increase our faith!”

    The apostles asked the Lord, “Increase our faith.” Jesus answered that even faith as a grain of mustard seed could tell a tree to be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea. The power is not in how big our faith is, but in the God we believe in.

    Luke 17:5-6

From the world of the Bible

Did you know?

  • The seeds of black mustard are only one or two millimeters across, so they were among the smallest seeds sown by the people of Galilee.

  • In the warm climate around the Sea of Galilee, mustard can grow in a few months to two or three meters tall.

  • Little birds love mustard seeds, and they perch on the branches of the plant to peck at them.

From the Holy Scriptures

What do we read in the Bible about the mustard seed?

31 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.

In kids’ words: The Kingdom of God began with Jesus and a few disciples, but it has grown and today it includes people from all over the world.

20 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.

In kids’ words: What matters most is not how big our faith is, but how big the God is whom we trust.

Verses are quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Read each passage in the context of its chapter in the Bible.

What the mustard seed teaches us

Small things, big plans

A mustard seed is so small that you can hardly see it in your palm, yet it becomes a big plant where birds find shelter. Jesus teaches us that God does not despise small beginnings: a small faith, placed in Him, can grow and bring blessing to many.

How we can live this out today

When you feel too small to do anything for God, remember the mustard seed. Pray today about one thing that seems hard to you.

Mini-Quiz

What did you learn about the mustard seed?

What did Jesus want to show through the mustard seed?

For parents and children

At home and in Sunday school

A question for parents and children

What hard thing would you like to place in God’s hands as a family? How could you pray for it every day of the week?

My prayer
“Lord, my faith is as small as a mustard seed, but You are great. Please make it grow, and teach me to trust You in everything. Amen.”

Activity at home

A tiny seed

Show your child a very small seed. Say that even a small beginning, made with God, can grow big.