SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:32
el cual a la verdad es la ms pequea de todas las simientes; mas cuando ha crecido, es la mayor de las hortalizas, y se hace rbol, que vienen las aves del cielo y hacen nidos en sus ramas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:32
Verse 32. Which indeed is the least of all seeds] That is, of all those seeds which produce plants, whose stems and branches, according to the saying of the botanists, are apt dendrizein, arborescere, to grow into a ligneous or woody substance. Becometh a tree] That is, it is not only the largest of plants which are produced from such small seeds, but partakes, in its substance, the close woody texture, especially in warm climates, where we are informed it grows to an almost incredible size. The Jerusalem Talmud, tract Peah. fol.
20, says, "There was a stalk of mustard in Sichin, from which sprang out three boughs; one of which, being broken off, served to cover the tent of a potter, and produced three cabes of mustard seed. Rabbi Simeon ben Chalapha said, A stalk of mustard seed was in my field, into which I was want to climb, as men are wont to climb into a fig tree." See Lightfoot and Schoettgen. This may appear to be extravagant; and it is probable that, in the case of the three cabes of seed, there is considerable exaggeration; but, if it had not been usual for this plant to grow to a very large size, such relations as these would not have appeared even in the Talmud; and the parable of our Lord sufficiently attests the fact. Some soils being more luxuriant than others, and the climate much warmer, raise the same plant to a size and perfection far beyond what a poorer soil, or a colder climate, can possibly do. Herodotus says, he has seen wheat and barley in the country about Babylon which carried a blade full four fingers-breadth: and that the millet and sesamum grew to an incredible size. I have myself seen a field of common cabbages, in one of the Norman isles, each of which was from seven to nine feet in height; and one in the garden of a friend, which grew beside an apple-tree, though the latitude of the place is only about 48 deg.min. north, was fifteen feet high, the stem of which is yet remaining, (September, 1798.) These facts, and several others which might be added, confirm fully the possibility of what our Lord says of the mustard-tree, however incredible such things may appear to those who are acquainted only with the productions of northern regions and cold climates.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 32. Which indeed is the least of all seeds , etc.] So mustard with the Jews f793 , is called y[rz ym , a kind of seeds; and being very small, hence ldrjk , as a grain of mustard, is often used, proverbially f794 , for the least thing, as it is by Christ, ( Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6). Not but there are seeds lesser than this; but the meaning is, that this is one of the least of all seeds; or was the least of seeds, which were commonly known in Judea; or the very least which grew to the size this sometimes did, and as here related. Now this is designed to express the small beginnings of the Gospel dispensation, of the ministry of the word, of the grace of God in the hearts of his people, and of the small number of them at first. The Gospel, and the ministry of it were like a grain of mustard seed, little, mean, and contemptible; the author of it, Christ, was so to the Jews, in his birth, parentage, education, and outward appearance; the subject of it a crucified Christ, and salvation by him; and the doctrines out of the reach, and contrary to carnal reason; the preachers of it, were persons of very mean and low life, few in number, weak, illiterate, and despicable, and the whole world against them; the circumstances which attended the Gospel were very discouraging; it was charged with novelty, represented as contrary to common sense, and the reason of mankind, and as opening a door to licentiousness; and was followed with violent opposition and persecution, wherever it went. The grace of God, which under the ministry of the word is implanted in the hearts of the Lords people, is at first very small, like a grain of mustard seed; it is a day of small things; faith in Christ is very weak and low, spiritual strength small, comfort little, experience of the love of God not large, light and knowledge in the doctrines of grace but very obscure and glimmering: the church of God, which sprung up under the ministry of the word, and through the work of grace, upon the hearts of particular persons, was like the small grain of mustard seed; the persons of which it consisted were but few in number in Christs time, and at his ascension into heaven, and when the Gospel was first preached among the Gentiles; and those persons which laid the foundation, and were at the beginning of the Gospel church state, made a very contemptible figure, by reason of their outward poverty, and mean circumstances in the world; and on account of the severe persecutions which every where attended them; and also through the errors and heresies introduced by evil men, that crept in among them. But when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree .
Luke says, a great tree, ( Luke 13:19) for to such a size did the mustard tree grow in the land of Judea, of which take the following instances f795 . At Shichin there was a mustard stalk, which had three branches, and one of them was cut down, and they covered a potters booth with it; and found in it ldrj l ybq tl , three kabs of mustard seed (elsewhere it is said, nine kabs). Says R. Simeon ben Chelphetha, I have one stalk of mustard seed in my field, and I go up to it, hnath arb hlw[k , as one goes up to the top of a fig tree.
And though the mustard tree grew to this height and size, it was reckoned among herbs, as here by Christ; for they say f797 , they do not put mustard in a field of fruits, but in a field of herbs.
All which serve to illustrate and confirm the account here given by Christ, and alluded to; and which expresses the very large growth and increase of the Gospel, and the ministry of it; of the grace of God in the heart, and of the church of Christ, and his interest in the world: of the Gospel, and the ministry of it, as to its large spread in the world; which at first was confined to the Jews, but was afterwards published to the Gentiles, and carried through the whole world; and, in ages since, has made a considerable progress, particularly at the Reformation; and will make a much greater one, towards the end of time: and of the grace of God in the heart, which gradually increases to a full assurance of understanding of hope, and of faith, and to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: and of the church of Christ, and his interest in the world; both as to the large numbers it did consist of in the times of the apostles, and since, and will more especially hereafter; for the church will fill the earth, and the kingdoms of the world will become the church, and all nations of the earth will flock unto it; the people of the Jews in general will be converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles will be brought in: as also with respect to the figure it will make through the great personages, the kings and princes of the earth, that will be in it; the great power and authority the saints will then have; the peace and prosperity that will be enjoyed by them; the spirituality, holiness, righteousness, love, and unity, there will be among them; as also the presence of God and of the Lamb, they will be favoured with; all which glory and happiness will be brought about by a plentiful effusion of the Spirit, and by the glorious appearance of Christ. So that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof : by the birds of the air, some think angels are meant, compared to birds for their harmlessness and innocence; for their readiness and swiftness to do the will of God; and for their warbling notes and tuneful songs of praise; and who may be called birds of the air, or heaven, because of their habitation: now these delight to be in the church, to be under the shadow of the Gospel ministry, and to look into the mysteries of it. Though rather, the saints and people of God are intended, who, in Scripture, are sometimes compared to particular birds; as to the eagle, the dove, and sparrow; and to birds in general, because timorous, weak, and defenceless, are exposed to danger, and wonderfully delivered, and are very subject to wander and go astray; and because of their chirpings, and singing songs of praise to their God and Redeemer; and to birds of the air or heaven, because they are heaven born souls, are partakers of the heavenly calling, and are pressing for, and soaring aloft towards the high calling of God in Christ: now the Gospel ministry, and the Gospel church state, are very useful to these; they come thereunto willingly, and cheerfully, deliberately, and with dependence on the grace and strength of Christ; humbly, under a sense of their own unworthiness, and yet with joy and thankfulness; heartily, and with their faces thitherwards, and they also lodge therein. This is what they desire, and their hearts are set upon; here they determine to be, and it is their happiness to be here; the shadow of Gospel ordinances is very delightful, very refreshing, and very fruitful to them, and under which saints dwell with great safety; and what a coming of these birds will there be hither, and a tabernacling of them herein, at the latter day! which are greatly designed in this part of the parable.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 31-35 - 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 woul 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 grac 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 wh receive it. The leaven works certainly, so does the word, ye gradually. It works silently, and without being seen, Mr 4:26-29, ye strongly; without noise, for so is the way of the Spirit, but withou 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 mad 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 an faculties of the soul, and alters the property even of the members of the body, Ro 6:13. From these parables we are taught to expect gradual progress; therefore let us inquire, Are we growing in grace and in holy principles and habits?
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3739 R-NSN μικροτερον 3398 A-NSN-C μεν 3303 PRT εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S παντων 3956 A-GPN των 3588 T-GPN σπερματων 4690 N-GPN οταν 3752 CONJ δε 1161 CONJ αυξηθη 837 5686 V-APS-3S μειζον 3173 A-NSN-C των 3588 T-GPN λαχανων 3001 N-GPN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S και 2532 CONJ γινεται 1096 5736 V-PNI-3S δενδρον 1186 N-NSN ωστε 5620 CONJ ελθειν 2064 5629 V-2AAN τα 3588 T-APN πετεινα 4071 N-APN του 3588 T-GSM ουρανου 3772 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ κατασκηνουν 2681 5721 V-PAN εν 1722 PREP τοις 3588 T-DPM κλαδοις 2798 N-DPM αυτου 846 P-GSN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:32 {A tree} (dendron). "Not in nature, but in size" (Bruce). "An excusable exaggeration in popular discourse."
