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Contemporary English Version

Matthew 13:31

Jesus told them another story: The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Gospel;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Mustard;   Sermon;   Scofield Reference Index - Judgments;   Kingdom;   Mustard Seed;   Parables;   Thompson Chain Reference - Heaven;   Kingdom;   Kingdom, Similitudes of;   Mustard Seed;   Nature's;   Parables;   Similitudes;   Spiritual;   Truth;   The Topic Concordance - End of the World;   Harvest;   Kingdom of God;   Separation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Mustard;   Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Food;   Kingdom of god;   Parables;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jesus Christ;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Hutchinsonians;   Omnipotence of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Grain;   Mustard;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Harvest;   Kingdom of God;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Mustard;   Parables;   Plants in the Bible;   Rhetoric;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Food;   Mss;   Mustard;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Corn;   Discourse;   Doctrines;   Eschatology (2);   Gospel (2);   Growing;   Mustard;   Nest;   Parousia (2);   Progress;   Prophet;   Proverbs ;   Questions and Answers;   Science (2);   Seed (2);   Socialism;   Violence;   World ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Birds;   Mustard Seed;   Sower, Sowing;   Tares,;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Jesus christ;   Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Mustard;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Mustard (tree);   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Mustard;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Food;   Games;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Mustard;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - New Testament;   Parable;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for April 18;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven
King James Version (1611)
Another parable put he foorth vnto them, saying, The kingdome of heauen is like to a graine of mustard seed, which a man tooke, and sowed in his field.
King James Version
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:
English Standard Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field;
New Century Version
Then Jesus told another story: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
Amplified Bible
He gave them another parable [to consider], saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
Geneva Bible (1587)
Another parable he put foorth vnto them, saying, The kingdome of heauen is like vnto a graine of mustard seede, which a man taketh and soweth in his fielde:
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
Legacy Standard Bible
He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
Berean Standard Bible
Jesus put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
Complete Jewish Bible
Yeshua put before them another parable. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man takes and sows in his field.
Darby Translation
Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is like a grain of mustard [seed] which a man took and sowed in his field;
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Jesus told the people another story: "God's kingdom is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his field.
George Lamsa Translation
He related another parable to them, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.
Good News Translation
Jesus told them another parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field.
Lexham English Bible
He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
Literal Translation
He put another parable before them, saying: The kingdom of Heaven is compared to a grain of mustard, which taking, a man sowed in his field;
American Standard Version
Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Bible in Basic English
He put another story before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his field:
Hebrew Names Version
He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;
International Standard Version
He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.Isaiah 2:2-3; Micah 4:1; Mark 4:30; Luke 13:18-19;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Another comparison allegorized he to them, and said: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field.
Murdock Translation
Another similitude proposed he to them, and said: The kingdom of heaven is like to a kernel of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Another parable put he foorth vnto them, saying. The kyngdome of heauen is like to a grayne of mustard seede, which a man toke & sowed in his fielde.
English Revised Version
Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
World English Bible
He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He proposed to them another parable, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and sowed in his field:
Weymouth's New Testament
Another parable He put before them. "The Kingdom of the Heavens," He said, "is like a mustard-seed, which a man takes and sows in his ground.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Another parable Jhesus puttide forth to hem, and seide, The kyngdom of heuenes is lijk to a corn of seneuey, which a man took, and sewe in his feeld.
Update Bible Version
Another parable he set before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Webster's Bible Translation
Another parable he proposed to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
New English Translation
He gave them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.
New King James Version
Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18,19">[xr] Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,
New Living Translation
Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.
New Life Bible
Jesus told them another picture-story. He said, "The holy nation of heaven is like mustard seed which a man planted in his field.
New Revised Standard
He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Another parable, put he before them, saying - The kingdom of the heavens is like unto, a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Another parable he proposed unto them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.
Revised Standard Version
Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Another parable he put forthe vnto the sayinge. The kyngdome of heve is lyke vnto a grayne of mustard seed which a ma taketh and soweth in his felde
Young's Literal Translation
Another simile he set before them, saying: `The reign of the heavens is like to a grain of mustard, which a man having taken, did sow in his field,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Another parable put he forth vnto the, and sayde: The kyngdome of heauen is like vnto a grane of mustarde sede, which a man toke, and sowed it in his felde.
Mace New Testament (1729)
He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field.
THE MESSAGE
Another story. "God's kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it."
Simplified Cowboy Version
Here's another one of Jesus's tales. "God's Green Pasture is like the seed of a bull.

Contextual Overview

24 Jesus then told them this story: The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left. 26 When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer's servants could see the weeds. 27 The servants came and asked, "Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?" 28 "An enemy did this," he replied. His servants then asked, "Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?" 29 "No!" he answered. "You might also pull up the wheat. 30 Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I'll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I'll have them store the wheat in my barn." 31 Jesus told them another story: The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. 32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and becomes a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches. 33 Jesus also said: The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a woman mixes a little yeast into three big batches of flour. Finally, all the dough rises.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

put: Matthew 13:24, Luke 19:11, Luke 20:9

The kingdom: Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18, Luke 13:19

Reciprocal: Ezra 3:12 - when the foundation Job 8:7 - thy beginning Psalms 72:16 - There Isaiah 60:22 - little Ezekiel 47:5 - waters to swim in Hosea 14:6 - branches Zechariah 4:10 - despised Matthew 3:2 - for Matthew 17:20 - a grain Matthew 18:23 - is Matthew 20:1 - the kingdom Matthew 22:2 - kingdom Matthew 25:1 - the kingdom Mark 4:26 - So Mark 4:31 - like Luke 17:6 - as John 3:30 - must increase Acts 1:15 - an Acts 21:20 - how Philippians 1:9 - your

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying,.... As the former parable sets forth the condition of the Gospel church state until the end of the world; this expresses the small beginnings of it, and the large increase and growth of it, and its great usefulness to the saints.

The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field: by "the kingdom of heaven" is meant, as before, the Gospel dispensation, or the Gospel church state, and the ministry of the word, and the administration of ordinances in it: by the grain of mustard seed, either the Gospel, or the people of God, or the grace of God in them; and by the man that took and sowed it, the Lord Jesus Christ; and by his field, in which he sowed it, the world, or his church throughout the world.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See also Mark 4:30-32. The kingdom of heavens See the notes at Matthew 3:2. It means here either piety in a renewed heart or the church. In either case the commencement is small. In the heart it is at first feeble, easily injured, and much exposed. In the church there were few at first, ignorant, unknown, and unhonored; yet soon it was to spread through the world.

Grain of mustard-seed - The plant here described was very different from that which is known among us. It was several years before it bore fruit and became properly a tree. Mustard, with us, is an annual plant: it is always small, and is properly an herb. The Hebrew writers speak of the mustard-tree as one on which they could “climb,” as on a fig-tree. Its size was much owing to the climate. All plants of that nature grow much larger in a warm climate, like that of Palestine, than in colder regions. The seeds of this tree were remarkably small, so that they, with the great size of the plant, were an apt illustration of the progress of the church and of the nature of faith, Matthew 17:20.

“I have seen,” says Dr. Thomson,this plant on the rich plain of Akkar as tall as the horse and his rider. It has occurred to me on former visits that the mustard-tree of the parable probably grew at this spot, or possibly at Tabiga, near Capernaum, for the water in both is somewhat similar, and so are the vegetable productions. To furnish an adequate basis for the proverb, it is necessary to suppose that a variety of it was cultivated in the time of our Saviour, which grew to an enormous size, and shot forth large branches, so that the fowls of the air could lodge in the branches of it. It may have been perennial, and have grown to a considerable tree; and there are traditions in the country of such so large that a man could climb into them; and after having seen “red pepper” bushes grow on year after year, into tall shrubs, and the “castor-bean” line the brooks about Damascus like the willows and the poplars, I can readily credit the existence of mustard-trees large enough to meet all the demands of our Lord’s parable. - “The Land and the Book,” vol. ii. p. 101.

Young converts often suppose they have much religion. It is not so. They are, indeed, in a new world. Their hearts glow with new affections. They have an elevation, an ecstasy of emotion, which they may not have afterward like a blind man suddenly restored to sight. The sensation is new and especially vivid, yet little is seen distinctly. His impressions are indeed more vivid and cheering than those of him who has long seen and to whom objects are familiar. In a little time, too, the young convert will see more distinctly, will judge more intelligently, will love more strongly, though not with so much “new emotion,” and will be prepared to make more sacrifices for the cause of Christ.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 31. The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed — This parable is a representation of the progress of the Gospel in the world; and of the growth of grace in the soul. That grace which leads the soul to the fulness of glory may begin, and often does, in a single good desire - a wish to escape hell, or a desire to enjoy God in heaven.


 
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