John Calvin Commentary Matthew 13:31

"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:" — Matthew 13:31 (ASV)

By these parables, Christ encourages His disciples not to be offended and turn back on account of the humble beginnings of the Gospel. We see how arrogantly irreverent people despise the Gospel, and even turn it into ridicule, because the ministers by whom it is preached are men of little reputation and of low rank; because it is not instantly received with applause by the whole world; and because the few disciples whom it does attract are, for the most part, men of no influence or importance, and belong to the common people.²²²

This leads weak minds to despair of its success, which they tend to estimate from the manner of its beginning. On the contrary, the Lord opens His reign with a feeble and contemptible beginning, for the express purpose that His power may be more fully demonstrated by its unexpected progress.

The kingdom of God is compared to a grain of mustard, which is the smallest among the seeds, but grows to such a height that it becomes a shrub, in which the birds build their nests. It is likewise compared to leaven, which, though it may be small in amount, spreads its influence in such a manner as to impart its bitterness to a large quantity of meal.²²³

If the aspect of Christ’s kingdom is contemptible from a worldly viewpoint, let us learn to raise our minds to the boundless and incalculable power of God, who at once created all things out of nothing, and every day raises up things that are not (1 Corinthians 1:28), in a manner that surpasses what human senses can perceive. Let us leave to proud men their scornful laugh, until the Lord, at an unexpected hour, strikes them with amazement. Meanwhile, let us not lose heart, but rise by faith against the pride of the world, until the Lord gives us that astonishing display of His power²²⁴ of which He speaks in this passage.

The word leaven is sometimes taken in a bad sense, as when Christ warns them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees (Matthew 16:11); and when Paul says that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:6).

But here the term must be understood simply as applying to the present subject. As for the meaning of the phrases the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, we have discussed this previously.

²²² “A fin que sa puissance soit tant mieux cognue, quand on verra les avancemens qu’on n’avoit iamais attendus;” — “in order that his power may be so much the better known, when the progress, which had not been anticipated, shall be seen.”;” — “in order that his power may be so much the better known, when the progress, which had not been anticipated, shall be seen.”

²²³ “Qu’il fait aigrir et lever une grande quantite de paste;” — “that it embitters and causes to rise a large quantity of paste.”;” — “that it embitters and causes to rise a large quantity of paste.”

²²⁴ “Iuques a ce que le Seigneur nous face sentir l’effect de cette vertu incomprehensible;” — “till the Lord make us feel the effect of that incomprehensible power.”;” — “till the Lord make us feel the effect of that incomprehensible power.”