Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Matthew 13:32
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Which indeed is the least of all seeds, etc.] So mustard with the Jews f793, is called µy[rz ˆym, “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, (<401720>Matthew 17:20, <421706>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 Lord’s 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 Christ’s 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”, (<421319>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 potter’s booth with it; and found in it ldrj lç ˆybq tçlç, “three kabs of mustard seed” (elsewhere f796 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 çarb 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 accou…
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