Mustard seeds and yeast were important to people where Jesus lived. Mustard seeds were the smallest that farmers planted, but grew into a tree as large as 10 feet tall. The seed of this kind of Mustard plant was black. Farmers ground the seed to make a spice and to use the oil in them. Birds loved to eat these seeds and would often come to eat the seeds and build nests in their branches.
Women used yeast to make soft, fluffy bread. When they baked bread, they would save a small piece of dough with yeast in it. This is called leavened bread. When they made more bread dough, they put the leavened piece in the flour for the bread. The yeast would grow and spread through all the flour. When the baker would make new read, the whole batch would be leavened.
Jesus compared the mustard seed and yeast to the Kingdom of God. The kingdom starts small, but grows very big, so that many people can become part of it. The kingdom doesn’t seem to be important, but it will change everything for the good.
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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