The Sower - Reaping and Mustard Trees

Aside from the familiar parable of the sower, which most remember well since Jesus went on to explain it, there is another parable of the sower, which perhaps has a deeper meaning than that which appears from comparison with the first parable. Taken in context with the preceding and following verses, it appears Jesus suddenly changes subject and shoots off on a tangent if the subject is that of the first sower parable. What can be the correct meaning of the parable, in context?

To refresh your memory, for reference.

Verse 24 continues on from the candle/bushel statement of the previous page. Those who study diligently lead by the Holy Spirit come to find the heart of God through the scriptures. Those that do so and have more find yet more, but those without that rely on others, never had their own all along. When the ratio of haves to have nevers grows too big, the small mustard plant becomes a vast overgrown and bloated tree. The original mustard plant, which is never more than a small herb is unrecognisable as it should be - perhaps gone altogether and replaced.

Within the context of before and after, what meaning has the parable in the middle?

A man sows the seed, I am confident that it is safe to say it is the word. The word grows as corn. By the work of God it begins to be fruitful, some a little, some more and some completely. The man is not concerned with the work of God represented by the earth bringing forth fruit from itself without help. As soon as the man sees the least fruit, he immediately jumps in and reaps it all before it is truly as fruitful as it could become.

In the context of the mustard plant in particular, if the meaning in its simplest form is always the one declared "Correct! - Now you're getting it!" and there is a bad ratio of Holy Spirit haves to have-nots; Then there is only one direction for the quality of the understanding and scriptural wisdom of that church collective (field and harvest) - It is downward. As time goes by, the kingdom of God does not bear up to its intended measure.

Jesus opens with "Take heed what ye hear" - The statement of Christ is for us to edify ourselves as much as we may. The larger we find truth within his teachings, the greater understanding of the heart of God we will have. By looking for the truth in scripture we seek God first, and not the meaning which is given as catalyst by the Holy Spirit for us to know God. At the moment of Jesus' speech the apostles were listening. We have the good fortune of reading, (But only that which they heard!) and that fruit which has come from Jesus' teachings - Is 'simpler' clearer? Jesus teaches that simpler, or abridged, presents a meaning that is only partly its full worth. Paired with the falling away of the church "mustard tree". It is fair warning indeed.

There is a more metaphysical explanation of this passage. Those whom understand the kingdom of God (the axiom L(G)) can be gifted more truth from God as to their place in His people. As to what manner of vessel they are and the member of the body that they are called ot be. Those that do not have the axiom L(G) can not have an adequate understanding of God,.. having merely a God dreamt up of their own misconceptions - an image made like to corruptible man instead of the incorruptible God. In this manner,.. any understanding of God they do have is taken from them, because they have not received the true Gospel.

Verse 28 shows that growth in the parable is built upon the natural consequence of L(G) - the liberty of God to be whom He wishes towards His people.. the faith of a believer grows upon this without contradicting itself and is a properly grounded faith built upon rock. As the corn grows from the earth on its own without effort from the sower in knowing precisely how this axiom entails all correct faith, to be true it is merely a logical consequence if it is held fast..

Those that preach the true Gospel and the sovereignty of God's own liberty to direct His people however He sees fit are not in the knowledge of how God does this to those that hear. The gifts of truth in the gospel given to each that hear the word (and take note of it) may hold to any assumption about God's perfection that is entirely in line with with His person, even if they seem to conflict. God may instruct one to fast and another to eat,.. there is no universal playbook other than the example of Christ. However when the fruit of the sown word shows itself a man immediately declares those He taught the kingdom to be converted and moves on to sow the word elsewhere. In this manner as the fruit (repentance and life in the Spirit) is shown then the sickle is used and the harvest reaped.

So what then of the mustard seed? If the sower of the kingdom has moved on after declaring a person converted,.. then truly L(G) is as that mustard seed, and everything it entails upon its own means that God could be anything or in reality of any appearance to man! However, the Kingdom is preached upon the completion of the law in example by Christ and all the prophets and the record that God bore of His Son in them.

The "truth" that qualifies the OT law and prophets and is the only way to God is through Christ, and the identity of His people of spiritual Israel as His body of believers is the word that is sown: there is no sense in sowing a false gospel,.. one will only resolve to grow tares. The bloated tree inhabited by demons shows just this situation. Altogether the kingdom has in its simplicity been corrupted because it has been sown in the ears of those whom declared another gospel to another people or upon another law.

Since trees do not grow from mustard seed we find simply that Jesus means this to state it contradicts the initial premise of L(G). Therefore, this tree may not be of Christ's body. By accepting fruit as eveidence of the ready harvest and the introduction of a reaping sickle before the proper gospel and kingdom is understood by all, then as a preacher moves on to other pastures those that are left behind without proper understanding birth these tares. The tree becomes unrecognisable as for evidencing L(G).

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