Parable of the Growing Seed
Encyclopedia
The Parable of the Growing Seed (also called the Seed Growing Secretly) is a parable of Jesus
which appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament
. According to Mark
it is a parable about growth in the Kingdom of God. It follows the parable of the Sower
and the lamp under a bushel
, and precedes the parable of the Mustard Seed
.
A version of the Parable of the Growing Seed also appears in the non canonical Gospel of Thomas
(Saying 21d).
can be seen as related to the parable of the Sower
, although it does not follow that parable immediately. One interpretation is that it serves as a "correction provided for any ancient or modern disciples who might be feeling discouraged with the amount of fruitless labor they had extended toward those" who failed to hear the message of which the parable of the Sower
spoke. Even when the farmer sleeps, the Kingdom of God
is still growing. Its growth is due to God, not man, and follows its own timetable.
Unlike the parable of the Sower
, the seed here seems to represent the Kingdom of God itself. Differences in interpretation result from emphasising different aspects of the parable, such as the seed, the sower, or the earth.
Parables of Jesus
The parables of Jesus can be found in all the Canonical gospels as well as in some of the non-canonical gospels but are located mainly within the three synoptic gospels. They represent a key part of the teachings of Jesus, forming approximately one third of his recorded teachings...
which appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. According to Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
it is a parable about growth in the Kingdom of God. It follows the parable of the Sower
Parable of the Sower
The Parable of the Sower is one of the parables of Jesus found in three out of the four Canonical gospels and in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas In this story, a sower dropped seed on the path, on rocky ground, and among thorns, and the seed was lost; but when seed fell on good earth, it...
and the lamp under a bushel
Lamp under a bushel
The Parable of the lamp under a bushel, , is one of the parables of Jesus. It appears in three of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament. The differences found in Matthew 5:14-15, Mark 4:21-25 and Luke 8:16-18, are minor. An abbreviated version of the parable also appears in the non-canonical...
, and precedes the parable of the Mustard Seed
Parable of the Mustard Seed
The Parable of the Mustard Seed is one of the shorter parables of Jesus. It appears in three of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament. The differences between Gospels of Matthew , Mark , and Luke , are minor...
.
A version of the Parable of the Growing Seed also appears in the non canonical Gospel of Thomas
Gospel of Thomas
The Gospel According to Thomas, commonly shortened to the Gospel of Thomas, is a well preserved early Christian, non-canonical sayings-gospel discovered near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in December 1945, in one of a group of books known as the Nag Hammadi library...
(Saying 21d).
Narrative
The parable is as follows:Interpretation
This parableParable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
can be seen as related to the parable of the Sower
Parable of the Sower
The Parable of the Sower is one of the parables of Jesus found in three out of the four Canonical gospels and in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas In this story, a sower dropped seed on the path, on rocky ground, and among thorns, and the seed was lost; but when seed fell on good earth, it...
, although it does not follow that parable immediately. One interpretation is that it serves as a "correction provided for any ancient or modern disciples who might be feeling discouraged with the amount of fruitless labor they had extended toward those" who failed to hear the message of which the parable of the Sower
Parable of the Sower
The Parable of the Sower is one of the parables of Jesus found in three out of the four Canonical gospels and in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas In this story, a sower dropped seed on the path, on rocky ground, and among thorns, and the seed was lost; but when seed fell on good earth, it...
spoke. Even when the farmer sleeps, the Kingdom of God
Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
is still growing. Its growth is due to God, not man, and follows its own timetable.
Unlike the parable of the Sower
Parable of the Sower
The Parable of the Sower is one of the parables of Jesus found in three out of the four Canonical gospels and in the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas In this story, a sower dropped seed on the path, on rocky ground, and among thorns, and the seed was lost; but when seed fell on good earth, it...
, the seed here seems to represent the Kingdom of God itself. Differences in interpretation result from emphasising different aspects of the parable, such as the seed, the sower, or the earth.