He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (Mark 4:30-34, NRSVue)
Jesus is reported to have said in multiple gospels that the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. A quick Google search shows this to be untrue.
The smallest seeds on Earth belong to epiphytic orchids (such as certain tropical orchids and jewel orchids), which produce dust-like seeds measuring as small as 0.05 millimeters and weighing only a 35-millionth of an ounce.
https://www.google.com/search?q=smallest+seed+on+earth&oq=smallest+see&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgDEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgBEAAYgAQyBggCEEUYOTIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIHCAkQABiABNIBCDkyODJqMGo3qAIIsAIB8QW4vNJHZNKNU_EFuLzSR2TSjVM&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8
(Note: While the Bible’s Parable of the Mustard Seed refers to the mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds, that was a local agricultural reference for ancient audiences, not a scientific fact.)
I would suggest reading some of the comments on the link above for the Parable of the Mustard Seed if you have time and need some good banter today.
Jesus made a comment based on what he knew. Were orchids known at that time and in that region? Jesus was speaking to what was common knowledge and using a seed to give an example of what the kingdom was like.
This example uses a small seed that grows into something big enough for birds to nest in. It shows that a small action can have big impacts on the world.
Your small actions every day are changing the world.
aSacredRebel 