Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 11/7/2008

Question
will you please interpret the mustard seed parable to me please? Also i was wondering if the virgin Mary apparitions are actually the virgin Mary or if it's the "angel of light " leading people astray. ?

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

I am sorry this is late.  For some reason I did not get your question until today (11-11-08).

Mustard Seed:  First of all, Jesus used parables to show greater truths.  So often we learn from stories more than teachings.  Everyone loves a good story and we have a tendency to remember stories over lessons anyday.  So it should not surprise us that Jesus used stories to teach others about the Kingdom of God.   

In the mustard seed parable, Jesus is telling us that the Kingdom of God was at hand and that small beginnings bring big results.

In Matthew chapter 13: The parable of the wheat and tares (vv. 24–30) reveals that the kingdom of heaven will be preceded by an age in which good and evil coexist. The parable of the mustard seed (vv.31-32) affirms that during that time period, the number of people who will inherit the kingdom will be very small at first. But though it begins like the smallest of seeds, the nucleus will enjoy growth completely out of proportion to its initial size (a mustard tree will grow to about 12 feet). The birds of the air do not represent evil as they do in the parable of the soils (vv. 4, 19). In the OT a tree large enough to support nesting birds was considered prosperous and healthy (Ps. 104:12; Ezek. 17:23; 31:6; Dan. 4:12, 21). The kingdom, though having only a small number of people at the beginning of the age, will ultimately be large and prosperous.


Mary:  No I do not believe that Mary has returned, is returning or will return until Jesus comes again.  Now these sightings could be angelic or demonic in nature, but I do not believe them to be Mary herself.  Scripture does not elevate Mary - man did that.