Mustard seed parable interpretation…

[Zezima]

Witness Lee interrupts the mustard seed becoming a tree parable as the church becoming corrupted. That the birds are satan.

What are your thoughts on this interpretation?

What does the mustard seed parable mean to you?

Matthew 13:31-32

[Zezima]

Some more context, the wifey accepted interpretation of this parable is that the Tree is the growth of the kingdom of God…that it started as such a small seed, but grows to be significant in size. A much more positive interpretation of the parable that makes more sense.

[Sons to Glory!]

I'm not aware of anyone else interpreting this the way WL did, with the tree and birds being evil. I thought maybe Robert Govett may have, but can't find it. Is this also a Nee teaching?

[Robert]

Jesus preached about Heavenly Kingdom.
start with Mat 13:1 to have better context of Heavenly Kingdom
This corellates with
Daniel
4:11
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.
4:12
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.
4:17
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.
Math 11:11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mustard seed
Luk 17:6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.
So Heavenly Kingdom is in the sphere of faith.
One seed is Christ and His Faith which is first and prefect and accomplished faith.
This is growing in each person (... which a man took, and sowed in his field as an individual experience. But summarized with others through the ages in spiritual reality of World's history grows into majestic size.
Birds
Birds have two meanings in Bible.
Positive and negative. In physical realm and spiritual.Mostly negative meaning.
I did not hear til now any good and convincing explanation.
Birds eating seed from road are rather negative.
Similar picture of tree is in Ezechiel.
So Jesus Christ is right and original King of Kings. Tree is symbol of somethig organic. Our faith comes and exist only in organic connection with Savior.

[Timotheist]

Originally Posted by Robert

Jesus preached about Heavenly Kingdom.
start with Mat 13:1 to have better context of Heavenly Kingdom
This corellates with
Daniel
4:11
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.
4:12
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.

The tree in Daniel is Babylon, which was prophesied to be cut down just a few verses later.

I tend to agree with Lee on this interpretation, even if he seems to be in the minority.

Both Matthew and Luke follow the well-explained parable of the sower with these three:

1) the tares.
2) the tree, which is taken from Daniel, representing Babylon.
3) the woman introducing leaven into the dough.

I think it is fair to call all three of these 'negative' parables, collectively describing the corrupt condition of the kingdom as it exists today.

Like the tares, the tree/birds/leaven are allowed to exist in this age, even though they are negative.

Babylon the great is the home of evil birds (Rev), but all the negative stuff will be dealt with at the second coming.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Timotheist

The tree in Daniel is Babylon, which was prophesied to be cut down just a few verses later.



Like the tares, the tree/birds/leaven are allowed to exist in this age, even though they are negative.

Babylon the great is the home of evil birds (Rev), but all the negative stuff will be dealt with at the second coming.

I know what is in WL teaching and I think ZEZIMA too.
I did my own research and study. You have always choice: follow in blind way after others or check by yourself.
I do not preach this as teaching as WL did. I think until Lord will come we will have few interpretations.
Just notice, that in this world there is or was many substitutes or imitations of divine reality.
You can see it in picture of our body and temple with three places.
You can see two empires, kingdoms- of Satan and Heavenly Kingdom.
Reading the Bible we can not forget about multifaceted reading.
There is historical background. Meaning and interpretation for that person in real time. Meaning for readers over ages for us.
Dan 4:17 is very strong.
Remember also in reading Bible, that Lord, God speaking in OT is the same God Father we pray to now. Farther more, He is one with Jesus, and Jesus was always one with Him.
Just imagine, how much it changes in reading and interpreting!
So, just reading Daniel, about king of Babylon we can see history.
But only history?
Jesus many times referred to OT.

Mat 13:35
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.
And last thing: I do benefit a lot from ministry and still agree with many things. But it doesn't mean we have to stop in our own reading and coming to Lord.
The same mistake WL did in interpretation of first horse in Rev.
I do not recommend WL teaching to anybody.
I do not mention his name to anybody.If he saw anything, it was for the Body.

Nicolaus Zinzendorf

“Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten.”

Edit. Picture I got about Kingdom and real King of Kings, is not positive nor negative. This is a fact. Only birds can be negative factor. And I also agree, that meaning is rather negative.