The Teaching of JesusSample

Themes of Parables: Behind the Text

Here we’ll explore the cultural context of two more of Jesus’ familiar parables.

Agricultural Images in Jesus’ Teaching

Mustard Seed, pt. 1: One of the smallest of seeds. You can barely see the mustard seeds in the palm of a hand.

Mustard Seed, pt. 2: A “mustard tree” is actually a kind of shrub that just keeps growing. This image shows a grove of mustard shrubs. They begin small but continue growing bigger and bigger.

Parable of the Sower, pt. 1: Jesus first describes seed falling on a path. Here the seed lacks a hospitable environment to grow, even if located very near to fertile soil. In this location you can imagine birds coming down from the sky to eat up all the seed on the path, like the devil eating up all of Jesus’ words before they sink into the souls of people where they could bear fruit.

Parable of the Sower, pt. 2: Notice how rocky the soil is in its natural condition. Also, you can see some thistles in the foreground.

Parable of the Sower, pt. 3: Here’s a close up of thistles. Jesus was giving them a tangible picture of what happens when the cares of the world take root inside of you—when they get inside your head. They begin to dominate and consume your thinking.

Parable of the Sower, pt. 4: Hundred-fold fruit. This is what the fields look like in Galilee when they’re well tended. When cultivated properly, the land is fruitful.