1. What does Jesus mean when he says that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed?
    1. He means that we should go around telling everyone about Jesus, thus planting seeds, and then some will grow.
      • No. This is true, basically, but nonetheless is not the meaning behind the mustard seed parable.
    2. He means that the kingdom of God was small then but would grow bigger as time goes on.
      • This is true, but it is not the meaning of the parable.
    3. Right Answer!He means that the seeds of truth are very subtle things, that grow in our hearts to become things of great importance.
      • Yes. Biblical truth is always a very subtle thing. You see clearly a wisp of truth, and it grows into firm faith.
    4. A Mustard plaster was use to heal wounds, so like that the word of God is a healer.
      • No.

     

     

  2. What is the significance of the seed being very small?
    1. It is not the size that is significant, but the fact that mustard, when mature, is yellow, and symbolized boldness.
      • No. This size is significant.
    2. The mustard seed is small, like the letters of each word in the Bible, but the Bible is a big book.
      • No.
    3. Right Answer!Biblical understanding starts with a glimmer, but blossoms into great truths.
      • Yes. Truth always starts out with the subtlest of nuances, but when grasped it becomes the rock of faith.
    4. Small minded people cannot contain the flowering word.
      • No.

     

     

  3. What does the garden symbolize?
    1. It is symbolic for the original sin committed in the garden of Eden.
      • No.
    2. Right Answer!It is symbolic for the heart of a person, that is, the spirit.
      • Yes. The heart is the only place that the Word of God can take root. The mind is not the garden. The heart is the place in which faith, hope and love operate.
    3. It is symbolic for the nation of Israel.
      • No.
    4. It is the place that the fruits of righteousness grows.
      • This is correct, but is not the best answer.

     

     

  4. Are the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of God, two names for the same thing?
    1. Right Answer!Yes.
      • Yes. It is evident that they are two ways of saying the same thing. Where Matthew says the kingdom of heaven, Luke and Mark say the kingdom of God, all meaning the same thing.
    2. No.
      • No.

     

     

  5. What does the mustard seed symbolize?
    1. The Word of God.
      • Yes, but not the best answer.
    2. Truth.
      • Yes, but not the best answer.
    3. Jesus Christ.
      • Yes, but not the best answer.
    4. Right Answer!All of the above.
      • Yes. The mustard seed symbolizes the Word which is planted in your heart, Jesus Christ who is the Word made flesh, and the Truth.

     

     

  6. What does the yeast symbolize?
    1. The Bible.
      • Yes, but not the best answer.
    2. The Word of God.
      • Yes, but not the best answer.
    3. The teachings of Christ.
      • Yes, but not the best answer.
    4. The Truth.
      • Yes, but not the best answer.
    5. Right Answer!All of the above.
      • Yes, the yeast, like the mustard seed, symbolizes the Bible, which is the Word of God, and the teachings of Christ who is the Word made flesh, and all of the above is the Truth.

     

     

  7. What does the flour symbolize?
    1. The Church.
      • No. This is not the best answer.
    2. The mind.
      • No. The mind is not correct. The spiritual word must operate on the spirit, or heart.
    3. The Word of God.
      • No, the yeast is the Word.
    4. Right Answer!The heart of a person.
      • Yes, the Word of God, or yeast, must operate on the heart of a person.

     

     

  8. Is the amount of yeast significant?
    1. Right Answer!Yes.
      • Yes. It only takes a little piece of the truth to start the growing process within the heart.
    2. No.
      • No.

     

     

  9. Is the fact that the yeast was used by a woman significant?
    1. Yes.
      • No. The fact that the woman worked the yeast into the dough is not significant. A man must also work the yeast into his heart as well. The story only uses a woman because women were the primary users of yeast and flour.
    2. Right Answer!No.
      • This is the correct answer. Men too must work the word of truth into their hearts.

     

     

  10. How much did the man pay for the treasure hidden in the field?
    1. It was free, the gospel cannot be earned, nor can it be purchased.
      • No. People are always going on about how salvation is free and such, but in truth it is not free. You must give your life over to God in order to receive it. This is why the man sold everything that he had in order to by the field with the treasure.
    2. Right Answer!Everything that he had.
      • Yes.
      • Matthew 10:39
        Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (NIV)

     

     

  11. What does it mean that the man "bought" the field?
    1. It means that Jesus died on the cross to purchase our freedom.
      • No. This is a true statement, but is not the meaning of the parable.
    2. Right Answer!It means that the man gave himself over to God.
      • Yes. The man gave up us life to God, so that from God he would receive life.
    3. It means that the supporting of the Church through financial gifts is important to God.
      • No. This is not the meaning.
    4. It means that entrance into heaven can be "bought" with good works.
      • No. Entrance into heaven cannot be bought with anything but the blood of Christ. A person must see and recognize what Christ did and put his or her faith in it. I hate the casualness with which modern teaching treats the sacrifice of Christ.

     

     

  12. Is this really a repeat of the treasure hidden in the field parable?
    1. Right Answer!Yes.
      • Yes, they are very must the same thing. The fact that Jesus repeated it is a measure of it's importance.
    2. No.
      • No, they are very similar.

     

     

  13. Is the price paid for the pearl significant?
    1. Right Answer!Yes.
      • Yes, the merchant gave up everything that he or she had in the world in order to get the pearl. You must do the same. This idea that salvation is free is a lie. Just because you cannot earn it doesn't make it free. The cost for salvation was the life of Jesus Christ, God first begotten son. We must give our life over to God in order to receive spiritual life from him.
    2. No.
      • No. It is very significant. Read the above answer.

     

     

  14. What does the pearl symbolize?
    1. The Word of God.
      • No. This is not strictly correct.
    2. Right Answer!A relationship with God.
      • Yes. The thing found was God himself. If you are willing to give up your life to receive God, then you just might get him, but if not, then you will lose your life.
    3. The temple in Jerusalem.
      • No.
    4. One of the doorways into heaven.
      • No.
      • Mark 4:26-29
        He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain -- first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." (NIV)

     

     

  15. What does the seed represent?
    1. Good deeds.
      • This is not the best answer.
    2. Hard work.
      • No.
    3. Church attendance.
      • No, attending church means nothing. It doesn't make you grow. It doesn't cause growth.
    4. Right Answer!The Word of God.
      • Yes. When a person reads the Word of God it goes into their heart, if their heart is fertile, and it changes the person without them know how or why. God's word has power. You cannot make it happen.
      • The important thing is to keep on keeping on. To continue reading the Scriptures, and in that way, keep planting seeds, and God will cause those seeds to grow at the proper time. A person cannot make them grow, and doesn't even know how they grow, but God does. A person might think that they are not growing and become discouraged, but they should press on and trust God to cause the growth.

     

     

  16. Who makes the seed grow?
    1. Right Answer!God.
      • Yes. It is important to understand that you cannot make the seed grow. You don't know how it grows, nor do you see it grow, but God makes it happen invisibly over time. You must keep on, keeping on. It is a matter of the integrity and honesty of your heart. God knows your heart and he will bring you along as you deserve, as it were.
    2. The man.
      • No.
    3. It doesn't grow.
      • No, it does grow.
    4. The water.
      • No.

     

     

  17. What does the grain represent.
    1. Prosperity.
      • No.
    2. Health.
      • No.
    3. Right Answer!Spiritual growth.
      • Yes, the grain represents your growth. You read the Scriptures with the intention of obeying all that you understand, and then through life's trials, God causes the Word that you implanted to sprout and grow.
    4. Authority.
      • No.

     

     

  18. What is meant by the man scattering seed on the ground.
    1. It means that he has been spreading the gospel.
      • No. But there is some truth to this. This is not the best answer though.
    2. It means that he has been going to church regularly.
      • No.
    3. It means that he went to Bible college.
      • No.
    4. Right Answer!It means that he has been reading the Bible.
      • Yes. Reading the Bible, and I mean the Bible and not books about what the Bible means. When you read with the intension to understand whatever it really says, and coupled with the intension to do what it says, then God will reveal to you what he meant when he said whatever. Then you will know the truth.
      • John 8:31-32
        To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
      • James 1:22
        Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)
      • 1 Timothy 1:5
        The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (NIV)
      • John 7:17
        If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. (NIV)

     

Parables Home Page
Light on DisplayWhat does it mean to be the 'Light of the World?' The Wise ManWho are the Wise that enter into Heaven?
The New Wine SkinsWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the 'New Wine Skin?'
The Kingdom is Like ...What is the Kingdom like?
End of the AgeTwo Parable concerning the End of the Age are examined.
The Ten VirginsWho do the Ten Virgins represent?
The TalentsWhat does the Parable of the Talents mean?
The MinasWhat does the Parable of the Minas mean?
Lost and FoundThree Parables concerning the restoration of
lost souls are examined.
ForgivenessTwo Parables concerning Forgiveness are examined.
Equal PayWhat is the reward given to the Righteous?
ObedienceWhat do the Obedient do?
The Wretched TenantsWho are the Wretched Tenants and what
will happen to them?
The Good SamaritianWho are your Neighbors?
Going the DistanceFive Parables are examined concerning Stedfastness.