I ask Google if it was illegal for the Jews to plant mustard seeds in their farming fields due to its widespread growth ----
This is what AI says
AI
No, it was not illegal to plant mustard seeds in Jewish farming fields. While Jewish law, specifically the Mishnah, did address the planting of mustard seeds, it was not a complete prohibition. According to some Jewish texts, mustard seeds were permitted in fields, but with specific guidelines to prevent them from mingling with other crops in smaller gardens.
The concern was primarily about maintaining distinct boundaries between different types of plants to avoid any perceived mixing or "uncleanliness".
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Mishnah and Kilayim:
The Mishnah, specifically the tractate Kilayim, deals with the prohibition of "diverse kinds" or "mixed planting". This law aimed to prevent the mixing of different species of plants in the same area, which was seen as a violation of the natural order.
Mustard's Nature:
Mustard plants, due to their tendency to spread, could easily violate these boundaries. This is why they were often planted at the edges of fields or in controlled areas, rather than in smaller gardens.
Not a blanket ban:
While there were restrictions on planting mustard near other crops, it was not a complete ban. The Talmud, which builds upon the Mishnah, doesn't explicitly forbid mustard seeds, but it does discuss the practical considerations of planting them.
Parable of the Mustard Seed:
The parable of the mustard seed in the New Testament, while using a small seed as its central image, was likely also playing on the audience's awareness of mustard's invasive potential, highlighting how something seemingly insignificant could grow into something substantial.
I say ---so the Jewish culture would have been well aware of the physical mustard seed scenario Jesus was using in this parable -----but not many would be aware of the Spiritual message that Jesus was putting forth in this Parable about how the mustard seed works to grow God"s Kingdom from small beginnings to something vast ------
The Mustard seed Parable spiritually represents the Kingdom of God and True Faith
Topical Lexicon
Overview
Strong’s Greek 4615 designates the mustard plant and, by metonymy, its seed. In the Gospels the imagery of the
mustard seed serves Jesus’ preaching on the kingdom of God and on authentic faith.
So this is my take on this Parable ---
So this parable is about God;s Kingdom making progress---starting as a small blade of Grass and eventually become whole fields of grass that will carry on to God;s Heavenly Kingdom in the end --God's Kingdom grows gradually and steadily by planting small seeds (God's word mixed with His faith) in others by and through the Disciples and later by the power of the Holy Spirit who will appear after Jesus is finished His mission on this earth and through these means God's Kingdom is like the small mustard seed which expands and grows to be amassive tree ----
So again we see the cultivation comes from the inside first and is brought forth to the outside
--Contrast to the Pharisees who appeared cultivated on the outside and uncultivated on the inside ---they were tying to put the Cart before the horse in other words -----
My view is ------Today many in the pulpits are showing they are like The Pharisees --
I say ------The birds nesting in the Tree for me Spiritually represents God's Kingdom providing Protection ---Refuge and Shelter to all Believers who join the Kingdom ----God providing a place of rest and piece against all enemies ---
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