Editorial March 19, 1955 Issue

THE MUSTARD SEED AND THE LEAVEN

Robert Ellis Key

The Master, Christ Jesus, taught the people by parables. This method of teaching religious truths had many advantages. A parable was easy to memorize, easy to interpret, an interesting subject for discussion, and combined both content and illustration in its text. The parable, which is distinct from the fable, is constructed to explain a spiritual truth. The parable is deeply earnest and profoundly metaphysical. It is like a precious stone with facets cut so as to shine in all directions, illuming a variety of subjects, and translating the earthly symbols into their heavenly meaning. The fact that many parables are given in the New Testament may indicate the emphasis placed upon this form of teaching in the early days of Christianity.

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, recognized the necessity for the use of symbols to explain spiritual truths. She writes on page 575 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "Spiritual teaching must always be by symbols." When Jesus taught by means of parables, he was illustrating a way of expressing spiritual ideas by means of symbols. His healing work was the manifestation of spiritual truths in action.

Each parable had a distinct application and was probably given to illustrate a particular truth. Take, for instance, the parables of the mustard seed and of the leaven. Each begins with the words, "The kingdom of heaven is like ...." Few objects could be less alike than a minute mustard seed and a morsel of leaven, yet the Master chose these widely differing symbols to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of heaven.

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