The Parable of the Growing Seed is found in Mark 4:26-29. Jesus tells this parable to teach an important lesson about the kingdom of God. Here is the full text of the parable from the English Standard Version (ESV):
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)
This parable teaches that the kingdom of God grows and develops gradually over time. Just as a farmer plants seeds and waits patiently as they sprout and grow, God’s kingdom starts small but eventually bears much fruit. The farmer does not fully understand the biological process of growth, but trusts that the seed will develop and produce a crop. In the same way, we may not fully comprehend how God’s kingdom grows and expands, but we trust in God’s sovereign plan and timing.
There are several key truths we can take away from this parable about the nature of God’s kingdom:
1. God’s kingdom starts small but grows steadily.
When the man in the parable scattered the seed on the ground, it started as a tiny, insignificant seed. But over time, that seed began to sprout and developed into a mature plant that produced many more seeds. In the same way, God’s kingdom had very small, humble beginnings. Jesus himself was born in a manger and spent most of his life in the obscure village of Nazareth. He ministered in Galilee, not in the great cities of the Roman empire. His band of twelve disciples were ordinary men without status or education. But from those small beginnings, God’s kingdom has grown steadily throughout history to encompass people from every nation.
This reminds us that we should not despise small, humble starts. Great movements of God often start with individuals or small groups who are faithful, obedient, and patient for growth. We do not need to be discouraged just because our ministry or impact seems tiny at first. If we are faithful, God can take the small seed of kingdom work we do and develop it into something fruitful and multiplying.
2. Growth requires patience and waiting on God’s timing.
The parable emphasizes that seeds take time to grow. Growth is gradual and happens in stages: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain. The farmer patiently waits and trusts the natural process. In the same way, building God’s kingdom takes patience and trust in God’s timing. We cannot force growth, but must wait on the Lord as growth unfolds according to His will and plan.
This means we should not become discouraged if growth seems slow. Building God’s kingdom is a long-term project that requires endurance and persistence through periods without visible progress. We must keep sowing kingdom seeds faithfully, even when we do not see immediate results. Change often happens slowly. But if we do not give up, in time we will see the fruit God intended.
3. The growth process is mysterious.
The parable notes that the farmer does not fully understand the biological process of how seeds sprout and grow. He scatters seed and knows the general stages of development, but the intricate details are a mystery to him. In the same way, we cannot fully comprehend or predict how God’s kingdom expands and impacts hearts and society. We play a role in sowing gospel seeds, but only God can produce spiritual growth and transformation in someone’s heart. The work of the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ and grow them in faith is invisible and mysterious to us.
This means we should have humility about kingdom work. We do not ultimately control results or the growth process. Our job is simply to be faithful in sowing and watering seeds, trusting God for the increase. We can take comfort knowing that growth does not depend solely on our skill or effort, but on God’s Spirit working often behind the scenes in ways we cannot predict or take credit for.
4. There is an appointed harvest time.
In the parable, the grain needs time to fully develop before it can be harvested. The farmer patiently waits until the grain reaches full maturity. He does not attempt to force an early harvest, which would yield less grain and ruin the crop. In the same way, God has appointed a time for the final harvest and conclusion of His kingdom work on earth. Until that appointed time, we are in a sowing and growing phase where we spread the gospel and make disciples while waiting for Christ’s return.
This means we should not become impatient if God’s kingdom seems slow to advance and grow. The timing belongs to God, and He knows when the harvest is ripe. Our job is to keep sowing faithfully until God brings the final yield. We can trust that God’s timing is perfect, and the full harvest will come right when He desires.
5. The harvest requires human labor.
When the grain was ripe, the farmer immediately put his sickle to the task because the harvest had come. He did not passively wait for the grain to harvest itself. In the same way, when God’s kingdom fully comes, He will use human means to bring in the full harvest. Jesus’ Great Commission makes it clear we have a role to play in helping gather the final harvest through our witness and disciple-making (Matt. 28:19-20). God alone can grow the kingdom, but at the right time He will use His people to help bring in the full crop.
This means we have an important role to play in God’s end time harvest. We should be faithful and ready to spring into action when God’s Spirit prompts us that the time is right. Our witness, evangelism, and discipling are part of gathering the final harvest. It should motivate us to be ready to work for the kingdom while diligently waiting for God’s timing.
6. God brings the harvest to completion.
While humans assist in the harvest, the parable makes it clear that it is God who brings the harvest from planting to completion. The farmer does not cause the seed to sprout, grow, and mature. He simply scattered the seed; God made it develop and produce fruit using natural growing processes the farmer cannot control. In the same way, only God can grow His kingdom and bring it to full fruit. Our role is limited, but God will take our faithful efforts and bring the full harvest He desires in His perfect time.
This means we can have confidence that God will bring His purposes to completion. His kingdom work is not dependent on human effort or competence alone. He takes our feeble efforts and uses His mighty power to produce lasting fruit. We plant and water, but God makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Our job is simply to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us.
7. The harvest culminates in joy and rest.
A harvest is a time of great joy and satisfaction for a farmer. It is the culmination of months of hard work and patient waiting. No doubt the farmer in the parable rejoiced greatly at the bountiful crop produced by his field. In the same way, God’s kingdom harvest will be an amazing culmination of His redemptive work on earth, bringing joy for Him and all His laborers. The book of Revelation pictures the final harvest as a time of celebration, rest, and reward for God’s people (Revelation 14:14-16).
This means that kingdom work is not in vain. Any labor we sow for God’s glory will culminate in a joyous harvest marked by rest, reward, and satisfaction. No effort in building God’s kingdom is wasted. The day is coming when we will rejoice to see the fruit of what God has produced through us by His power and to His praise.
8. The church plays a key role in growing God’s kingdom.
While this parable does not specifically mention the church, the broader context of Christ’s teaching shows that the church plays an essential role in growing God’s kingdom on earth. The church is God’s primary vehicle to sow gospel seeds in the world and help nurture those seeds to maturity through discipleship. The church multiplies God’s kingdom through its witness, making new disciples who themselves can spread the gospel and strengthen existing believers (Matthew 28:19-20). The church is the “pillar and buttress of the truth” meant to display God’s wisdom to spiritual powers (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 3:10).
This means we as Christ’s church must see ourselves as stewards of the gospel and nurturers of spiritual growth for kingdom expansion. We do the hard work of sowing the seed through evangelism, teaching, and making disciples. We water seeds through fellowship, pastoral care, and counseling. We trust God to use our efforts to produce kingdom growth, while acknowledging that only He can change hearts and bring true growth.
9. Kingdom growth often follows suffering and sacrifice.
This parable depicts the positive picture of crop growth, but Jesus taught elsewhere that a seed must die to produce many more seeds (John 12:24). Similarly, growth of God’s kingdom often follows suffering, sacrifice, and death. The cross had to precede the resurrection. The blood of the martyrs helped spread the gospel worldwide. Surrendering our lives to follow Christ leads to greater fruit.
This means we should not expect to build God’s kingdom without cost. Achieving great things for God’s glory requires perseverance through hardship, setbacks, and sacrifice. But the reward for faithfulness is continued kingdom growth. We can have confidence that God uses our trials and sacrifices to produce greater harvests for eternity.
10. God promises to bring His kingdom to full completion.
This parable offers great hope because it reminds us of the sure promise that God will bring His kingdom plans to full fruition. What God starts, He will finish. The seed that is planted will produce a full crop. The kingdom that starts small like a mustard seed will grow into a flourishing tree (Matthew 13:31-32). The generation that sees the first shoots of God’s kingdom will also witness the culminating harvest (Mark 13:29-30).
This means we can labor with confidence and hope knowing that our work for God’s kingdom is never in vain. God willtake our faithful efforts and bring them to wonderful completion in His perfect timing. All He starts He will finish. We can trust Him fully to accomplish His purposes and redeem our imperfect efforts for His glory.
In summary, the Parable of the Growing Seed offers rich insights into the nature of God’s kingdom and our role in spreading it. As we scatter gospel seeds in the world, we can trust the Holy Spirit to work growth in people’s lives and bring in the full harvest at just the right time. We must simply be faithful in the tasks God has given us, wait patiently for His timing, and trust that He will complete the good work He began (Philippians 1:6). This parable encourages us to persist in kingdom work, knowing that our labor is never in vain and God’s purposes cannot be stopped.
