Mark 4:30-34

New International Version

The Parable of the Mustard Seed^(A)

³⁰Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,^(B) or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³²Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.^(C) ³⁴He did not say anything to them without using a parable.^(D) But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

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Luke 13:18-21

New International Version

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast^(A)^(B)

¹⁸Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God^(C) like?^(D) What shall I compare it to? ¹⁹It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree,^(E) and the birds perched in its branches.”^(F)

²⁰Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? ²¹It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”^(G)

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