Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Matthew 13:31–35; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–21
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
“The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed.” Matthew 13:31
Jesus compared His kingdom to the smallest seed that grows into a tree, and to a bit of leaven that raises the whole loaf. What He starts small, He makes great.
Sitting in a boat by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus taught the crowd on the shore in parables. He said the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man sowed in his field. It is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it becomes the greatest among herbs, a tree big enough for the birds of the air to lodge in its branches.
Then He gave another comparison: the kingdom is like leaven that a woman hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened. Matthew notes that Jesus taught the multitude in parables, fulfilling a prophecy that He would open His mouth in parables. Mark and Luke record the same small seed that grows great, and Luke records the leaven too.
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: who teaches in parables and grows His kingdom
The sower: a man who plants a tiny seed
The woman: who hides leaven in the meal
The multitude: who listened on the shore
Where and when
The shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus taught from a boat.
Watch for the Savior
Watch how something tiny becomes something great, and how leaven quietly changes the whole.
Eight stops from a boat on the shore to a loaf that has fully risen. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
Part 2 of 7
The story, plainly
Four scenes: the boat, the seed, the tree and the kitchen. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Matthew 13:32“the greatest among Meaning: garden plants.”
Matthew 13:32“Meaning: settle; make a home. in the branches”
Matthew 13:33“like unto Meaning: yeast, or a bit of old dough used to make bread rise.”
Matthew 13:33“three Meaning: a large amount; enough to feed many people. of Meaning: flour.”
Part 3 of 7
Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The seed, the planting, the sprout, the tree, the nest, the stone, the flour, the dough and the loaf. Matthew 13:31–35
Part 4 of 7
Where are you?
Feeling small, growing slowly, a quiet influence, or sheltered. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
From seed to tree
Tap the stages of the mustard seed in order, from the smallest seed to the tree full of birds.
Small beginnings, great endings.
Part 5 of 7
Their world, their words
A little background on mustard plants, leaven and the Prophet Joseph Smith’s insights helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Outside source · Bible Hub
The smallest seed
Bible Hub’s word study: the mustard seed was the smallest seed “that a Palestinian farmer would sow in his field,” and the plant can reach “about ten feet.”8
Labeled outside source.
Church leader · Elder Pratt
How leaven works
“That tiny bit of ingredient is what makes the dough rise so that when it comes out of the oven it is several times its original size.”7
A little lifts it all.
Prophet · Joseph Smith
Three witnesses
The Church “has taken its rise from a little leaven that was put into three witnesses. Behold, how much this is like the parable!”5
Small start, great growth.
Scripture · Mark 4; Luke 13
Three accounts
Mark adds that it “shooteth out great branches.” Luke says, “it grew, and waxed a great tree.”23
Read all three.
Word study · Greek
sinapi σίναπι · “mustard” (Matthew 13:31)
Bible Hub: “mustard (the plant).”8Outside · lexicon
Everyone listening knew how small this seed was. That’s what made the story surprising.1
Word study · Greek
zumé ζύμη · “leaven” (Matthew 13:33)
Bible Hub: “leaven (yeast); (figuratively) the spreading influence of what is typically concealed.”9Outside · lexicon
Leaven often stands for evil in scripture, but here Jesus uses it for the quiet spread of His kingdom.1
What the text does not say
Jesus doesn’t say the kingdom will look impressive at first. He says it starts small and grows. He doesn’t say the leaven works loudly, either. It works quietly, from the inside, until the whole is changed.1
Part 6 of 7
Look to Him
He started His kingdom with a few followers in Galilee. He still grows great things from small beginnings.
“If we will freely and frequently share our testimonies with others, we can serve as leaven to build and strengthen the Church wherever we are.”
“But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches.” Mark 4:32
Luke’s account
The leaven
“It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” Luke 13:21
Part 7 of 7
Seek Him today
A question to ask in prayer
What small seed wouldst Thou have me plant this week? Matthew 13:31
Listen for one small act of faith or kindness. Plant it, and trust Him to grow it.
Try it today
One small seed to plant each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
0 of 7 today
This week:0 of 7 days
Seven small seeds planted. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“The least of all seeds.”
Read Matthew 13:31–33 slowly. Picture the tiny seed in a farmer’s palm, then the tree full of birds. What small beginning in your life might He be growing? Matthew 13:31–33
A verse to hold
Talk about it
Why do you think Jesus chose the smallest seed for this story?
How did the Church grow from small beginnings?
What does leaven do to bread, and how can we be like leaven?
Who could you help find shelter in His gospel?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Prophet
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, chapter 25
The Prophet’s explanation of the parables in Matthew 13 and how they apply to the latter days.5
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven, ready to print $3.99
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for March 15–21, 2027 (Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Matthew 13:31–35, Mark 4:30–32 and Luke 13:18–21; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
