In this chapter, Matthew recounts three of Jesus’ agricultural parables: the parables of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), the weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) and the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32).  Jesus was much misunderstood in His day, and still is now.  He was not a rabbi wanting to extend Jewishness to the world, nor was He a military revolutionary working to overthrow the Romans, nor was He simply a wise teacher and kind miracle-worker.  He had come to announce that He is the King of God’s kingdom, with authority to explain what His kingdom is like and to command everything and person to submit to Him (Matthew 12:28).  In this parable He reveals the scale of that kingdom.
 
It starts by the planting of a seed; not many seeds, just one.  The seed is both the good news about the kingdom, and also the King Himself (John 12:23-24), and those who believe in Him.  Like a seed, apparently disintegrating in the ground, Jesus would physically die and be buried but His resurrection would bring new life to many (Luke 24:45-47).  The incarnation of Jesus, His ministry and atoning sacrifice was not a random scattering of seed: it was a deliberately planned action by the Godhead to defeat Satan, conquer death and establish a kingdom that is heavenly.
 
The death of Christ and the enthusiastic propagation of the gospel were considered small matters for both the religious leaders and the military occupying forces.  However, it was the biggest incursion of God's loving grace, ever.  What might have seemed as small as a mustard seed, would become so large that it would be a safe place for everybody who trusts in Jesus.  His Kingdom is huge in scale and intimate in security.
 
Although many dismiss Jesus or downgrade Him in their minds, the truth is that His kingdom now extends to every recognised nation on earth.  There is room for everybody who desires to be at home and at peace with God through Jesus Christ.  The trainee apostles needed to understand that their mission was not to reproduce their old religious activities in ever widening circles: they were to announce a new kingdom which was big enough for all ... Jew and Gentile, male and female, young and old ... all ethnic groups coming from a multitude of religious philosophies to Jesus.  Nobody who wants to be in Jesus' kingdom is excluded (John 6:37).  Therefore, be confident to announce the gospel today to anybody the Lord brings across your path.