Parable of the Growing Seed (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26–29)
What is the parable of the growing seed?
The Parable of the Growing Seed is another parable Jesus told about the growth of the Kingdom of God, like the Parable of the Sower
The story is very simple:
A farmer plants seeds and can do nothing about their growth until harvest time
The seeds grow, stage by stage, until the crop is ready for harvest
The seed represents the Kingdom of God
The description of the seed growing unaided, stage by stage, shows that the Kingdom of God grows gradually, but there is no stopping it
Jesus’s message was that once the seed of the word of God is sown, only time will tell how the Kingdom of God will come about
Christians might not understand how it is happening, but they can be confident that it is working
Believers should trust God: The coming of the Kingdom of God will happen as long as they keep faith, as the farmer keeps faith that the seed will grow
The harvest represents the full establishment of the Kingdom of God
One day, Christians will see it realised, just as the farmer will one day benefit from the harvest
They will be “harvested”to be part of the Kingdom of God
The significance of the parable of the growing seed today
The message of the parable of the growing seed at the time of Jesus was that believers should keep faith and be patient that the Kingdom of God would come
This helped early Christians facing persecution from the Romans, encouraging them to keep in mind that God’s Kingdom was really coming and that they should have hope
The parable holds the same significance for Christians today
It reminds them that although they do not understand God’s ways, they should keep the faith and believe that the Kingdom of God is coming
This helps Christians who face persecution for their faith today
It also helps those who may be discouraged by the decline in religious practice and falling church attendance
Worked Example
In the Parable of the Growing Seed, what does the harvest represent?
A. The end of farming in Galilee
B. The final establishment of the Kingdom of God
C. The disciples learning how to plant crops
D. The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
[1 mark]
Answer:
Correct answer: B. The final establishment of the Kingdom of God
The harvest symbolises the moment when God’s Kingdom is fully realised and believers are gathered into it. A and C are about farming, but this is not what the parable means, and D is not mentioned in the parable.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
There are three parables in this section about seeds:
The sower
The growing seed
The mustard seed
Make sure you don’t confuse them!
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