Prophecy

Teachers (without the guidance of prophets) handle the parable of the mustard seed this way: The kingdom starts off small and grows larger and larger. If we have faith like that we can do miracles that no one seems to be able to do (move the mountain to the sea.). They argue if the birds are angels, demons, or gentiles. Then wonder, and or defend, that Jesus said it was the smallest seed, when everyone else knows it's not.

Prophets handle the same parable this way; teaching what is revealed by the Spirit as they unlock the prophetic riddle and what is validated by the word.

Jesus was the seed of the woman in Genesis. He was the least of all the seed because he served us all through his death on the cross. The word for mustard in Greek is similar to 'bruised by anger' in Hebrew. The prophecy of the seed of the woman speaks of his incarnation, kenosis, tribulation, temptation and final obedience on the cross.

He grew to be the great herb. Genesis says the grass was given to cattle to eat, and the herbs were given to men to eat. The greatest thing men can eat is the body of Christ. He is the great herb. Eating is a metaphor for learning, so he became the great teacher. We also celebrate the cattle eating the grass when we put baby Jesus in the manger with the grass. We have the same symbol of eating his body at the beginning of his life as we have at the end.

The tree is the cross... and those birds? If you live in the spirit you rest in the cross.

Lets move a mountain. The two mem's in the Hebrew word for water have metaphoric meaning for the Father and the Son. The Father is Spirit and the Son is Truth. Jesus told the woman at Sychar that though she worshiped on the mountain, she would worship in Spirit and Truth. The mountain would be moved to the water.

The parable of the mustard seed speaks of Christ at every turn and is revealed by the Spirit through the word itself. The parable contains a riddle: Eze 17:2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

After prophets have prophesied, teachers can teach properly.

It might be said that theologians are uninspired prophets. They attempt to establish doctrinal baselines for teachers by the application of reason alone.