Is the Mustard Seed The Smallest Seed? Supposed Biblical Error 21

Did Jesus say the smallest seed ever was the mustard seed? If He did, this would be factually incorrect.

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[Michael-bknz]

This is a great example of how skeptics love to create "errors" in the Bible by excessive literalism, Bible skeptics are more fundamentalistic than most fundamentalists

[JamesMiddletonDesign]

Hi Michael. I hope you are well. Being an obsessive gardener, I have often wondered about this. I do grow mustard, and it is an annual crop that reaches around 1 metre or so. However, the mustard that Jesus was referring to is Salvadora persica; a large tree, and not the mustard we know of in the West. The seeds are pretty small, and I would imagine that a 23-foot-high tree would be quite an impressive sight in a desert setting. Thanks for the video. Very helpful as always.

[komnennos]

This has to be one of the funniest arguments against Christianity I've ever seen, are atheists even trying?

[Ecanllo]

I've always believed in Christianity, but you make me belive even more and have even more faith, thank you.

[jakehackney]

I learned two new words today. I love Jesus

[meanman]

Responding to the title, will watch later. I don’t recall Jesus ever calling the mustard seed the smallest seed, I do recall him saying faith as small as a mustard seed. Besides if there are smaller seeds but the people in that area aren’t familiar with them, the analogy wouldn’t have the same impact. Context in culture and time etc matter.

[shroomitechromee]

SMH jesus clearly should've said
"the kingdom of heaven is like a quark, that grows in size to the observable universe"

[daniel]

"Even faith as small as an American orchid seed"
"A what now?"
"Oh, right, yes its a flower that grows in another world one day to be named america, it grows on other plants, but its not really a parasite, and it has seeds like sand"

"Are you trying to say our faith will rely on others to bloom? What do you mean other world? Do you mean heaven?"

"No, far from it, but you're misunderstanding. This is about harvesting"

"You said orchid, like the wild flower? Why would we farm that?"

"Okay so theres this one orchid, and it makes vanilla, you guys will like that one after ice cream is invented, in fact, it will be desperately farmed but yield little, making it rare enough for people to create imitations. Do you understand now?"

"What is ice cream?"

[Invictus]

All of Jesus Christ’s parables were said in the context of the area of which he lived.
And you are correct, he was speaking to the peasants, and the downtrodden.
Like any politician speaking to their constituents, they will speak to them about local issues that are readily understood by local people.
They pick on this one in particular because they can say “Look! There’s an error here.”

[jethdaflip]

Seed sizes can change though, just looking how the original banana seeds which still exist in the Philippines and is twice the size of a grain and how that banana can't be eaten unless cooked, compared to a modern banana's seeds which is so small you can hardly see it and can eat it easily. I think seed sizes can change in the span of 20- 40 years, so 2000 years ago, maybe the mustard seed was the smallest.

[X_mano]

Jesus: the kingdom of God is like a grain of Anoectochilus imitans seeds
Regular peasants of Judea: what the hell is he talking about???

[Mario.]

I am surprised that people consider this to be an error.

[bournelucid]

Imagine christ naming some random orchid with the smallest seed and everyone being befuddled beyond belief. 💀💀💀

[ianmartinesq]

This is like when Luke said, “there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that *_all the world_* should be taxed”. Would people conclude that Luke thought there was literally nothing outside the Roman Empire? Of course not! That’s not an error. One can easily get that they were talking about the Roman world and people talked like that.

[mrtraviscannon]

I didn’t realize the parable was being used as an argument against Jesus! 😳 Well done as always, IP.

[phoenixgamer]

Exactly, correct. He is referring to the smallest seed sown during His time on earth.

[blankmantm]

While this is a great video filled with very useful information that I would have otherwise never heard about, this is honestly far more time to respond than the argument deserves.

[greenplant]

I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you put into your videos. I enjoy watching them.
ty

[Chicken_of_Bristol]

In things like this I find it's useful to consider the counterfactual. Imagine that Jesus had actually compared faith to a type of seed completely unknown to the people of the region. That would be incredibly confusing to the people hearing the message, and he'd have to go on a diversion explaining the point that would have completely overshadowed the actual spiritual point he was trying to make.

[cosmicnomad]

Why is this even an argument? It’s very important to read things in context. Thanks for the video!