^{26 Ref} He said, "The Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,

^{27 Ref} and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn't know how.

^{28 Ref} For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

^{29 Ref} But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come."

^{30 Ref} He said, "How will we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?

^{31 Ref} It's like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,

^{32 Ref} yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow."