mustard

A common plant used for oil, as a condiment, and as a potherb. Although it is hyperbole to say that mustard is “the smallest of seeds . . . the greatest of shrubs” (Matt 13:31; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19), in both the parable of the mustard seed and the statement about faith (Matt 17:20; Luke 17:6) the mustard seed’s significance lies in its size relative to the mature plant (or to a mountain).