The Gospel of Thomas, a collection of sayings known complete only in a Coptic manuscript from Nag Hammadi, shares many sayings with the Synoptic Gospels. Scholars disagree about whether Thomas depends on the canonical Gospels or preserves an independent line of tradition, and the parable of the mustard seed is a frequent test case.
Thomas’ version is brief and, like almost all his sayings, lacks any narrative setting, though here the disciples’ question provides a frame. Each Synoptic evangelist introduces the parable differently, and Matthew and Luke share wording against Mark, which is usually explained by their common use of a second source.
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The disciples asked Jesus, "Tell us, what can the kingdom of heaven be compared to?"
He said to them, "It can be compared to a mustard seed. Though it’s the smallest of all the seeds, when it falls on tilled soil it makes a plant so large that it shelters the birds of heaven."
30 He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? 31 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 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.”
31 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”
18 He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”