“He (Jesus) replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” -Matthew 17:29 (English Standard Version)
I want to start off this blog post with a little bit of background to this story. Jesus, along with his disciples Peter, James, and John his brother, had just come from down from what has come to be known as the Mount of Transfiguration, and along the way come into a crowd, where a man begged Jesus to have mercy on his demon-possessed son. At some previous time he brought his son to the disciples to cast out the demons, but they ended up being unsuccessful. That’s where the gospel passage cited above picks up.
I’ve heard many sermons preached on this particular passage from Matthew’s gospel during my lifetime by many different preachers; I’ve even had several opportunities myself to preach on this several occasions myself. Each time, though, it was always a variation of the idea that somehow the disciples were lacking in the quantity of faith, when in reality, Jesus isn’t saying there’s not enough faith, it’s just that their faith was immature. In other words, it was really a question of quality.
To establish my point, let’s analyse the passage using biblical Greek:
– ( ho de legie autois): “But he said to them…”
– ( Dia tēn oligoptisian hymōn): “Because of your LITTLE FAITH
If we understand this verse as a descriptive rather than a pejorative, the term “little faith” is basically saying the faith of the disciples was just not a mature faith rather than saying they didn’t have enough quantitatively.
Furthermore, by understanding “little faith” as descriptive, we will understand much more clearly the metaphorical nude of the mustard seed as an extension to the idea that the amount of size or a person’s faith isn’t as important as the quality.
Have you seen a mustard seed? It’s miniscule in size, yet it develops into this giant tree with branches teaching out in all directions as well as up high into the air.
As impressive as the flourishing branches are however, they would be nothing without the equally expansive root system of the tree.
The roots of the mustard tree extend farther and deeper than any other tree in that part of the world, which, considering the very arid and sandy soil conditions, This expansive root system is vital to its survival not only collecting moisture, but for anchoring it against very strong winds and storms
Ultimately, the lesson was a challenge to the disciples, and to us as well, to make sure our faith, even though we might feel is tiny and insignificant, is well rooted in Christ. Through these wide and deep teaching roots, we will never lack our nourishment through Word and Sacrament, and we will be completely be unshakable because we are firmly grounded in the LORD.
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