The mustard seed (Luke 17:5-6, Matthew 17:20-21, Mark 4:30-32)



The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Luke 17:5‭-‬6 ESV


"For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20b ESV


And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Mark 4:30‭-‬32 ESV


Why is faith compared to a mustard seed? A mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds, yet it grows into the largest bush, so large people call it a tree. A mustard seed has no option other than to give everything it has into growing and becoming a large bush or die trying. So, too, with faith. Nothing is impossible for God; He can take the smallest seed and grow it into a large tree. We must pray with confidence that God is powerful enough to do anything, even uproot a large tree, and move it to live and grow elsewhere, even the midst of the sea. Jesus is making the point that even a very little amount of faith can accomplish great things. Even the smallest seed of faith can grow into something beautiful and strong. A tiny mustard seed grows into faith that can move mountains. We are challenged by these passages to rethink what is possible. 

When you pray, do you believe God can do anything? Do you trust that He can move mountains for you?


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