Luke 17:5
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Luke 17:5
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The apostles ask Jesus to add to their faith, not just make it stronger. This subtle word choice reveals they recognized Jesus' divine power to grant faith itself, seeing it as something that must be given, not just mustered up from within themselves.
Right after Jesus warns against causing others to stumble, especially the vulnerable, the disciples feel overwhelmed by the immense demand to forgive repeatedly. They recognize their own weakness and the extraordinary nature of such grace, prompting them to ask Jesus to strengthen their faith so they can truly live out his challenging commands.
Have you ever felt like a command from Jesus was just too hard to obey? The apostles did too, and their request reveals a lot about what it takes to truly follow Him.
Right after Jesus talks about forgiving someone not just seven times, but seventy-seven times (which is a way of saying 'always' or 'unlimited'), the apostles have a crucial realization.
The Unbelievable Command
They understood that forgiving someone completely, again and again, wasn't easy. It goes against our natural tendency to hold grudges or seek revenge. This kind of radical forgiveness seemed so difficult, so far beyond their own strength, that they cried out to Jesus, "Increase our faith!"
Faith in Action
Their prayer wasn't about wishing for a spiritual superpower. It was a recognition that living out Jesus' commands, especially the challenging ones like boundless forgiveness, requires a faith that is empowered by God. It’s not about having more faith in quantity, but a deeper faith in God’s ability to work through us.
Who is ultimately responsible for our faith? The apostles' simple prayer points to a profound truth about where true spiritual strength comes from.
When the apostles asked Jesus to "Increase our faith," they weren't just expressing a wish; they were acknowledging a vital spiritual principle.
Recognizing the Source
Their prayer implies that faith isn't something we generate entirely on our own. It's a gift, a power that comes from God. They understood that the strength to believe, to obey, and to live out the radical teachings of Jesus originated from Him.
The Author and Finisher
Jesus is presented as the very source of our faith. He doesn't just offer it; He can also strengthen and grow it within us. This understanding frees us from the pressure of self-sufficiency and invites us to rely on God's power to enable us to live for Him.
Understand the original words
kyrios · Greek Noun
The title 'Lord' signifies sovereign authority, master, and divine ruler. In the New Testament, it is the primary confession of faith in the deity and lordship of Jesus Christ.
pistis · Greek Noun
The reliance or trust in God, based on the belief in His character and promises. It is the necessary channel through which believers receive the power to live as God intends.
The disciples' request for more faith arose from the daunting challenges of Jesus' ministry, particularly the command to forgive endlessly. They recognized their inherent weakness and the supernatural strength required to live out these radical teachings, especially after witnessing their own limitations in spiritual power.
c. AD 28
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus' ministry of teaching, healing, and calling disciples begins, sparking intense interest and opposition.
c. AD 29
Jesus teaches Sermon on the Mount
Jesus delivers foundational teachings on discipleship, including the Lord's Prayer and commands on non-retaliation and forgiveness.
c. AD 29
Jesus sends out the 70
Jesus commissions a larger group of disciples to spread his message, emphasizing reliance on God and peaceful engagement.
c. AD 29— this verse
Jesus disciples fail to cast out demon
The disciples are unable to cast out a demon, leading Jesus to explain that such power requires prayer, fasting, and strong faith, possibly referencing Matthew 17:14-20.
This passage powerfully echoes the apostles' cry, showing a father who, when Jesus asks if he believes, responds with the very same sentiment: 'I believe; help my unbelief!' It highlights the universal human struggle with faith, even when confronted with the miraculous.
Hebrews 12:2This verse directly identifies Jesus as the 'founder and perfecter of our faith,' providing a theological foundation for the apostles' request to Him. It reminds us that faith isn't something we conjure on our own, but a gift that originates and finds its completion in Christ.
Matthew 17:20In this parallel account, Jesus responds to a similar plea (though in a different context) by explaining that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. This shows that the issue isn't the quantity of faith, but its quality and its connection to God's power, which the apostles were seeking.
Galatians 2:20Paul's declaration, 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me,' speaks to a faith so profound it's intertwined with Christ's very life. This is the depth of faith the apostles were likely yearning for to truly embody Christ's teachings on forgiveness.
Ephesians 2:8clarkeLuke 17:5: "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."
Increase our faith - This work of pardoning every offense of every man, and that continually, seemed so difficult, even to the disciples themselves, that they saw, without an extraordinary degree of faith, they should never be able to keep this command. But some think that this and what follows relate to what Matthew has mentioned. Matthew 17:19 , Matthew 17:20 .
pulpitLuke 17:5: "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."
Verse 5. - And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. The disciples, moved by the severe and cutting rebuke of their Master - a rebuke they probably felt their harsh, self-congratulatory state of mind had well merited-come to him and ask him to give them such an increased measure of faith as would enable them to play better the difficult and responsible part he had assigned them. They evidently felt their weakne…
The apostles ask Jesus to add to their faith, not just make it stronger. This subtle word choice reveals they recognized Jesus' divine power to grant faith itself, seeing it as something that must be given, not just mustered up from within themselves.
Right after Jesus warns against causing others to stumble, especially the vulnerable, the disciples feel overwhelmed by the immense demand to forgive repeatedly. They recognize their own weakness and the extraordinary nature of such grace, prompting them to ask Jesus to strengthen their faith so they can truly live out his challenging commands.
Right after Jesus warns against causing others to stumble, especially the vulnerable, the disciples feel overwhelmed by the immense demand to forgive repeatedly. They recognize their own weakness and the extraordinary nature of such grace, prompting them to ask Jesus to strengthen their faith so they can truly live out his challenging commands.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 17:5 is available in the Sola app.
c. AD 30
Jesus ascends to heaven
After his resurrection, Jesus commissions his followers and ascends, leaving them empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue his mission.
c. AD 30 - AD 60
Early Church growth and expansion
The apostles and early Christians spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, facing persecution but experiencing significant growth.
This verse states that salvation is by grace through faith, and that faith itself is a gift from God. This underscores the apostles' prayer as a recognition that even the capacity to believe and act on God's commands comes from Him.
"The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”" — The apostles ask Jesus to add to their faith, not just make it stronger. This subtle word choice reveals they recognized Jesus' divine power to grant faith itself, seeing it as something that must…