Matthew 17:20
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. 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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus reveals that the disciples' struggle wasn't a complete lack of faith, but "little faith." He uses the analogy of a mustard seed, not just its smallness, but its inherent, powerful potential for growth, to show that even a small, developing faith, when fully trusted in God, can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Right after Jesus' disciples failed to cast out a demon, a frustrated father brought his son to them, highlighting their lack of faith. Jesus rebukes this "faithless and perverse generation," explaining that their limited belief prevented them from overcoming this particular spiritual stronghold. He then uses the illustration of a tiny mustard seed's potential to show that even the smallest amount of genuine faith can accomplish seemingly impossible things.
Jesus says their failure was due to 'little faith,' not 'no faith.' What does this distinction mean for us when our faith feels shaky?
Jesus addresses the disciples' inability to cast out the demon by pointing to their "little faith" (oligopistia). While some manuscripts read "unbelief," the better reading highlights that the issue wasn't a complete absence of faith, but a deficiency in its strength and quantity.
This means that even a small, struggling faith can still be genuine faith. The disciples had attempted the exorcism, showing they possessed some belief in Jesus' power. However, their faith was not robust enough for this particular challenge. It’s like having a small ember that can still produce heat, rather than a total lack of fire.
Jesus uses the image of a tiny mustard seed to describe the power of even the smallest genuine faith. What makes this tiny seed so significant?
Jesus compares genuine faith, no matter how small, to a grain of mustard seed. This seed, proverbially the smallest, grows into a large plant where birds can nest.
This imagery emphasizes two things:
The illustration isn't just about the size, but the inherent vitality and potential for expansion within true faith. When faith is truly rooted in God, it can accomplish what seems impossible.
Jesus declares that with such faith, 'nothing will be impossible for you.' Is this a blank check for our desires, or something deeper?
The ultimate conclusion Jesus draws is staggering: 'nothing shall be impossible for you.' This doesn't mean we can whimsically command anything we desire, as if we have divine control.
Understand the original words
pistis · Greek Noun
The belief, trust, and reliance on God’s power and promises. It is not defined by quantity, but by the object—God Himself—and the willingness to act in accordance with His will.
oros · Greek Noun
A metaphor for a massive obstacle or an seemingly impossible challenge that stands in the way of God’s purposes. It represents the formidable nature of the barriers that can be overcome through reliance on God’s power.
Jesus uses the illustration of moving a mountain to teach that genuine, even small, faith, when coupled with prayer and fasting, can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, a powerful lesson for disciples struggling with doubt.
c. AD 28
Jesus calls disciples
Jesus calls his first disciples, including Peter, James, and John, who would later witness the Transfiguration and be present for this event.
c. AD 29
Jesus teaches in Galilee
Jesus teaches and performs miracles throughout Galilee, drawing large crowds and establishing his ministry. During this time, he often spoke in parables and used vivid imagery to explain spiritual truths.
c. AD 29
The Transfiguration
Peter, James, and John witness Jesus transfigured on a mountaintop, conversing with Moses and Elijah. This profound experience would have deeply impressed upon them Jesus' divine glory.
c. AD 29— this verse
Descent from the Mount
Immediately after the Transfiguration, Jesus and his three closest disciples descend the mountain and encounter a crowd and a desperate father whose son is afflicted by a demon.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' words, emphasizing that 'everything is possible for one who believes,' highlighting the same connection between faith and overcoming the impossible.
Luke 17:5-6Here, the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, and He responds with a similar parable about a mustard seed, teaching that even a small amount of genuine faith can command trees to uproot themselves, reinforcing the power of even minimal faith.
1 Corinthians 13:2Paul uses the same imagery of removing mountains to describe the ultimate potential of faith, showing how this powerful concept was understood and applied by early Christian leaders.
Hebrews 11:3This passage connects faith to the creation of the universe, revealing that by faith, the very structure of reality was formed, which mirrors Jesus' teaching that with sufficient faith, even mountains can be moved.
Matthew 13:31-32Jesus uses the mustard seed as an example of how the Kingdom of God grows from something small to something great, providing context for His metaphor of faith’s potential for immense growth and power, even from humble beginnings.
vincentMatthew 17:20: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Unbelief (ἀπιστίαν)But the better reading is ὀλιγοπιστίαν, littleness of faith. Hence Rev., Because of your little faith.
bengelMatthew 17:20: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Matthew 17:20 . Ἀπιστίαν , unbelief ) in this case.— πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως , faith as a grain of mustard seed ) contrasted with a huge mountain. This faith is contrasted with a strong faith, and one stimulated by prayer and fast…
Jesus reveals that the disciples' struggle wasn't a complete lack of faith, but "little faith." He uses the analogy of a mustard seed, not just its smallness, but its inherent, powerful potential for growth, to show that even a small, developing faith, when fully trusted in God, can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Right after Jesus' disciples failed to cast out a demon, a frustrated father brought his son to them, highlighting their lack of faith. Jesus rebukes this "faithless and perverse generation," explaining that their limited belief prevented them from overcoming this particular spiritual stronghold. He then uses the illustration of a tiny mustard seed's potential to show that even the smallest amount of genuine faith can accomplish seemingly impossible things.
Right after Jesus' disciples failed to cast out a demon, a frustrated father brought his son to them, highlighting their lack of faith. Jesus rebukes this "faithless and perverse generation," explaining that their limited belief prevented them from overcoming this particular spiritual stronghold. He then uses the illustration of a tiny mustard seed's potential to show that even the smallest amount of genuine faith can accomplish seemingly impossible things.
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 Matthew 17:20 is available in the Sola app.
Instead, this promise is rooted in God's power and sovereignty. When our faith, even if small, is rightly placed in Him and aligned with His will, the resources of the Almighty become available.
The 'impossible' here refers to the barriers that stand against God's kingdom and purposes, barriers that genuine, God-empowered faith can overcome.
c. AD 29
The disciples' failure
The other disciples, left to care for the crowd and the afflicted boy, are unable to cast out the demon, highlighting their current lack of faith and Jesus' frustration.
c. AD 29
Jesus heals the boy
Jesus rebukes the 'faithless and perverse generation' and, with a word, heals the boy, demonstrating his authority over demonic forces.
"He said to them, “Because of your little faith. 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.”" — Jesus reveals that the disciples' struggle wasn't a complete lack of faith, but "little faith." He uses the analogy of a mustard seed, not just its smallness, but its inherent, powerful potential for…
