Jesus isn't just saying faith is powerful; he's correcting a misunderstanding about why their faith failed. The disciples' problem wasn't a lack of faith size, but a lack of reliance. Even the smallest, genuine bit of faith, like a tiny mustard seed, has incredible potential to move mountains because it’s rooted in God’s power, not their own.
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)
The disciples have just failed to cast a demon out of a boy, and a crowd is questioning them. Jesus steps in, heals the boy, and then privately explains to his disciples that their lack of faith—or, as some manuscripts read, their little faith—was the reason they couldn't help. He uses the image of a tiny mustard seed to illustrate that even the smallest, genuine faith, when fully trusted in God, can accomplish seemingly impossible things, far beyond their current struggle.
Jesus says even the tiniest faith can move mountains. But what does that mean? Is it about having a lot of faith, or something else entirely?
Jesus addresses the disciples' failure to cast out the demon, attributing it to their 'little faith.' This isn't about the quantity of faith, but its quality and source. The comparison to a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, highlights this. It's not that a tiny faith itself has power, but that genuine faith, even when small, is rooted in God's immense power.
Think of it like this:
Ask a follow-up
Jesus uses the extreme example of moving a mountain. Was He literally expecting them to relocate mountains, or was there a deeper point to this powerful imagery?
The 'mountain' Jesus refers to is a powerful symbol. It represents overwhelming obstacles, seemingly insurmountable problems, and situations that defy human capability. When Jesus says faith can move mountains, He's illustrating the immense power God makes available to His followers.
Consider these points:
Jesus concludes by saying, 'nothing shall be impossible for you.' Is this a blank check for anything we desire, or is there a crucial condition attached?
This incredible statement, 'nothing shall be impossible for you,' is not a guarantee of unlimited human ability or a license for selfish desires. It’s a profound truth about the scope of God's power available through faith that aligns with His will.
Let's unpack this:
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.
This teaching arises directly from a dramatic encounter where the disciples' faith falters. Jesus uses the immediate, seemingly impossible task of moving a mountain to illustrate the immense power available through genuine faith, especially when contrasted with their recent failure.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Transfigured on Mount Hermon
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a high mountain (traditionally Mount Hermon) where He is transfigured. This glorious event is followed by Jesus' descent and His encounter with a man whose son is afflicted by an evil spirit.
c. AD 28
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Evil Spirit
The disciples are unable to cast out an evil spirit from a boy. Jesus rebukes their lack of faith and their inability to perform the miracle, highlighting a spiritual deficiency.
c. AD 28
Jesus Teaches on Faith and Prayer
Following the incident, Jesus privately explains to His disciples that this kind of demon can only be driven out through prayer, emphasizing the power of prayer fueled by genuine faith.
c. AD 30
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
Jesus uses a similar illustration, cursing a fig tree that withers. He then reiterates the teaching that if they have faith and do not doubt, they can command mountains to move.
c. AD 50s
Paul Writes to the Corinthians
The Apostle Paul echoes Jesus' teaching in his letter, mentioning the ability to remove mountains as a sign of perfect faith, showing the teaching's continued relevance.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' teaching on faith, urging believers to have faith in God, which is the foundation for the kind of powerful prayer described in Matthew 17:20.
Luke 17:6Jesus uses the same mustard seed illustration here, linking the power of faith to the ability to command a sycamine tree to uproot itself, reinforcing the idea that even small, genuine faith has immense power.
1 Corinthians 13:2The Apostle Paul speaks of having faith that can move mountains, directly referencing the hyperbole Jesus used, and situating this immense faith within the context of God's love and the spiritual gifts.
Hebrews 11:3This verse highlights that the universe was formed by God's word, and connects it to faith, suggesting that the power Jesus speaks of in Matthew 17:20 is rooted in aligning our faith with God's creative and sustaining power.
Philippians 4:13This verse declares that believers can do all things through Christ who strengthens them, echoing the profound promise in Matthew 17:20 that with sufficient faith, 'nothing shall be impossible.'
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 isn't just saying faith is powerful; he's correcting a misunderstanding about why their faith failed. The disciples' problem wasn't a lack of faith size, but a lack of reliance. Even the smallest, genuine bit of faith, like a tiny mustard seed, has incredible potential to move mountains because it’s rooted in God’s power, not their own.
The disciples have just failed to cast a demon out of a boy, and a crowd is questioning them. Jesus steps in, heals the boy, and then privately explains to his disciples that their lack of faith—or, as some manuscripts read, their little faith—was the reason they couldn't help. He uses the image of a tiny mustard seed to illustrate that even the smallest, genuine faith, when fully trusted in God, can accomplish seemingly impossible things, far beyond their current struggle.
The disciples have just failed to cast a demon out of a boy, and a crowd is questioning them. Jesus steps in, heals the boy, and then privately explains to his disciples that their lack of faith—or, as some manuscripts read, their little faith—was the reason they couldn't help. He uses the image of a tiny mustard seed to illustrate that even the smallest, genuine faith, when fully trusted in God, can accomplish seemingly impossible things, far beyond their current struggle.
"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 isn't just saying faith is powerful; he's correcting a misunderstanding about why their faith failed. The disciples' problem wasn't a lack of faith size, but a lack of reliance. Even the…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
