Matthew 17:20

In Matthew 17, Peter, James, and John had just witnessed something unforgettable. Jesus took them up a high mountain where His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus. The three disciples were overwhelmed by God's glory.

But when they came down from the mountain, they found the other nine disciples in a crisis. A father had brought his son who suffered from severe seizures. The father had come to the disciples for help, but they could not heal him.

Then Jesus arrived. The father ran to Him and explained what happened. Jesus rebuked the demon, and immediately the boy was healed.

Later, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why could we not cast it out?" Jesus answered, "Because of your little faith." Then Jesus said,"If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move."

Why did Jesus say their faith was too little then tell them a tiny mustard seed of faith is enough?

Here, Jesus was not talking about the size of faith. He was talking about the direction of faith. The disciples had a wavering faith. They looked to God. Then they looked back to the problem. They trusted Jesus. Then they doubted Him when the healing did not happen right away.

However, a mustard seed is different. When this tiny seed is planted, it does not waver. It stays rooted and grows.

Wavering faith accomplishes little. In contrast, living faith, even if it is as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains. Why? Because the power is not in the size of your faith. The power is in the God your faith is rooted in.

When we place our trust in God, even with small faith, He empowers us to do what we could not do on our own. The disciples learned that day that their job was not to have perfect faith. Their job was to keep their faith rooted in God.

"Because of your little faith" (ὀλιγοπιστία / oligopistia)

"Little faith" is the Greek word oligopistia, meaning small faith. This is the kind of faith that keeps shifting in direction. With this faith, we look to God and then back to our circumstances. We trust Him and then doubt. It is not a faith that stays rooted.

"Faith as a grain of mustard seed" (πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως / pistin hōs kokkon sinapeōs)

A mustard seed was one of the smallest seeds in ancient Israel. However, Jesus is not focusing on the size of the seed. He is talking about faith that is alive and rooted. A mustard seed, when planted, does not waver. It stays rooted and grows. Similarly, faith that stays rooted in God, no matter how small it is, carries power because God is all-powerful.

"You will tell this mountain, 'Move'" (ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ / ereite tō orei toutō)

To the Jewish people, mountains often represented impossible obstacles. Jesus uses this image to make His point: faith rooted in God can speak to impossibilities. The mountain moves not because your faith is strong, but because the God your faith is rooted in is strong.

I declare that the words of Matthew 17:20 are true in my life.

• My faith is rooted in God.
• Even the smallest faith in God can bring powerful changes.
• God works through my faith to do what I cannot do on my own.
• I completely trust God even when I cannot fully understand His ways.

God,

I learned today that my faith needs to be rooted in You.

My faith may be small, but I choose to direct it toward You. I choose to trust Your promises and Your goodness, even when I cannot fully understand Your ways.

May I keep my eyes on You. When circumstances seem impossible, remind me that You will work through the faith I show. When I want to give up, remind me that You are faithful to fulfill what You have promised in Your perfect timing.

Thank You that even the smallest faith can move mountains.

I place my faith in You today. Work through me to bring change to my surroundings. Let me experience what once seemed impossible become possible.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.