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NASB | Matthew 17:20 And He *said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 17:20 He answered, "Because of your little faith [your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God]; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and [if it is God's will] it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. [Mark 11:23; Luke 17:6; 1 John 5:14] |
Bible Question:
Hi, I'm here today to maybe have a discussion about passage in the bible in the book of Matthew. Where Jesus tells us if you have faith of a mustard seed, then you can tell this mountain to move here and it will move. Can someone explain the simplicity of that passage and what kind of faith that is? Also when they say move a mountain does he mean our own problems or does he mean an actual mountain in a plain? Thank You |
Bible Answer: Hi Jason, Jesus was instructing his disciples about faith in this section (Matt. 17:14-21). It's always good to read the entire context to get a better understanding:-) It was because of the disciples unbelief (lack of faith) that they could not heal the epileptic (vs. 16). I've always seen the instruction in verse 20 as more figurative since I've never seen mountains literally moved by faith! I think it tells us how little faith is required if we could have true faith- the size of a mustard seed. C.H. Spurgeon says this from his Commentary of Matthew: "Vs. 20- And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, It 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." Want of faith is the great cause of failure among disciples, both as to themselves and their work for others. There may be other specific maladies in certain cases, but this is the great and main cause of all failure: “Because of your unbelief.” If there had been true faith, of the real and living kind, the disciples could have wrought any miracle, even to the moving of a mountain. Whatever faith we may have, we shall not work a miracle, for this is not the age of prodigies. Is our faith therefore limited in its sphere? Far from it. We can now by faith accomplish that which is fit and right without miracles. Our faith may be small “as a grain of mustard seed,” but if it be living and true it links us with the Omnipotent One. Still is it true, “Ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and, it shall remove.” Mountains shall move before our faith by means as sure as if they were miraculous; by means even more wonderful than if the course of nature had been changed. Comparatively speaking, the suspension of natural law is a coarse expedient; but for the Lord to work the same result without violating any of his laws is an achievement not less divine than a miracle. This is what faith obtains of the Lord at the present hour: her prayer is heard, and things impossible to herself are wrought by divine power. Spiritually and symbolically, the mountain is removed. Literally, at this hour the mountain stands, but faith finds a way round it, through it, or over it; and so in effect removes it. In the mission field, mountains of exclusiveness which shut out missionaries have been removed. In ordinary life, insurmountable difficulties are graciously dissolved. In a variety of ways, before real faith hindrances disappear, according to the word of the Lord Jesus — “Nothing shall be impossible”" I hope this helps, BradK |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Matt 17:20 | Author | ||
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dalipat | ||
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john 146 | ||
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adex | ||
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NightJay0044 | ||
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BradK | ||
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puzzler-4-6 |