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 17:20KJVWhat does Matthew 17:20 mean?
Matthew 17:20 describes Jesus telling his disciples that their lack of faith is why they could not perform a miracle, and that even a very small amount of faith—like a mustard seed—can accomplish what seems impossible, such as moving a mountain. Jesus emphasizes that nothing will be impossible if they truly have faith.
In this scene, Jesus is speaking to his disciples after they were unable to heal a boy. The disciples had asked Jesus privately why they could not cast out a demon, and he responds by pointing to their "unbelief." Jesus uses the image of a mustard seed, which was known as one of the smallest seeds, to show that even a tiny bit of genuine faith has great power. The "mountain" is often understood as a symbol for something that seems immovable or impossible.
The Greek behind Matthew 17:20
- ἀπιστία (apistia, "unbelief"): This word means a lack of trust or confidence. Jesus directly connects the disciples' inability to their lack of faith, not to a lack of technique or effort.
- πίστις (pistis, "faith"): The Greek word here refers to trust, confidence, or reliance. The focus is on the quality and reality of faith, not its quantity.
- κόκκος σινάπεως (kokkos sinapeōs, "grain of mustard seed"): This phrase highlights something extremely small. Jesus is not demanding huge faith, but real faith, even if it seems tiny.
- μεταβαίνω (metabainō, "remove"): This verb means to move from one place to another. Jesus uses it to illustrate that faith can bring about real, visible change, even in things that seem unchangeable.
Why Matthew 17:20 matters
- Matthew 17:20 clears up the idea that faith must be large or dramatic; Jesus points out that even a little genuine faith is powerful.
- The verse shifts the focus from human ability or effort to trust in God, showing that the disciples' struggle was not about technique but about belief.
- This teaching connects to the wider passage by explaining why the disciples failed and by encouraging them (and future readers) that faith, even when it feels small, is enough for God to work through.