Matthew 17:19-20: Moving Mountains

“Because of your little faith,” Jesus’ to the disciples (Matthew 17:20).

“We place our faith, even a faith that is very weak, in a trustworthy God and His Word.  The better we know God, the more we can trust Him. And the more we trust Him, the more we can experience the reality of His love, grace and power.    Faith is like a muscle -- it grows with exercise.”   (Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, “How to Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness”)

Likely humbled by their failure with the epileptic boy, the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” (v. 19, emphasis added). This passage continues the theme of faithlessness that began with Jesus’ teaching that Elijah was not recognized (see v. 12) and concludes with the disciples not rejoicing over his predicted resurrection (see v. 23).  These things happened “because of your little faith,” (v. 20), as Jesus said to his disciples. 

The disciples had been given authority to cast out demons (see 10:1) but their faith was not maturing as it should have.  Had the disciples become boastful and trusted more in their own accomplishments?   Maybe they had taken their eyes off of Jesus and were sinking due to the circumstances of life.  

The size of one’s faith is not as important as is the object of one’s faith.   Faith in the right object, even if that faith is small, can move mountains.  Jesus illustrated this by saying, “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,” (v. 20).   A mustard seed is tiny; one can fit easily on the tip of your finger. 

Contrastingly, great faith in the wrong object can be impotent, even deadly.    For example, one can have great faith that a parachute is unnecessary for skydiving; one may believe with all his heart that all one needs to do to fly is to flap one’s arms rapidly.   However, all the faith in the world will not counter the force of gravity in spite of how earnestly one flaps his arms.  

A mustard seed of faith, in the right object, can move mountains.   Did Jesus mean this literally or metaphorically?   Several years ago our family did a missions trip to Egypt.  While we were there we visited the Cave Church near Cairo.  There we learned of a medieval show-down between a Christian priest and a Muslim caliph over the validity of Christianity, using this very verse. 

A depiction at the Cave Church near Cairo, Egypt of the confrontation between a Muslim caliph and a Christian priest showing how faith in Christ literally moved a mountain.  Note the sun shining through from below the lifted mountain.  

The caliph mocked the priest for believing the Bible and he insisted the priest move a nearby mountain called Mokattam.   According to the legend, both parties went out to the desert for the confrontation.   The Christian priest prayed and the mountain lifted up off the ground so that the sun could be seen shining below the mountain.   Was Jesus speaking literally when he spoke of moving mountains?

Frequently our Lord spoke metaphorically.   For example, plucking out an eye, chopping off a hand (5:29-30), or going through the eye of a needle (19:24) are examples of metaphors Jesus used in his teaching.    Even though he taught sometimes using figures of speech, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is historical and literal.   His resurrection is the solid rock and the object of our faith.   Regardless of how weak our faith may be, if it is grounded in the person of Christ, his Word and his resurrection, then we can move mountains, for Gods glory, for God’s purposes!   “And nothing will be impossible for you,” (v. 20).    

Faith is absolutely essential in our relationship with God.   “For without faith it is impossible to please him,” (Hebrews 11:6).  Since faith is the medium by which we commune with God, then it makes sense that our faith is “more precious than gold,” (1 Peter 1:7).  A vibrant faith will flower and lead us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (see Mark 12:30).  “For if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing,” (1 Corinthians 13:2).