Let faith grow like a mustard seed

[surefooted]

When I was a baby Christian, I was taught that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you will see miracles. Then, years later, in a bible study a friend asked: why did Jesus say to His disciples that they could not cast out the demon with their little faith, and then immediately said that if they had faith as small as a mustard seed they could move mountains?  My friend couldn't see the logic in this and neither could I. My friend was using the NIV version, but mine was the New King James, which says: 

"Because of your unbelief (little faith); for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you." Matt. 17:20 NKJV 

This means Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed: ... faith like a mustard seed.  So I cross referenced this passage to the parable of the mustard seed:

"The kingdom of heaven is as a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Matt 13:31-32 NKJV

In this parable the mustard seed, although the smallest of all, it grows and grows to become a great tree that provides shelter for all. And so should it be with our faith.  Jesus does not marvel at little faith, but at great faith, like that of the centurion.  

The mustard seed grows into a large tree to serve and so must we. Let us keep on growing! 

 

Edited March 2, 2020 by surefooted

[Neighbor]

Hi and welcome to WCF

 I think I find some other message in Matthew 17:20 than is being communicated in Matthew 13: 31,32.

From Gills Exposition :

 

Matthew 13:31

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying,.... As the former parable sets forth the condition of the Gospel church state until the end of the world; this expresses the small beginnings of it, and the large increase and growth of it, and its great usefulness to the saints, 

The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field: by "the kingdom of heaven" is meant, as before, the Gospel dispensation, or the Gospel church state, and the ministry of the word, and the administration of ordinances in it: by the grain of mustard seed, either the Gospel, or the people of God, or the grace of God in them; and by the man that took and sowed it, the Lord Jesus Christ; and by his field, in which he sowed it, the world, or his church throughout the world. 

 

Matthew 13:32

Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Which indeed is the least of all seeds,.... So mustard with the Jews (u), is called , "a kind of seeds"; and being very small, hence "as a grain of mustard", is often used, proverbially (w), for the least thing, as it is by Christ, 

Matthew 17:20. Not but there are seeds lesser than this; but the meaning is, that this is one of the least of all seeds; or was the least of seeds, which were commonly known in Judea; or the very least which grew to the size this sometimes did, and as here related. Now this is designed to express the small beginnings of the Gospel dispensation, of the ministry of the word, of the grace of God in the hearts of his people, and of the small number of them at first. The Gospel, and the ministry of it were like a grain of mustard seed, little, mean, and contemptible; the author of it, Christ, was so to the Jews, in his birth, parentage, education, and outward appearance; the subject of it a crucified Christ, and salvation by him; and the doctrines out of the reach, and contrary to carnal reason; the preachers of it, were persons of very mean and low life, few in number, weak, illiterate, and despicable, and the whole world against them; the circumstances which attended the Gospel were very discouraging; it was charged with novelty, represented as contrary to common sense, and the reason of mankind, and as opening a door to licentiousness; and was followed with violent opposition and persecution, wherever it went. The grace of God, which under the ministry of the word is implanted in the hearts of the Lord's people, is at first very small, like a grain of mustard seed; it is a day of small things; faith in Christ is very weak and low, spiritual strength small, comfort little, experience of the love of God not large, light and knowledge in the doctrines of grace but very obscure and glimmering: the church of God, which sprung up under the ministry of the word, and through the work of grace, upon the hearts of particular persons, was like the small grain of mustard seed; the persons of which it consisted were but few in number in Christ's time, and at his ascension into heaven, and when the Gospel was first preached among the Gentiles; and those persons which laid the foundation, and were at the beginning of the Gospel church state, made a very contemptible figure, by reason of their outward poverty, and mean circumstances in the world; and on account of the severe persecutions which every where attended them; and also through the errors and heresies introduced by evil men, that crept in among them, 

But when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree. Luke says, "a great tree", Luke 13:19 for to such a size did the mustard tree grow in the land of Judea, of which take the following instances (x), 

"At Shichin there was a mustard stalk, which had three branches, and one of them was cut down, and they covered a potter's booth with it; and found in it , "three kabs of mustard seed" (elsewhere (y) it is said, nine kabs). Says R. Simeon ben Chelphetha, I have one stalk of mustard seed in my field, and I go up to it, . 

"as one goes up to the top of a fig tree". 

And though the mustard tree grew to this height and size, it was reckoned among herbs, as here by Christ; for they say (z), 

"they do not put mustard in a field of fruits, but in a field of herbs. 

All which serve to illustrate and confirm the account here given by Christ, and alluded to; and which expresses the very large growth and increase of the Gospel, and the ministry of it; of the grace of God in the heart, and of the church of Christ, and his interest in the world: of the Gospel, and the ministry of it, as to its large spread in the world; which at first was confined to the Jews, but was afterwards published to the Gentiles, and carried through the whole world; and, in ages since, has made a considerable progress, particularly at the Reformation; and will make a much greater one, towards the end of time: and of the grace of God in the heart, which gradually increases to a full assurance of understanding of hope, and of faith, and to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: and of the church of Christ, and his interest in the world; both as to the large numbers it did consist of in the times of the apostles, and since, and will more especially hereafter; for the church will fill the earth, and the kingdoms of the world will become the church, and all nations of the earth will flock unto it; the people of the Jews in general will be converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles will be brought in: as also with respect to the figure it will make through the great personages, the kings and princes of the earth, that will be in it; the great power and authority the saints will then have; the peace and prosperity that will be enjoyed by them; the spirituality, holiness, righteousness, love, and unity, there will be among them; as also the presence of God and of the Lamb, they will be favoured with; all which glory and happiness will be brought about by a plentiful effusion of the Spirit, and by the glorious appearance of Christ, 

So that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof: by "the birds of the air", some think angels are meant, compared to "birds" for their harmlessness and innocence; for their readiness and swiftness to do the will of God; and for their warbling notes and tuneful songs of praise; and who may be called birds "of the air", or heaven, because of their habitation: now these delight to be in the church, to be under the shadow of the Gospel ministry, and to look into the mysteries of it. Though rather, the saints and people of God are intended, who, in Scripture, are sometimes compared to particular birds; as to the eagle, the dove, and sparrow; and to birds in general, because timorous, weak, and defenceless, are exposed to danger, and wonderfully delivered, and are very subject to wander and go astray; and because of their chirpings, and singing songs of praise to their God and Redeemer; and to birds of the air or heaven, because they are heaven born souls, are partakers of the heavenly calling, and are pressing for, and soaring aloft towards the high calling of God in Christ: now the Gospel ministry, and the Gospel church state, are very useful to these; they "come" thereunto willingly, and cheerfully, deliberately, and with dependence on the grace and strength of Christ; humbly, under a sense of their own unworthiness, and yet with joy and thankfulness; heartily, and with their faces thitherwards, and they also "lodge" therein. This is what they desire, and their hearts are set upon; here they determine to be, and it is their happiness to be here; the shadow of Gospel ordinances is very delightful, very refreshing, and very fruitful to them, and under which saints dwell with great safety; and what a coming of these birds will there be hither, and a tabernacling of them herein, at the latter day! which are greatly designed in this part of the parable, 

(u) Misn. Kilaim, c. 3. sect. 2.((w) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 31. 1. Megilla, fol. 23. 2. Nidda, fol. 66. 1.((x) T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 20. 2.((y) T. Bab, Cetubot, fol. 111. 2.((z) Misn. Kilaim, c. 2. sect. 8. 

 

 

[JustPassingThru]

May I add, in comparing parables with parables, Jesus used birds as the agents of the devil Mat 13:19

Do we not see this reality right before our eyes, the Church has grown so big and away from it's intended mission of Evangelizing the World, moving away from the Truth of the Word of God, .... that we find the devil's agents behind the pulpits transforming themselves into "messengers" of light?

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor 11:13-14

Lord bless

[NotAllThere]

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

Hi and welcome to WCF

 I think I find some other message in Matthew 17:20 than is being communicated in Matthew 13: 31,32.

From Gills Exposition :

 

 

 

 

That's nice. What do you think?

[Neighbor]

3 hours ago, NotAllThere said:

That's nice. What do you think?

I think God has used a herb-tree familiar to His immediate audience to illustrate how weak their faith actually was, since faith as near microscopic, as a mustard seed is sufficient to move mountains, yet they could accomplish nothing of what they had wanted to accomplish.. He has used the same familiar plant seed  to also illustrate a growing faith's capacity to end up in a perfected community of saints for all eternity to come. 

Same seed used twice to illustrate two very separate  concepts and promise.

[ReneeIW]

5 hours ago, surefooted said:

faith like a mustard seed.

I’m wondering if faith”like” or “as” a mustard seed would be perfect faith.Christ compares the mustard seed to the kingdom of heaven, which is perfect.

None of us have perfect faith and never will, which is why  we won’t be moving any mountains anytime soon. We have faith alongside doubts and unbelief, but God accepts us because our imperfect faith is in Christ and not ourselves. I think. ?

[frienduff thaylorde]

4 hours ago, Abby-Joy said:

Matthew 13:19 has nothing to do with birds.

Matthew 13:19 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

[P Jay]

Let's not forget that we cannot get faith on our own.  It must be given to us by God.  It is a free gift.  If we remember this there is no need to argue or debate.  Just accept the gift that is given to you, and be grateful you get any at all.  I so often forget that God is in charge of everything.  He gives what He wants to give to whomever he chooses.  Be humble and be glad for all who are chosen.

Peace

[Sower]

4 hours ago, P Jay said:

Let's not forget that we cannot get faith on our own.  It must be given to us by God.  It is a free gift.  If we remember this there is no need to argue or debate.  Just accept the gift that is given to you, and be grateful you get any at all.  I so often forget that God is in charge of everything.  He gives what He wants to give to whomever he chooses.  Be humble and be glad for all who are chosen.

Peace

 

Romans 10:17

 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God".

But we should be good stewards, and use that which we have received.
My understanding about faith is that it like spiritual muscles.
When I don't use them, my faith in God, they grow week, atrophy.
Or when I continually put my trust in the focus of my faith, Christ, faith grows.
I have to stop, forget logic (sight) and believe.

"The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of reason"
              Benjamin Franklin