Matthew 17:20 - He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Matthew 17:20" mean?
This verse, Matthew 17:20, is a powerful statement about the potential of faith, even faith that seems small. Let's break it down:
"He said to them, 'Because of your unbelief...'": This refers to the disciples' inability to heal a boy possessed by a demon in the preceding verses (Matthew 17:14-19). Jesus is directly attributing their failure to a lack of faith. It's not necessarily a complete absence of faith, but rather a weak or insufficient faith.
"...For most certainly I tell you...": This is a common phrase Jesus used to emphasize the truth and importance of what he was about to say. It signals that the following statement is crucial to understand.
"...if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed...": The mustard seed was one of the smallest seeds known in that time. Jesus uses it as a metaphor to illustrate that it's not the amount of faith that matters, but the quality and focus of it. Even a tiny amount of genuine, unwavering faith is enough to accomplish great things.
"...you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move...": This is a hyperbolic (exaggerated) statement to illustrate the power of faith. It's unlikely that Jesus literally meant that people could physically move mountains. The mountain represents any seemingly insurmountable obstacle, challenge, or difficulty. It symbolizes problems that appear impossible to overcome.
"...and nothing will be impossible for you.": This is the key takeaway. When you have faith – even a small but potent faith – and you place that faith in God, the impossible becomes possible.
In summary, Matthew 17:20 means:
Lack of faith hinders our ability to do God's work.
Faith, even when small, can accomplish great things through God's power.
The focus is on the object of faith (God), not the size of the faith itself.
The verse is not a literal instruction on moving mountains, but a symbolic promise that faith can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.
Important Considerations:
Context: It's important to consider the context of the verse, which is about the disciples' failure to heal a boy. The lesson is about faith in God's power to heal and deliver.
God's Will: It's understood that faith is not a magic formula to get whatever we want. Our prayers and actions should align with God's will. Moving the metaphorical "mountain" should be for God's glory and purpose, not for our own selfish desires.
Not Automatic: The verse isn't a guarantee that every obstacle will instantly disappear. Faith may require patience, perseverance, and trust in God's timing.
Ultimately, Matthew 17:20 is an encouragement to cultivate genuine faith in God and to trust that He can do more than we can imagine, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Matthew 17:20 - He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
What does "Matthew 17:20" mean?
This verse, Matthew 17:20, is a powerful statement about the potential of faith, even faith that seems small. Let's break it down:
"He said to them, 'Because of your unbelief...'": This refers to the disciples' inability to heal a boy possessed by a demon in the preceding verses (Matthew 17:14-19). Jesus is directly attributing their failure to a lack of faith. It's not necessarily a complete absence of faith, but rather a weak or insufficient faith.
"...For most certainly I tell you...": This is a common phrase Jesus used to emphasize the truth and importance of what he was about to say. It signals that the following statement is crucial to understand.
"...if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed...": The mustard seed was one of the smallest seeds known in that time. Jesus uses it as a metaphor to illustrate that it's not the amount of faith that matters, but the quality and focus of it. Even a tiny amount of genuine, unwavering faith is enough to accomplish great things.
"...you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move...": This is a hyperbolic (exaggerated) statement to illustrate the power of faith. It's unlikely that Jesus literally meant that people could physically move mountains. The mountain represents any seemingly insurmountable obstacle, challenge, or difficulty. It symbolizes problems that appear impossible to overcome.
"...and nothing will be impossible for you.": This is the key takeaway. When you have faith – even a small but potent faith – and you place that faith in God, the impossible becomes possible.
In summary, Matthew 17:20 means:
Lack of faith hinders our ability to do God's work.
Faith, even when small, can accomplish great things through God's power.
The focus is on the object of faith (God), not the size of the faith itself.
The verse is not a literal instruction on moving mountains, but a symbolic promise that faith can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.
Important Considerations:
Context: It's important to consider the context of the verse, which is about the disciples' failure to heal a boy. The lesson is about faith in God's power to heal and deliver.
God's Will: It's understood that faith is not a magic formula to get whatever we want. Our prayers and actions should align with God's will. Moving the metaphorical "mountain" should be for God's glory and purpose, not for our own selfish desires.
Not Automatic: The verse isn't a guarantee that every obstacle will instantly disappear. Faith may require patience, perseverance, and trust in God's timing.
Ultimately, Matthew 17:20 is an encouragement to cultivate genuine faith in God and to trust that He can do more than we can imagine, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.