What is the meaning of Matthew 17:20? Because you have so little faith Jesus speaks these words immediately after the disciples fail to cast a demon out of a boy (Matthew 17:14-19). Their problem is not lack of technique but lack of trust in God’s power. • Similar rebukes appear in Matthew 6:30 and 14:31, reminding us that even believers can lapse into “little faith.” • Hebrews 11:6 states, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” underscoring that faith is the indispensable channel through which God’s power flows. • The verse shows that ineffective ministry often traces back to unbelief, not to God’s unwillingness. For truly I tell you This phrase (amen legō hymin) signals Jesus’ absolute authority. He is not offering a suggestion but a divine guarantee. • Matthew 5:18 (“Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away…”) and John 14:6 reveal the same authoritative tone—when Jesus says “truly,” heaven backs His promise. • Because Scripture is accurate and literal, we can rely on every promise that follows. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed A mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds (cf. Matthew 13:31-32), yet it contains life and growth potential. • Jesus highlights that genuine faith—even when seemingly small—connects us to God’s limitless power. • Luke 17:6 repeats this image, reinforcing that effectiveness is not about the believer’s greatness but the greatness of the God in whom we trust. • The point is quality, not quantity: authentic dependence on God counts more than impressive displays of self-confidence. You can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move Jesus selects a mountain—immovable in human terms—to illustrate what divine power can do through believing prayer. • Mark 11:23 cites the same promise, tied directly to prayer that does not doubt. • Zechariah 4:7 pictures a great mountain becoming level ground before God’s servant, showing continuity between Old and New Testament demonstrations of God’s might. • While mountains can symbolize daunting obstacles, the statement also affirms God’s literal capability; nothing in creation outranks the Creator. Nothing will be impossible for you The scope widens from a single mountain to “nothing.” This promise assumes alignment with God’s will; faith never manipulates God but cooperates with Him. • Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things are possible,” anchoring possibility in God’s nature. • Philippians 4:13 echoes, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” showing that the believer’s power is derivative, not inherent. • John 15:7 balances the promise: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Faith-filled requests flow from abiding fellowship with Christ. summary Matthew 17:20 teaches that even a small, genuine faith unlocks God’s limitless power. Jesus rebukes unbelief, affirms His authority, and assures His followers that dependence on Him can topple the seemingly immovable. When our trust rests in the living God, no obstacle stands a chance, for with Him nothing is impossible. |
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