Why did the apostles specifically ask Jesus to increase their faith in Luke 17:5? Canonical Text “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ ” (Luke 17:5) Immediate Setting: A String of Unsettling Commands The petition arises after four rapid-fire imperatives (Luke 17:1-4): do not cause “little ones” to stumble, guard yourselves, rebuke a sinning brother, and forgive him even “seven times in the day” if he repents. Each command exposes human inadequacy. The disciples—already eyewitnesses of healings, exorcisms, and a resurrected girl—realize that moral obedience (especially limitless forgiveness) is impossible without divine enablement. Their plea is the spontaneous response of hearts confronted with Christ’s impossibly high bar. Old Testament Precedent for Asking God to Empower Faith • Psalm 51:10—“Create in me a clean heart” recognizes that even repentance requires divine creation. • Ezekiel 36:26-27—God promises a new heart and Spirit so that His people “will follow My statutes.” The apostles stand in the same prophetic stream: only God can supply what He commands. Christ’s Reply: The Mustard-Seed Paradox Luke 17:6 : “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Jesus shifts the focus from amount to authenticity. Even an infinitesimal faith, because it rests on omnipotent Yahweh, can dislodge a 600-year-rooted black mulberry. The answer both affirms their request (faith is God’s gift) and corrects their assumption (what matters is its object, not its bulk). Progressive Training in Faith Already Underway 1 Luke 8:25—After stilling the storm, He asked, “Where is your faith?” 2 Luke 9:13—Feeding the 5,000 stretched their trust in His provision. 3 Luke 9:40-41—Their failure to cast out a demon highlighted deficient dependence. By chapter 17 the disciples see a pattern: every time Jesus reveals new territory—nature, demons, food, forgiveness—their faith must expand proportionally. Their request acknowledges the trajectory. Why Not Ask for More Power Instead? Power without faith breeds pride (cf. Luke 10:20). Jesus had already delegated authority (Luke 9:1-2). They discern that the bottleneck is not capacity but confidence in the Giver. Faith aligns motive with mission. Forgiveness as the Litmus Test Unlimited forgiveness (Luke 17:4) mirrors God’s covenant mercy (Exodus 34:6-7). Only Spirit-wrought faith can replicate divine generosity. Thus the apostles connect faith’s growth with ethical transformation. Connection to Servanthood (Luke 17:7-10) Immediately after the mustard-seed illustration, Jesus teaches about an unworthy servant merely doing his duty. An enlarged faith does not inflate ego; it deepens gratitude and obedience. The literary coupling shows that true faith expresses itself in humble service, not self-congratulation. Implications for Modern Disciples • Pray candidly for expanded trust; God honors such petitions (James 1:5-6). • Saturate the mind with Scripture; “faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17). • Rehearse God’s creative and redemptive acts—cosmic fine-tuning, Israel’s exodus, fulfilled messianic prophecies, and Christ’s empty tomb—all historically and empirically anchored evidences that fortify confidence. • Practice forgiveness actively; each act becomes a lab session where faith grows through obedience. Conclusion The apostles asked Jesus to “increase our faith” because His fresh commands exposed the gulf between divine expectation and human capacity. Convinced that faith is God’s gift, aware of their past failures, and anticipating greater exploits, they appealed to the only One who can enlarge trust. Jesus affirmed that authentic, even minuscule, faith channels omnipotence—thereby inviting all believers to the same bold, humble request. |
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