Interpretation of the Bible / Matthew 17:20

Faith is one of the fundamental pillars of the Christian life. Without it, it is impossible to please God, as Hebrews 11:6 says. Faith allows us to believe in the unseen and trust in the perfection of God’s plan for our lives. However, we often encounter situations that test our faith and cause us to doubt.

Interpretation of the verse

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus tells His disciples about the importance of faith. He tells them that if they have faith the size of a mustard seed, they will be able to move mountains. Here, Jesus wants to show that the faith needed to do the impossible is small, but still necessary. Therefore, to do the impossible, faith is needed.

Jesus used the comparison of a mustard seed to show that faith can grow if we feed it. Faith is not something we simply possess, but something we must cultivate in our lives. Likewise, a mustard seed is small, but under favorable conditions it will grow into a large, strong plant. So too, our faith can grow and strengthen if we nourish it.