Matthew 17:20 is one of the most powerful and often-quoted verses in the New Testament, offering profound insights into the nature of faith and its potential for transforming the impossible into the possible.
This comprehensive analysis will delve into the verse’s detailed description, historical context, original language analysis, commentary, and practical application, ensuring a thorough understanding of this central biblical teaching.
Matthew 17:20: Detailed Description and Historical Context
Matthew 17:20 reads: “He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'”
This statement is made by Jesus immediately after the disciples’ inability to cast a demon out of a boy (Matthew 17:14-19). They had questioned Jesus privately, asking, “Why could we not cast it out?” (Matthew 17:19).
Jesus’ response in verse 20 is a direct answer and a rebuke, highlighting that the deficiency was not in the demon’s power, but in the quality and quantity of their faith.
Historical Context:
- The Setting: The incident occurs shortly after the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8), a moment of supreme spiritual experience and divine confirmation for Peter, James, and John. The disciples remaining below were struggling with a very real, pressing problem: an epileptic/demon-possessed boy. The contrast is stark, divine glory above, human failure below.
- Jewish Idiom: The phrase “moving mountains” (often used as a powerful keyword phrase and textual analysis) was a common Jewish hyperbole or metaphor. In rabbinic Judaism, a scholar who could solve exceptionally difficult problems of the Law was sometimes called an “uprooter of mountains.” Jesus utilizes this hyperbole, linking the profound power of faith to the ability to overcome the most insurmountable obstacles, whether they are physical, spiritual, or legalistic/theological.
- The Audience: Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples, the future leaders of the early church. His lesson is foundational, teaching them that their future ministry success would depend entirely on their faith, not their personal abilities or experience.
Matthew 17:20: Lexical Analysis of the Original Greek
To fully appreciate Matthew 17:20, we must perform a lexical analysis of the core Greek words, a process essential for textual criticism and precise interpretation. The verse in the original Koine Greek is:
Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτοῖς, Διὰ τὴν ὀλιγοπιστίαν ὑμῶν· ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, Μεταβῆθι ἐντεῦθεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεταβήσεται, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν.
| Key Greek Word | Transliteration | Part of Speech | Literal Meaning | Lexical Breakdown & Significance (Focus) |
| ὀλιγοπιστίαν | oligopistian | Noun (Acc.) | Little faith | Compound word: oligos (small/few) + pistis (faith). This is Jesus’ primary diagnosis. The issue wasn’t the absence of faith, but its smallness or weakness, a lack of steadfast conviction. This is a crucial keyword phrase for understanding biblical inadequacy. |
| ἀμήν | amēn | Adverb | Truly / Verily | Used here to solemnize the statement, emphasizing its divine truth and authority. Translates to “So be it” or “It is certain.” A powerful signal of certainty. |
| πίστιν | pistis | Noun (Acc.) | Faith / Trust | The central theological concept. It denotes not just intellectual assent (belief), but a deep, confident trust in God and His power. The core focus for the passage. |
| κόκκον σινάπεως | kokkon sinapēōs | Noun (Acc.) | Grain of mustard seed | The universal symbol of smallness that contains incredible growth potential (referencing the parable in Matthew 13:31-32). The focus is not on the size but the vitality and genuine nature of the faith. |
| ἀδυνατήσει | adynatēsei | Verb (Future Act. Ind.) | Will be impossible | From adynatos (un-able, powerless). The future tense highlights the guaranteed, future result of true faith: a complete reversal of human limitations. This provides a strong call to action implicit in the text. |
Breakdown: The core concept is that a genuine, living faith (pistis), even if initially tiny like a mustard seed (kokkon sinapēōs), possesses a dynamic, God-given power that overcomes little faith (oligopistian) and ensures that nothing will be impossible (oudèn adynatēsei).
Matthew 17:20: In-Depth Commentary and Theological Application
The Paradox of Size and Power
Jesus’ use of the mustard seed is key. The largest plant in the Jewish world growing from the smallest seed was a profound paradox. The comparison teaches us three things:
- Quality over Quantity: A tiny, real faith (rooted in God’s power) is infinitely superior to a large, weak faith (rooted in self-effort or religious routine). The problem of the disciples was not that they believed a little, but that they had little trust in God’s ability to work through them.
- Living vs. Dead Faith: The mustard seed is alive. Jesus is not praising a small mental assent, but a vibrant, active trust that is connected to the divine source of power. This ties into James’s later teaching that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20).
- Growth Potential: The small seed is destined to grow. True faith, even at its inception, contains the DNA for miraculous expansion.
The Meaning of “Moving Mountains”
While some interpret this literally, the dominant theological view is that this phrase is a metaphor for overcoming the greatest conceivable spiritual, personal, or societal obstacles. The mountain represents:
- Spiritual Obstacles: The power of the demon that resisted the disciples.
- Personal Barriers: Habitual sin, fear, or seemingly inescapable circumstances.
- Missionary Hurdles: The immense challenges in spreading the Gospel throughout the hostile Roman world.
Jesus’ promise assures the disciples (and all believers) that with God-centered faith, no obstacle can ultimately frustrate the divine will or the progress of the Kingdom.
Matthew 17:20: Application and Modern Faith
The principles align perfectly with the application of Matthew 17:20:
- Authoritativeness: Faith must be directed at the Author of faith, Jesus Christ, and the authoritative Word of God. We are called to be experts in relying on God’s character.
- Trustworthiness: True faith (Pistis) is founded on the complete trust in God’s promises, demonstrated by the trustworthiness of the one who made the promise.
- Experience: The “moving of mountains” is the experiential evidence of active faith in a believer’s life, validating the truth of the statement.
In modern application, this verse guides us to replace self-reliance (oligopistian) with complete Christ-reliance. It is a call to pray with bold expectation, knowing that the scope of our potential is limited not by the problem, but by the quality of our faith in the omnipotent God.
Matthew 17:20: Summary and Key Takeaways
Matthew 17:20 is a cornerstone verse articulating the transformative power of faith in Christian theology.
It answers the critical question: How does faith move mountains?
The verse teaches that little faith (oligopistian) is the cause of spiritual impotence, while a genuine, vital faith, even as small as a mustard seed, is enough to harness God’s infinite power.
This allows the believer to overcome any insurmountable obstacle (the mountain metaphor). The key takeaway for spiritual growth is to cultivate active trust (pistis) in God’s ability, rather than focusing on the size of the faith or the size of the problem.
This principle of mustard seed faith remains central to understanding New Testament doctrine and the pursuit of a vibrant, powerful Christian life.