♥I need a pick-me-up, having a bad day...what is your personal interpretation of Matthew 17:20-21, having faith as a mustard seed?♥thanks
2006-08-31 02:46:45 · 19 answers · asked by ♥ Luveniar♫ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
i love you
i wont give you any interpretation since youll be flooded with all the scripted apologetics
2006-08-31 02:50:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is teaching His disciples that there is a difference between-- PERSISTENT, GROWING FAITH and SHALLOW, "BIG EVENT" FAITH.
The disciples had given up too easily when the demon did not immediately come out. They should not have stopped believing and praying. "Faith as a mustard seed" -- Jesus IS NOT saying that if they only a little, tiny bit of real faith that they would have succeeded. Jesus IS saying that their faith needs to be PERSISTENT & GROWING -- like a mustard seed! The mustard seed does not let it small beginning keep it from being all that it can be. Persistent faith is cultivated in an environment of regular prayer (and fasting). In fact, it is impossible for any Christian to exhibit the kind of faith Jesus speaks of if they are unwilling to devote themselves to a prayer relationship with Almighty God.
EXAMPLES
Persistent Faith -- Joshua & Caleb, Numbers 13:26 - 14:10.
Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego, Daniel 3:16-18. Daniel, 6:10. Canaanite woman, Matthew 15:21-28. Jarius' daughter, Luke 8:40-42, 49-56. All the saints named in Hebrews 11, see especially verses 32-40.
Shallow, Big-Event Faith -- Note Jesus' words, "little faith", in each of these passages: Matthew 7:18-27 -- the disciples "start off" with faith, but it quickly shrinks back once it is tested by the storm. Matthew 14:13-33 -- the disciples witness a tremendous miracle in the feeding of the 5000; and Peter, in response to the Lord's calling, walks on water. But then Peter notices the storm that is raging around him, and his faith wilts. Matthew 16:5-12 -- The disciples are unable to understand Jesus' teaching because they are wrongly concerned with not having sufficient provisions.
2006-08-31 09:56:24 · answer #2 · answered by pilgrimchd 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The mustard seed is on of the smallest seeds in the world. SO when Jesus says this he is saying it is as little as that much faith that we need in order to get by and do great things. Imagine if we had the faith the size of a mountain? What couldnt we do then?
2006-08-31 10:32:10 · answer #3 · answered by david s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This verse means a whole lot to me. A long time ago I was one of the most hard-headed people in the world. I sort of believed in God and the bible, but my wife was Christian and she prayed for me to accept Jesus as my savior. One day I came in the house to find her kneeling in the floor praying with tears streaming down her face. I told her that she was being stupid and gave her enough of a nudge to make her lose her balance. She kept on praying for me anyway, for years. Her prayers were answered after we were married about 5 years. I used to think that when the scripture saying that if you had faith as large as a mustard seed you could move a mountain meant that if you prayed hard enough you could move Mount Everest. It was later that I discovered that I was the mountain she wanted to move. We've been married now for nearly 29 years and have 4 beautiful children that are all saved and I am a deacon in our church. If you have any mountains you need moved please call on me. Have a wonderful day.
2006-08-31 10:43:25 · answer #4 · answered by Calill C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. So if one has even only a little tiny bit of faith, and it can be almost unimaginably small, it can be the substance of huge...HUGE....hopes.
For example, your bit of faith that your day is a good one (rather than a bad one) can make you realize a great day. On the other hand, your faith that today is a bad day can be the substance of even more bad day.
Focus on what you desire, not on what you perceive to be. Facts and Truth are two different things.
2006-08-31 09:59:02 · answer #5 · answered by Brent 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In its context its talking about the power of faith.
The lesson is that the "kind" of faith is greater than the "amount" of faith.
You can have all the faith in the world in your own abilities and still fail, but if you have just a little faith in the All Mighty God, then nothing is impossible for you.
2006-08-31 09:59:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me it has always meant that having faith is sometimes very hard. People die, we struggle with stress and heartbreak, and agonize about things beyond our control.
But...if we have even a little bit of faith, there is hope for us.
I have gone through some tough times in the last year. I can say that there were times I had great faith; other times I had almost lost all hope.
That little bit of faith, however, kept me going in those tough times.
peace
2006-08-31 09:54:24 · answer #7 · answered by Colin 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 17:20-21 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
When you have the tiniest faith in God there is nothing you can't do as long as you believe in God and in His will for you and your life. Mountains can come in the form of many things in your life. It can be a situation that is as large as a mountain,and through your faith in God's will for you, you can over come that obsticle in life and be victorious through God with it.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
You can have faith the size of a mustard seed, but that faith can be as week or as strong as you make it. How deep is your faith in God's abilities in your life. Do you nurture it or do you just let it sit there and go stale? It is what you do with your faith to make it stronger that will make a mountian move with God's help.
2006-08-31 09:55:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
That it is another part of the bible that stands out as an example of the many senseless contradictions found within it.
I.E. " Faith without works is dead"
2006-08-31 10:04:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey just a littel bit of faith works just have more pray harder is what i do. when i have bad days try to think of jesus talk to him faith just have some things will work out . dont let the others u write stuip stuff upset u . in jesus rodney
2006-08-31 09:58:08 · answer #10 · answered by Rodney C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that with Faith,God can help you overcome anything if you do things according to his will.Rememmber that 'faith without works is dead'.so it's all about that little faith that you have moving you to action to do great things with God's guidance.
2006-08-31 10:01:40 · answer #11 · answered by kart 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋