Lesson 6 - Question 24 of 38 

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Examples of Faith - Jesus Prepares His Disciples Prior to His Death and Resurrection:

Earlier in Jesus' ministry, He calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8).  Later on in His ministry, after Jesus feeds the 5,000 people, Peter tries to walk on water having faith in Jesus.  Shortly thereafter, Jesus again gives His disciples lessons on faith:

We Have No Bread...

And the disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread. 6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 7 And they began to discuss among themselves, saying, "It is because we took no bread." 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, "You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? 9 "Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? 10 "Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets you took up? 11 "How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." 12 Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Matthew 16:5-12 (NAS)

Even after the miracles that the disciples had seen (e.g., calming the storm, healing the sick, feeding the 5,000, walking on water), they still were worried about having enough bread in Matthew 16:5-12.

Why Could We Not Help Him?

And when they came to the multitude, a man came up to Him, falling on his knees before Him, and saying, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic, and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 "And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him." 17 And Jesus answered and said, "O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me." 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. 21 ["But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."] 22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day. "And they were deeply grieved."   Matthew 17:14-23 (NAS)

The twelve disciples were given power by Jesus to cast out demons and to heal.  However in the case of this son who was ill and possessed by a demon, the disciples were unable to cure him.  Jesus told them it was because of the littleness of their faith.

Question:

According to Matthew 17:20, Jesus told his twelve disciples that if they had faith...even as small as a mustard seed...they would be able to do what?

Move Mountains Do Nothing Make Money


Other Translations - Matthew 17:20:

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (NIV)

So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (NKJ)

And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: 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. (ASV)

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. (KJV)

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