And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this sycamine tree, Be you plucked up by the root, and be you planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
If.
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…
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
as.
Luke 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Matthew 13:31,32 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: …
If you have faith the size of a mustard seed
The mustard seed is known for its small size, symbolizing the potential of even the smallest amount of genuine faith. In Jewish culture, the mustard seed was often used proverbially to represent something very small. This imagery highlights the power of faith, not in its quantity, but in its quality and the object of that faith—God. The mustard seed metaphor is also found in Matthew 17:20, reinforcing the teaching across the Gospels.
you can say to this mulberry tree
The mulberry tree, likely the black mulberry common in the region, is known for its deep roots and resilience. This makes the imagery of uprooting it even more striking, illustrating the seemingly impossible tasks that can be accomplished through faith. The choice of a mulberry tree may also reflect its cultural significance and familiarity to Jesus' audience.
‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’
This hyperbolic statement emphasizes the miraculous power of faith. The sea, often representing chaos and the unknown in biblical literature, serves as a backdrop for demonstrating God's sovereignty over creation. The act of planting a tree in the sea is naturally impossible, underscoring the supernatural possibilities available through faith in God.
and it will obey you.
This conclusion assures believers of the effectiveness of faith when aligned with God's will. The obedience of the tree symbolizes the submission of creation to divine authority, echoing themes found in other scriptures where nature responds to God's command, such as Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:39. This promise encourages believers to trust in God's power to work through their faith.
• The setting is a direct response to the disciples’ plea, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Jesus, the Lord who “has been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18), speaks with absolute reliability.
• His very act of answering reminds us that the Lord hears and cares, echoing the confidence of Psalm 34:17 and Mark 9:24, where honest cries for help receive His personal attention.
• A mustard seed is tiny, yet alive and capable of growth. Jesus is not imposing a high bar; He is assuring us that even the smallest authentic faith connects us to God’s unlimited power (Matthew 17:20; Hebrews 11:6).
• Genuine faith rests in His character, not in our feelings or abilities (Ephesians 2:8-9). Like a seed, it is designed to sprout, mature, and bear fruit (Mark 4:30-32).
• The mulberry tree’s deep roots symbolize stubborn problems or ingrained patterns. Jesus points to something specific and immovable to illustrate faith’s reach (Mark 11:22-23).
• By inviting us to speak, He underscores the partnership of faith and action—prayerful words spoken in alignment with His will (John 14:12-14; James 5:15-16).
• Uprooting reverses what seems permanent; planting in the sea defies natural possibility. The picture is extreme on purpose, declaring that “what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27; Zechariah 4:6-7).
• Spiritual strongholds, generational sins, or overwhelming circumstances can be removed and relocated by God’s power (Jeremiah 32:17; Psalm 46:2).
• When faith rests in God’s promises and purposes, creation itself submits (Joshua 10:12-14; Hebrews 11:33-34).
• The assurance is conditional on praying according to His will (1 John 5:14-15; John 15:7). Obedience of the tree highlights the certainty of God’s response to faith-filled obedience in us.
Luke 17:6 teaches that even the smallest genuine faith, anchored in the Lord’s authority, can overcome the deepest-rooted obstacles. Jesus calls us to trust Him, speak His truth, and expect His power to accomplish what human effort never could.
(6) If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed.--The words remind us, and must have reminded the disciples, of those of Matthew 17:20, which were called forth by the failure of the disciples to heal the demoniac boy after the Transfiguration. The "sycamine tree" (probably not the same as the "sycamore," but identified by most botanists with the mulberry tree, still cultivated on the slopes of the Lebanon and in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem and Nablous, both for its fruit and as supplying food for silkworms) takes the place of "this mountain," sc. Hermon, as an illustration of what true faith could do. If we suppose the conversation to have taken place near the Sea of Galilee, both features of the comparison gain a local vividness. It is remarkable that our Lord meets the prayer with what sounds like a reproof; and such a reproof, we must believe, was needed. The most elementary faith would have been enough to teach them (assuming the connection that has been traced above) that God is love, and that He would help them to overcome all hindrances to their love being after the pattern of His own. There was something, it may be, false in the ring of that prayer, an unreal diffidence asking for that as a gift which really comes only through active obedience and the experience which is gained through it.Verse 6. - And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. The Lord signifies that a very slight real faith, which he compares to the mustard seed, that smallest of grains, would be of power sufficient to accomplish what seemed to them impossible. In other words, he says, "If you have any real faith at all, you will be able to win the victory over yourselves necessary for a perpetual loving judgment of others." The sycamine tree here mentioned in his comparison is not the sycamore; he was probably standing close by the tree in question as he spoke. The sycamine is the black mulberry, Morns nigra, still called sycamenea in Greece.