Mat 17:20, 21:21, Luk 17:6 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 20. As a grain of mustard seed . . The mustard seed was the smallest of all Seeds. It has been supposed by some, therefore, that he meant to say, if ye have the smallest or feeblest faith that is genuine, ye can do all things. The mustard seed produced the largest of all herbs. It has been supposed by others, therefore, to mean, If you have increasing, expanding, enlarged faith, growing and strengthening from small beginnings, you can perform the most difficult undertaking. There is a principle of vitality in the grain of seed, stretching forward to great results, which illustrates the nature of faith. Your faith should be like that. This is probably the true meaning. Ye shall say unto this mountain , etc. Probably he pointed to a mountain near, to assure them, if they had such faith, they might accomplish the most difficult undertakings--things that at first would appear impossible. (q) "unbelief" (r) "if ye have"

Matthew 17:20

Verse 20. As a grain of mustard seed. Mt 13:31,32. The mustard seed was the smallest of all Seeds. It has been supposed by some, therefore, that he meant to say, if ye have the smallest or feeblest faith that is genuine, ye can do all things. The mustard seed produced the largest of all herbs. It has been supposed by others, therefore, to mean, If you have increasing, expanding, enlarged faith, growing and strengthening from small beginnings, you can perform the most difficult undertaking. There is a principle of vitality in the grain of seed, stretching forward to great results, which illustrates the nature of faith. Your faith should be like that. This is probably the true meaning.

Ye shall say unto this mountain, etc. Probably he pointed to a mountain near, to assure them, if they had such faith, they might accomplish the most difficult undertakings--things that at first would appear impossible.

(q) "unbelief" Heb 3:9 (r) "if ye have" Mt 21:21, Mk 11:23, Lk 17:6, 1Cor 13:2

Matthew 21:21

Verse 21. Jesus answered and said, etc. Jesus took occasion from this to establish their faith in God, Mk 11:22. He told them that any difficulty could be removed by faith. To remove a mountain, denotes the power of overcoming any difficulty. The phrase was so used by the Jews. There is no doubt that this was literally true, that if they had the faith of miracles, they could remove the mountain before them the mount of Olives--for this was as easy for God to do by them as to heal the sick, or raise the dead. But he rather referred, probably, to the difficulties and trials which they would be called to endure in preaching the gospel.

(k) "If ye have faith" Mt 17:20, Lk 17:6, Jas 1:6 (l) "???" Mt 8:12

Luke 17:6

Verse 6. Mt 17:20. Sycamine-tree. This name, as well as sycamore, is given, among us, to the large tree commonly called the buttonwood; but the tree here mentioned is different. The Latin Vulgate and the Syriac versions translate it mulberry-tree. It is said to have been a tree that commonly grew in Egypt, of the size and appearance of a mulberry-tree, but bearing a species of figs. This tree was common in Palestine. It is probable that our Lord was standing by one as he addressed these words to his disciples. Dr. Thomson (The Land and the Book, vol. i.p. 22-24) says of this tree : "It is generally planted by the wayside, in the open

space where several paths meet." [Comp. Lk 19:4]

This sycamore is a remarkable tree. It not only bears

several crops of figs during the year, but these figs

grow on short stems along the trunk and large branches,

and not at the end of twigs, as in other fruit-bearing

trees.

The figs are small, and of a greenish-yellow colour. At

Gaza and Askelon I saw them of a purple tinge, and much

larger than they are in this part of the country. They

were carried to market in large quantities, and appeared

to be more valued there than with us. Still, they are,

at best, very insipid, and none but the poorer classes

eat them. It is easily propagated, merely by planting

a stout branch in the ground, and watering it until it

has struck its roots into the soil. This it does with

great rapidity and to a vast depth. It was with

reference to this latter fact that our Lord selected it

to illustrate the power of faith. Now, look at this

tree--its ample girth, its wide-spread arms branching

off from the parent trunk only a few feet from the

ground; then examine its enormous roots, as thick,

as numerous, and as wide-spread into the deep soil

below as the branches extend into the air above--the

very best type of invincible steadfastness. What

power on earth can pluck up such a tree ? Heaven's

thunderbolt may strike it down, the wild tornado may

tear it to fragments, but nothing short of miraculous

power can fairly pluck it up by the roots."

(e) "If ye had faith" Mt 17:20, 21:21, Mk 9:23, 11:23