Bulletin Articles
Mustard Seed Misunderstanding
Matthew 16:8
8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you [a]have brought no bread?
What seems like a simple thing, earned a surprising reaction from Jesus. The disciples realized they forgot to pack bread for their latest trip to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They are discussing that when Jesus turns to them and warns them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus challenges the disciple’s faith. Why, they were present when He fed thousands from a few loaves. Why did he not tell them about the mustard seed? You just need a little faith disciple to move a mountain, right?
Matthew 17:20-21
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [a]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. 21 [b]However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
In Matt 17:20 Jesus sees they had little to no faith. He is making a point! I am the power, just try and put your faith in me and see what happens. And for non- Christians and new babes in Christ they’re at a level of faith that this verse hopefully gets their attention. For those of us who have been working on our faith for a while, this verse should also get our attention but in a different way. Just like the disciples, we should know better! If we have been working on our faith for a while, shame on us if its at a mustard seed level. That said a mustard seed for us is a wakeup call for what Jesus can and has done. We all need the Mustard seed, but if we are truly working on our faith, a mustard seed is where we have been not where we are at!
