Matthew 17:20
«He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.»
Jesus teaches that even the smallest real trust in God can accomplish what seems humanly impossible.
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Understand the verse
What this verse is about
Jesus answers his disciples after they failed to heal a boy, pointing to unbelief as the barrier, not God’s power. He uses the tiny mustard seed to show that the issue isn’t “big” faith but genuine, living faith placed in a great God. “Moving a mountain” is vivid imagery for obstacles that look immovable. The promise aims to form humble dependence on God, not boastful displays.
Context
This verse follows the disciples’ inability to cast out a demon from a boy (Matthew 17:14–18). Jesus rebukes the unbelieving generation, heals the boy, and then explains to the disciples why they could not do it: their unbelief (17:19–20). In the broader chapter, Jesus is revealed in glory at the Transfiguration (17:1–8), hints again at his suffering (17:9–13, 22–23), and teaches about faithful obedience (17:24–27). The thread is clear: see who Jesus is, trust him, and live in line with that trust.
When people especially turn to it
People return to this verse when facing daunting challenges, chronic problems, or doors that won’t seem to open. It steadies the heart in seasons of anxiety, weakness, or when prayers feel small.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, kindle real faith in me, even if it feels as small as a mustard seed, and teach me to ask boldly and humbly. Move what I cannot move, and align my desires with your will.
Historical background of Matthew 17:20
Matthew, a former tax collector and apostle of Jesus, wrote this Gospel in the first century AD, likely in the 60s–70s, to a community of Jewish and Gentile believers learning how Jesus fulfills Israel’s Scriptures. The setting is during Jesus’ public ministry in Roman-occupied Judea and Galilee, where Rome levied taxes through local agents and maintained order by imperial law. Jewish life centered on synagogue teaching and temple worship, including sacrifices and prayer at set times. Rabbis often used hyperbolic images—like “moving mountains”—to describe overcoming great obstacles through God’s power. Jesus’ itinerant ministry included healings and exorcisms, acts seen as signs of the in‑breaking kingdom amid widespread expectation of God’s deliverance.
Cross references for Matthew 17:20
«Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”»
Connection: Parallel moment highlighting the call to believe in God’s power.
«For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening, he shall have whatever he says.»
Connection: Similar mountain-moving faith teaching tied to undoubting prayer.
«All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”»
Connection: Connects faith-filled prayer with receiving, within God’s purposes.
«The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.»
Connection: Another small-faith/big-result image affirming God’s power.
«I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.»
Connection: Grounds “all things” in union with Christ’s strength, not human ability.
Other wordings
WEB (World English Bible)
«He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.»
Public-domain modern translation used on this page.
KJV (King James Version)
«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.»
Classic 1611 English translation.
Key phrases in Matthew 17:20
«Because of your unbelief»
Jesus identifies lack of trust as the reason for failure; the Greek apistia means “unbelief” or “faithlessness,” not merely weak faith but a refusal to rely on God.
«if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed»
A vivid contrast: the smallest seed used proverbially in Jewish speech; the point is authenticity of faith, not its size.
«you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move»
A common Jewish idiom for removing massive difficulties; emphasizes God’s power responding to trusting prayer.
«nothing will be impossible for you»
Hyperbolic promise stressing what God can do through faith; in the Gospels this is bounded by God’s will and Jesus’ name/authority.
Theological themes in Matthew 17:20
Faith and divine power
True faith looks away from self to God’s sufficiency; God delights to work through trust that depends on him.
Prayer and authority
Jesus authorizes his followers to act and ask in alignment with his mission; prayer becomes participation in his authority.
Discipleship and dependence
Failure exposes self-reliance; disciples grow as they confess unbelief and cling to Christ.
Kingdom manifestation
Signs like healings prefigure the kingdom’s arrival; mountains move where the King’s reign is received by faith.
How to apply Matthew 17:20
- Identify one “mountain” you face today and write a one-sentence prayer asking God to move it according to his will.
- Read Matthew 17:14–21 aloud, noticing where unbelief, prayer, and authority appear.
- Fast from one meal and use the time to pray specifically over your obstacle, surrendering outcomes to God.
- Share a brief testimony with a friend about a past “mountain” God moved, and thank him together.
Questions for reflection on Matthew 17:20
- Where am I relying on technique or effort instead of trusting Jesus?
- What would “mustard-seed” faith look like in my current obstacle?
- How might God be inviting me to align my requests with his mission rather than my comfort?
- Which promise here do I struggle to believe, and why?
Memorize Matthew 17:20
Break the verse into three beats: cause (“Because of your unbelief”), image (“faith as a grain of mustard seed”), promise (“nothing will be impossible for you”). Emphasize the anchor words as you repeat: unbelief—mustard—move—nothing impossible.
FAQ
What does “mustard seed” mean here?
It was a common proverb for something very small; Jesus uses it to show that genuine, God-focused faith—even tiny—can see great things done by God.
Who was Jesus speaking to?
He was addressing his disciples privately after they failed to heal a boy brought by his father.
Is “move this mountain” literal?
It’s a vivid idiom for seemingly immovable obstacles; the point is God’s power accessed through trusting prayer, not spectacle.
How do I apply this without presumption?
Pray boldly yet submit your will to God’s, asking in Jesus’ name and for his purposes; persist, and be ready for God to answer in his way.
How does this connect with other New Testament teaching?
It aligns with Jesus’ broader teaching on believing prayer (Mark 11:23–24) and the apostles’ emphasis on God’s power working through weakness.
Why do translations differ on “unbelief” vs. “little faith”?
Some manuscripts and Gospel parallels use terms that can emphasize either lack of faith (apistia) or small/deficient faith (oligopistia); the thrust is dependence on God rather than self.
