If you have faith without doubt you’ll see wonderful things happen. In fact, Jesus said, faith the size of a mustard seed will allow you to do everything. So, it does not require much faith to make things happen. Because the One who can do the impossible is doing it. And he just wants us to believe that he can and that he will!
Created: Saturday, November 12, 2022
STM Bible Lesson
Lesson focus: Matthew 17:14-21 (20). Bible lesson background: The focus of this lesson is verse 20. But I will give a brief look at the full story. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John with him into a high mountain. There he changed the way he looked and they saw a vision of him talking to Moses and Elijah. He asked them to not say anything about what they saw until after he rose from the dead. When they came back from the mountain, a man, whose son had epilepsy, came to Jesus. The other eight disciples tried, but could not heal the boy. So, Jesus told the man to bring the boy to him.
- Jesus ordered the demon to come out of the boy. At that moment the boy was cured. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we force the demon out of the boy?” Matthew 17:18-19 (GW)
“Because you have little faith,” he said. “I assure you that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Go from here to there,’ and it will go. There will be nothing that you can’t do.” Matthew 17:20 (CEB)
If you have faith
It is not easy to understand the power of faith. However, Hebrews 11:1 seems to give the best meaning of faith in the Bible.
Now faith is the substance* of things hoped for [expect], the evidence** of things not seen. 3 By [having] faith, we understand that the universe was formed by God’s word [see Genesis 1:1-27 (3, 6, and 14)], so that what is seen has not been made out of what is visible. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) and 3 (AUV)
- * substance
- being sure; actual truth; the key part of an idea, i.e., faith is key to hope.
- ** evidence
- the basis or proof for belief or disbelief; knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.
Faith is the foundation of our patient and confident wait for eternal life without the need for factual proof [that is my breakdown of Hebrews 11:1; please read Hebrews 11:1-3; Romans 8:24; 2 Corinthians 4:18 and 5:7; 1 Peter 1:8]. When quoting Hebrews 11:1 one should consider verse 3 as well.
Show your faith
Have you ever been in a place where you needed to show your faith? Sometimes we must let God know we believe He can do any and everything. Please study these scriptures and share what you learned if anything.
A servant healed
Jesus went with them. He had almost reached the house when the centurion sent friends to say to Jesus, “Lord, don’t be bothered. I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 In fact, I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. 8 I’m also a man appointed under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.”
9 When Jesus heard these words, he was impressed with the centurion. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this.” 10 When the centurion’s friends returned to his house, they found the servant restored to health. Luke 7:6-10 (CEB) [Supported by Matthew 8:5-13]
An evil spirit cast out of a girl
Summary of Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 – Having had news of Jesus
- the Canaanite (Greek) woman says:
- “have pity on me, O Lord…my daughter has an unclean spirit“;
- But he gave her no answer.
- His disciples say:
- “send her away“;
- Jesus responds to the disciples:
- “I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel”.
- The Canaanite woman worshipped him and said:
- “Help, Lord“;
- Jesus responds to her:
- “It is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs”.
- She responds:
- “Yes, Lord: but even the dogs take the bits from under their masters’ table”
- Then Jesus answered
- “Woman, you have great faith! I will do what you asked me to do.”
And at that moment the woman’s daughter was healed. That is the power of faith! (BBE and ICB)
Demonstration of faith
It was amazing for a Canaanite (Greek, Gentile, or non-Jewish) woman to demonstrate “great faith.” μέγας megas (Greek for great, meaning strong)—at that time—the Gospel message was only to the Jews. We don’t know how she developed her level of faith—only that she “heard of Him”. But the point is she never gave up. Even when Jesus ignored her, she was persistent.
Some religious commentators speculate that Jesus was testing the woman’s faith. I will not suggest any such thing since Jesus did not say why He did not respond to her at first. He only pointed out (to his disciples) the fact that “I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel“.
You’ll see wonderful things happen – blind man healed
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
51 And Jesus said to him, What do you want that I should do for you? The blind man said to him, Master, I want to receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has made you well. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus along the way. Mark 10:46-47 and 51-52 (RKJNT) [supported by Matthew 20:29-34 {2 blind men healed} and Luke 18:35-43].
The Power of Faith – if you have mustard-seed faith
Have you ever wondered how much faith you need to make things happen? Getting back to our focus scripture, Matthew 17:20, it will help to examine it further.
A closer look at Matthew 17:20
- Jesus said it was because of their unbelief. The Greek word for unbelief is apistia (ap-is-tee’-ah). A short definition: lack or absence of faith; faithlessness.
- Matthew is the only one of the three who included ‘moving mountains‘. Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:37-42 did not mention it.
- We have to see if this parable is meant in a literal or figurative sense. Try reading these passages to see if they help answer this question: Job 9:1-13; Psalms 46:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 and Revelation 6:12-17.
- A mustard seed is a very tiny seed. The size of a mustard seed is 1-2 mm or 3/64 inch-5/64 inch in diameter. But it grows to become “the biggest of all garden plants“.
Mustard seed and the kingdom
Jesus said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which is the smallest seed planted in the ground: 32 But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all garden herbs. And shoots out great branches; so that the birds of the air may nest under the shadow of it. Mark 4:30-32 (RKJNT) [supported by Matthew 13:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19]
A closer look at Mark 4:32
- Let’s look at the phrase “becomes greater than all garden herbs“; Matthew 13:32 used the phrase “is the largest of the garden plants, and becomes a tree” and Luke 13:19 used the phrase “became a great tree“.
- Herbs vs. tree:
- for some reason Mark 4:32 used the Greek word lachanon (lakh’-an-on) for herbs
- Matthew 13:32 used both Greek words lachanon and dendron (den’-dron) for the phrases ‘among herbs‘ (RKJNT=garden plants) and ‘a tree‘
- Luke 13:19 used the Greek word dendron for the word ‘tree‘.
If You Have Faith – wrap-up
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy, he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death. 4 Now we wait to receive the blessings God has for his children. These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be ruined or be destroyed or lose their beauty.
5 God’s power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ERV) [read 1 Peter 1:3-12]
So, if you have faith—the strength or ability to perform or carry out the act of faith. Which is the ability to act on trust in God. You will put faith into action. This is another way of saying you will walk by faith.
We benefit when we live by faith knowing that God will always do what he says. And that is why you’ll see wonderful things happen because God can do the impossible. Believe it and you will see it!
- Final example
- And consider this, your relative Elizabeth is also pregnant with a son in spite of her old age, and [even though] she was said to be unable to have children, she is now six months along. 37 For nothing that God says [will happen] is impossible.” Luke 18:26-27 (ERV)
I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible lesson. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺
Related studies/lessons/snacks for further Spiritual growth:
♥ Question for ‘If You Have Faith You’ll See Wonderful Things Happen’: Do you have at least a little faith?
Scriptures to read/study
Matthew 17:14-21 (18-20) [compare: Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:37-42; reference: Job 9:1-13; Psalms 46:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 and Revelation 6:12-17]. Hebrews 11:1-3 (1 and 3) [Romans 8:18-30 (24); 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (18) and 5:1-8 (7); 1 Peter 1:3-12 (3-5 and 8)]. Genesis 1:1-27 (3, 6, and 14); Luke 7:1-10 (6-10) [compare: Matthew 8:5-13]; Matthew 15:21-28 [compare: Mark 7:24-30]. Mark 10:46-52 (46-47 and 51-52) [compare: Matthew 20:29-34; Luke 18:35-43]. Luke 18:24-30 (26-27) and Mark 4:30-32 [compare: Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19].
See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.
HI