Have you ever seen a mountain move? Or a mulberry tree that was relocated into the sea? Speaking literally, probably not. But when we consider the meaning of Christ’s instructions, we can see how a little faith can go a long way. We’ll discuss moving mountains and mulberry trees, but first, let’s consider the significance of a tiny seed.

A mustard seed

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said “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.”

A mustard seed is between 1 and 2 millimeters in size, but it can grow to be a 9-foot bush or a 30-foot tree. Matthew 13:31 refers to the mustard seed growing into a tree, so it’s likely this highlights that something tiny has great potential.

Barnes commentary states that the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. The mustard seed, though tiny, produces the largest of all herbs. If a tiny seed can grow to be a 30-foot tree, even the smallest faith, when genuine, can result in the greatest miracles. This can fill us with hope!

A mountain

What mountain would the disciples have thought of when Jesus spoke about moving one? It was likely the mountain referred to earlier in the chapter from the transfiguration, which could have been Mt. Hermon or Mt. Tabor. We are not sure, but it helps us understand Christ’s words better when we put it into the context of the day. Mt. Hermon is the highest mountain in the area, standing at 9,200 feet, and is just across from Israel’s northern border.

The mountain in this verse, however, is not a literal mountain. It is something that is considered a huge difficulty. According to Barclay’s commentary, a regularly-used phrase for great teachers was “mountain remover” or “uprooter or pulverizer of mountains,” and it meant “to accomplish extraordinary results.” God can help us solve any problem if we take it to Him and are ready to accept His guidance.

There was a man who attempted to move a mountain on his own strength. Herod, a megalomaniac who named all four of his sons Herod, was known for his incredible building projects—the second temple, Masada, Ceasarea Maritime and Herodium. When Christ’s disciples were listening to His instruction, they may have thought of Herodium, which was manmade with effort over time. Herod wanted his burial site to be taller than Jerusalem, so it would look down on the city. He essentially built a mountain by moving tons of rocks on top of a hill to make it taller. He accomplished this, finishing with a height 13 meters taller than Jerusalem. He wasn’t liked in Jerusalem, so would go here to get away. Also, Herod wanted people to mourn when he died, instead of celebrating, so he gave orders that upon his death, dozens of favorite citizens would be killed to ensure mourning. This cruel ruler certainly did not have the right reasons for moving a mountain!

The type of mountain-moving Christ was referring to was not self-serving like Herod’s. Christ moved mountains when He healed people, such as the boy with epilepsy in Matthew 17:15. Christ’s disciples were unable to cure him, so after healing the boy, Christ shared His instructions about faith the size of a mustard seed (verse 20). Healing is by faith.

A mulberry tree

In another verse, Jesus speaks instead of a mulberry tree. “So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,” and it would obey you’” (Luke 17:6).

Moving a tree of this size would be no small feat. Mulberry trees can grow to 35 feet tall, and their root system spreads to be 50 feet wide, so not only would the tree be tall and cumbersome, but it would also be difficult to uproot.

The disciples would have probably been thinking of the Sea of Galilee as that is what they were most familiar with. The deepest point of the Sea of Galilee is 141 feet, so depending on where you planted the tree, it could end up fully submerged. The thought that just a little bit of faith could rip up this huge tree and put it in the sea would have amazed the disciples.

The context of Christ’s example, using the mulberry tree, was a conversation about forgiveness. In Luke 17:1-4, Jesus speaks of forgiving one another seven times every day—in essence, what He is indicating is a continual willingness to forgive, no matter how often we are wronged (see also Matthew 18:21-35). Remember that the forgiveness we receive, through Christ’s sacrifice, is a greater miracle than any amount of forgiveness we have to offer, so that should inspire in us a willingness to forgive!

The real power behind mustard seed faith

Jesus’ instruction on the mustard seed followed His disciples’ request, “increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Sometimes we think we need to have faith like a mountain, and with that, we can move a mustard seed, but if we fall into this thinking, we have the equation wrong. God has already moved mountains—He created them! He can plant a mulberry tree anywhere He wants and all He is asking for is something comparatively small.

Christ’s sacrifice is greater than we can imagine. Miracles such as healing and forgiveness require God’s power. Our part is to have faith, but the heavy lifting—the impossible task—has been completed because of Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus indicates that even a very slight real faith, which He compares to the mustard seed, would be sufficient to accomplish what seemed impossible. Will we try to move mountains on our own strength, like Herod, or on God’s strength, by faith?