Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed

What does Jesus mean by calling his disciples to have faith the size of the mustard seed? Did he literally mean the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds?

In this video, Dr. Pitre looks at this parable and discusses the vital role that faith plays in the life of a disciple.

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Commons Images used:

James Tissot [Public domain]

Paolo Neo [Public domain]

[jimmyfortrue]

My grandma used to call my mom (who was an only child) "my little mustard seed" because my mom had 8 children.

[j-bro]

Just listened to another interpretation that says the opposite. Because a mustard seed is so small and yet grows into a very large plant, it has great faith. In other words a mustard seed has great faith despite its small size. And as a result, ultimately grows large. Accordingly, The parable may be saying, if you had great faith like this mustard seed you could uproot that sycamore tree and plant it in the sea. The message, work on your faith, grow your faith. Have great trust in God.

[alephtav]

Truth it is.. The bad flees...afraid of Holy Spirit.🙏😊

[hiddenhope]

Very good, missed one thing but great job. 👏

[pcjgrjpaj]

I have heard this parable explained elsewhere that the tree represents a root sin in a soul. The image of a vast network of roots works with this representation- the sin can be so deeply embedded in a soul that only great faith in Jesus can uproot it and salt water would kill the root.

[tonygville]

December 6th day of Reperation for the Church 🙏

[jfrv]

How many trees have you outrooted and planted on the sea?, Dr. Pitre?

[sethhovis]

Hello Dr. Pitre, I hope you are doing well and enjoying life. I really appreciate these videos for their simplistic style and your straightforward exposition.

Now, with my net of flattery properly laid, I have a question for you. It is one that troubles me and prevents me from accepting the authority of the Canon of Scripture. Though, I want to believe Christianity and would if I could.

Going back to the OT, we see God pledge to kill the firstborn in Egypt if Pharaoh would not fully release the Hebrews. Pharaoh does not, and Jehovah honors his word. Doubtless, the deathtoll would have included children so young that they could not be held accountable for even understanding what was happening to the Jews. Let alone approving of or doing it themselves.

However, we also see this same deity declare multiple times (and this I personally hold to be true) that it is wrong for a person or group of people to suffer for the sins of another.

Deuteronomy 24:16 says,
"Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin." (ESV)

There is also the proverb of children having their teeth "set on edge" when their fathers eat sour grapes.

Yet we see Jehovah/Yahwe directly killing an entire segment of the population which contained people who had no influence on the situation at all.

This is not a question of OT genocide in general, though that is a problem worthy of discussion. This is a baffling (for me anyway) contradiction in morality between divine doings and divine sayings.

All in all, none of this would really bother me when it comes to Jesus and Christianity. I would simply discard these portions of the OT and say that the Jews used their idea of god to excuse the atrocities they committed on others and to further their interest by demonizing and dehumanizing their enemies.

However, I have big problem with Jesus because he identifies as being this same god. He also approves of Moses' writings too.

What answers can you offer me?

And thank you for hearing me out. I wish you and yours the best.

[vegetrunks]

It only means that we have very small faith with God compared to a mustard seed coz no one can do what Jesus said. He is implying that all of us can't even have a faith as small as mustard seed.

[walterrelief]

Is there a seed smaller than the mustard seed that when grown is bigger than the mustard tree that can span up to 20-25ft? The answer is no. So the mustard seed is the smallest seed on earth that when sown in the earth produces the largest herb that produces great branches that the birds can nest in. It’s not just the smallest seed THEY planted back in the day, but, it’s the smallest seed that meets all the other requirements stated in the text that applies TODAY.

Christ didn’t make an absolute statement about the size of the mustard seed being the absolute smallest; but it came with qualifications of the smallest that:
1. Has to be sown in the earth.
2. Must become greater than all the herbs.
3. Must shoot out straight branches.
4. Birds must be able to nest in it.

“It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:31-32‬ ‭

Orchid seeds are not sown in the earth but in water and then planted in the earth. Orchid seed is not sown in earth.

Wolffia or wormwood grows on top of water and is not sown in the earth or dry land.

Poppy seeds are sown in the earth but when grown are not greater than all herbs, do not have great branches, and cannot hold birds or nests. This likewise goes for every other seed that is smaller than the mustard seed that is sown in the earth.

So this passage is literal, and scientific, whatever that means, and is in a parable, with a physical and spiritual context, and is not exaggerated hyperbole.

Christ’s words are true...literally! Read His word with reverence humility and you will have eyes to see and ears to hear. Read it with the high minded experts and you will not see...that’s what parables are for.

[BB-cvbl]

It's not faith the size of a mustard seed it's faith as a mustard seed... Mustard seeds are small but they are very hard to break read Matthew 17:20 KJV it says as. The publisher's keep removing words from the Bible and changing things

[edwardgilmore]

Mr. Pitre

Ephesians 1:17-23
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father ( Jehovah ) may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

[johnp.]

This parable, has nothing to do with Miracles signs, and wonders which Dr. Pitre is correct on. The Jews always wanted a sign, but we live by Faith today. What is Faith? Two Bible passages. Romans 10: 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God. Which means study your Bible! ( Not listening to mans traditional superstitious beliefs.) the other passage is Hebrews 11:1 Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We count on the Holy Bible the word alone that God gave us for our salvation. ( Beware of false lying signs and wonders from the power of Satan) Listen to Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also TRUSTED, after that ye heard the WORD of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of your SALVATION: (BIBLE) In whom also after that ye BELIEVED ye were SEALED ( NOT LEAVING YOU) with that HOLY SPIRIT of promise. Proof text: when a Christian is sealed. 1Corinthians 5:1-6 the spirit may be saved!

[johnbergeron]

A cubit depends on the size of the man what if that man is the size of a sycamore tree

[edwardgilmore]

Exodus 20:2-4
Thou shalt have no other God's before Me...

Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you
( Jehovah )
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you
( Jesus )
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace
( Jacob )

Luke 6:46
Why do you call me, Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?

Isaiah ( Prophet for the last days ) in the Great Isaiah Scroll:
29:22
Not now shall Jacob be ashamed and his face shall not grow pale.
42:1
Behold my servant ( Jacob ) whom I uphold, my chosen, my soul delights. I put my Spirit upon him...
42:13
YHWH shall go out as a mighty man....
53:5
the correction of our peace upon him ( Jacob )....

1Peter3:12-13
For the eyes of the Lord ( Jesus ) are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of the Lord ( Jacob ) is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?

John 4:24
God ( Jehovah ) is Spirit...
( And he can rest that Spirit on any man he chooses )

Isaiah ( Prophet for the last days )
43:11
I, I am YHWH and beside me there is no savior. I have told ( Jehovah ) and have saved ( Jesus ) and I have declared ( Jacob )
48:12
Listen to this, Jacob, and Israel my called. I am He ( Jehovah ) I am the first ( Jesus ) even I am the last ( Jacob )
40:12
for she received from the hand of YHWH two handfuls ( Jesus and Jacob ) for all her sins.

Psalm 136:3
O give thanks unto the Lord of Lord's for his Mercy endureth forever.

Psalm 135:4
For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own. Israel to be his treasured possession.

( Jacob a Hebrew man final servant of Jehovah )

Matthew 23:37
Love the Lord your God ( Jehovah ) with all your heart....

1Corinthians 11:26
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's ( Jesus's ) death until he ( Jacob ) comes.

WORSHIP ONE GOD
JEHOVAH
Jehovah - Jesus - Jacob

[johnbergeron]

Notice this Catholic throwing up the 666 sign that's what Catholicism it's actually about