A Post I saw on Instagram inspired this blog today. I wanted to expand on what the original writer wrote which I think her thought process on this was increasable so Thankyou root.cause.mama for sharing your thoughts on this passage and making me want to dig deeper.

Many of us have been taught that when Jesus spoke about the mustard seed, He meant that “even a tiny bit of faith is enough.” It’s a comforting thought — but if we look closely at what He actually said, the picture is much bigger and bolder than we realize.

In Matthew 17:20 (NLT), Jesus told His disciples:

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Notice — He didn’t simply say “a little faith.” He compared faith to the nature of the mustard seed itself.

What the Mustard Seed Meant in Jesus’ Day

To the people of His time, the mustard seed wasn’t thought of as fragile or delicate. It was known as a plant that spread aggressively, overtaking fields, crowding out other plants, and becoming nearly impossible to remove once it was established.

That picture changes everything. Jesus wasn’t pointing to the seed’s smallness — He was pointing to its unstoppable life force.

Faith “as a mustard seed” means a faith that:

  • Spreads persistently — it doesn’t stay contained.
  • Crowds out fear, doubt, and lies — it takes the ground that other things once occupied.
  • Cannot be uprooted — it endures no matter what tries to stand against it.

Mustard Seed Faith Is Resilient

Mustard plants are also known for thriving in the harshest conditions. They grow in scorching heat, with little water, and in soil where other crops fail. That resilience adds another layer to what Jesus was saying: faith that is genuine will not wither under pressure. It will actually thrive in adversity.

More Insights on Faith Like a Mustard Seed

1. Faith Starts Hidden, But Doesn’t Stay That Way

Jesus also spoke of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31–32 (NLT):

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Faith may begin small in expression, but it is designed to grow beyond what seems possible. It starts unseen in the soil of trust, but eventually it becomes so visible that others find rest and refuge in it.

2. Faith Has Authority to Uproot Obstacles

In Luke 17:6 (NLT), Jesus said:

“If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!”

Here, Jesus compared mustard-seed faith to authority over what seems immovable. Just as a mulberry tree has deep roots, life often presents problems that seem firmly planted. Yet faith has the authority to uproot what no human effort could remove.

3. Faith Transforms Its Environment

When mustard plants grow, they don’t politely share space — they overtake. Genuine faith works the same way. When God’s people live with mustard-seed faith, it reshapes families, communities, and even cultures.

4. Faith Multiplies and Spreads

Mustard plants produce countless seeds that spread rapidly. Living faith doesn’t stop with us; it multiplies. Our obedience plants seeds in the lives of others, and those seeds grow into their own expressions of faith.

5. Faith Thrives in Opposition

Mustard seeds grow best in tough conditions. Likewise, the faith that pleases God doesn’t shrink back when opposed. Instead, it thrives where the soil looks unwelcoming, showing that its power comes from God and not from circumstances.

Faith in Action: Bible Examples of Mustard-Seed Faith

Abraham: Trusting God Against All Odds

Romans 4:20–21 (NLT) says:

“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”

Abraham was promised descendants when he and Sarah were far beyond childbearing years. Humanly speaking, it was impossible. Yet his faith spread like mustard seed roots — unshakable, growing stronger instead of weaker with time. His trust overtook doubt, and he became known as the father of faith.

David: Facing Giants With Confidence

In 1 Samuel 17, David faced Goliath — a warrior everyone else feared. David’s faith wasn’t in his sling or stones, but in the living God who had delivered him before. He declared boldly:

“The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (1 Samuel 17:37, NLT).

That is mustard-seed faith: invasive, refusing to let fear dominate the battlefield, and bold enough to bring victory where others only saw defeat.

The Woman With the Issue of Blood: Faith That Presses Through

Mark 5:27–29 (NLT) tells us:

“She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, ‘If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.’ Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.”

Her faith was not passive. It pressed through the crowd, undeterred by shame, weakness, or fear. Like a mustard seed, it thrived in adversity and refused to be uprooted until it bore fruit.

The Early Church: Faith That Multiplied

In Acts 2:41 (NLT), we read:

“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”

The disciples went from fearfully hiding to boldly proclaiming the gospel. Their faith, once small, spread like wildfire. Just like mustard plants multiply rapidly, the faith of the early believers overtook entire cities and eventually the Roman Empire itself.

Life Applications: Living Out Mustard-Seed Faith

  1. Let faith take root in your daily habits.
    Just as a seed must be planted, faith grows when you cultivate it. Spend time in Scripture daily, even if only a few verses, and pray with expectancy.
  2. Speak truth to your “mountains.”
    Jesus said mustard-seed faith speaks to obstacles. Don’t just think about your challenges — declare God’s promises over them. Instead of “I’ll never overcome this,” say, “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26, NLT).
  3. Refuse to let fear share the soil.
    When fear, doubt, or lies rise up, confront them. Replace negative thoughts with the truth of God’s Word. For example: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3, NLT).
  4. Expect growth in adversity.
    When life feels dry or the heat is on, don’t assume your faith is failing. Remember — mustard-seed faith is proven in tough conditions. Trials are not proof of weakness but the soil where strong faith grows.
  5. Spread faith to others.
    Share your testimonies, encourage others, and plant seeds of hope wherever you go. Like the mustard seed, your faith is not meant to remain with you — it’s meant to multiply.
  6. Model mustard-seed faith after biblical heroes.
    Like Abraham, believe God’s promises against all odds.
    Like David, face your giants with courage.
    Like the woman in Mark 5, press through obstacles to reach Jesus.
    Like the early church, let your faith spread until it changes the world around you.

Closing Thought

Faith like a mustard seed isn’t about being small — it’s about being unstoppable, invasive, and transformative. When rooted in God’s promises, it thrives in adversity, multiplies in others, and refuses to be shaken.

So ask yourself: Is my faith passive, or is it growing like a mustard seed — spreading, multiplying, and moving mountains? 🌱🔥