The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
Deeper Dive
This passage encapsulates essential teachings about faith, service, and humility. These verses present a dialogue between the apostles and Jesus, offering insights into the nature of faith and the attitude expected from those who follow Him. Exploring this passage can deepen one’s understanding of Christian discipleship and the spiritual mindset Jesus encourages in His followers. It’s important to understand the context in which these verses appear. Jesus has been teaching His disciples about various challenges and obstacles they might face, including sin within the community and the need for forgiveness. Amid these teachings, He emphasises faith’s critical role and how it can overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties. The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. This simple request opens the door to Jesus’ powerful response on the character of faith and the expected demeanour of His followers in service. This moment highlights their awareness of their limitations and their desire to grow spiritually. Jesus replies by illustrating the incredible power even a small amount of genuine faith can possess: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Here, Jesus uses the mustard seed — known as one of the smallest seeds — to symbolise that faith need not be grand in quantity to be effective. What matters is the authenticity and active nature of that faith.
The following verses shift from faith’s power to the attitudes that believers should cultivate. Jesus shares a parable involving a servant, emphasising humility and the nature of service: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?” The servant’s appropriate response, Jesus explains, is to prepare the master’s meal before attending to his own needs—displaying a life of faithful service without expecting praise or reward beyond duty. Through this parable, Jesus underscores two main points: Service is not about earning rewards or commendation: Followers serve God not to be lauded but because it is their responsibility and expression of love. And faithfulness means doing one’s duty with the right heart: True discipleship entails servant leadership and humility rather than entitlement or seeking recognition. Today, this passage is a humble invitation to renew our faith, align our attitude in service to Christ without expectation of praise, and embrace our roles as faithful, humble followers.
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
Deeper Dive
This passage encapsulates essential teachings about faith, service, and humility. These verses present a dialogue between the apostles and Jesus, offering insights into the nature of faith and the attitude expected from those who follow Him. Exploring this passage can deepen one’s understanding of Christian discipleship and the spiritual mindset Jesus encourages in His followers. It’s important to understand the context in which these verses appear. Jesus has been teaching His disciples about various challenges and obstacles they might face, including sin within the community and the need for forgiveness. Amid these teachings, He emphasises faith’s critical role and how it can overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties. The apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. This simple request opens the door to Jesus’ powerful response on the character of faith and the expected demeanour of His followers in service. This moment highlights their awareness of their limitations and their desire to grow spiritually. Jesus replies by illustrating the incredible power even a small amount of genuine faith can possess: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Here, Jesus uses the mustard seed — known as one of the smallest seeds — to symbolise that faith need not be grand in quantity to be effective. What matters is the authenticity and active nature of that faith.
The following verses shift from faith’s power to the attitudes that believers should cultivate. Jesus shares a parable involving a servant, emphasising humility and the nature of service: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?” The servant’s appropriate response, Jesus explains, is to prepare the master’s meal before attending to his own needs—displaying a life of faithful service without expecting praise or reward beyond duty. Through this parable, Jesus underscores two main points: Service is not about earning rewards or commendation: Followers serve God not to be lauded but because it is their responsibility and expression of love. And faithfulness means doing one’s duty with the right heart: True discipleship entails servant leadership and humility rather than entitlement or seeking recognition. Today, this passage is a humble invitation to renew our faith, align our attitude in service to Christ without expectation of praise, and embrace our roles as faithful, humble followers.
