Teensy Weensy Faith

Written By Molly Mayo

Reflective Reading: Luke 16-17

Luke 17 begins with the warning that if anyone offends one of the little ones, it would be better for him to be cast into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. Jesus then warns them to take heed to themselves, especially when they offend each other. And when they are offended, if the offender apologizes after they have been confronted, then they are required to forgive them (even if the offenses occur seven times a day by the same person)! The twelve Apostles respond to this teaching in an unusual way:

“Lord, increase our faith!”

Jesus then responds with:

“If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine/mulberry tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”

I don’t know about you, but if I’m offended seven times in one day by the same person, it’s going to take a lot more faith than a tiny little mustard seed!

In order to understand this seemingly obscure teaching, we need some context. In the prior chapter we have the story of the unjust steward who wisely used money to prepare for his future by reducing the debts of his master’s debtors. This chapter also includes Jesus’ rebuke to the Pharisees who unwisely used the Word of God to increase their wealth, abuse their wives, and restrict others from joining their exclusive “Pharisees Club.” Lot’s of restriction!

The plot thickens when Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and says,

“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces or crowds his way into it” (Luke 6:16).

In verse 14, Luke tells us that “the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.” While the crowds were “forcing” or “crowding” their way into the kingdom, the Pharisees were keeping people out (restricting) through three perversions:

1.  They were covetous lovers of money, helping no one but themselves.

2.  They corrupted the Word of God to keep people enslaved, to fulfill their egos.

3. They divorced their wives at will, in order to fulfill their sexual desires. 

What makes these perversions stand out so clearly is that they are found in between two stories in chapter 16: the story of the Rich Man and the Unjust Steward, and the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man.  the Unjust Steward relieved the burdens of his Lord’s debtors, and the Rich man in the second story didn’t relieve the burden of the sick beggar who was outside his door.

Do you see any connection to Luke 17, the forgiving of an offending brother and the request to “increase our faith”? Jesus is teaching them to relieve burdens, caused by offenses, through obedient acts of forgiveness; and all that is needed is very little faith, or, according to this title, teensy weensy faith!

 Let’s take a closer look at Luke 17:6:

“And the Lord said, ‘If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine /mulberry tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.’” 

Does it really require faith to forgive? Hmm…interesting question.

I propose that, no matter the offense, it does not require a whole lot of faith to forgive. It requires just a little faith…very little in fact. It requires so little that Jesus compares it to a mustard seed. What’s interesting about the mustard seed is that, although it is teensy weensy in size (that’s two sizes less than tiny), it is very big in flavor and spice! In other words, this small seed packs a powerful punch! Forgiveness does the same.

It doesn’t take much to forgive—it just takes faithful obedience—it takes a recognition that, just as we have been forgiven much, we need to love and forgive much. Using our resources to relieve the burden of others, forgive offenders, and live with self-sacrifice, requires a lot of work and patience, but it doesn’t require a lot of faith—it requires a lot of obedience to God’s Word. 

That is why Jesus said, if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed, they could say to this mulberry tree, “Be plucked up by the roots and cast into the sea!” Why the sea? Because the tree is buried under water, never to be seen again! Why did Jesus use the illustration of the mulberry tree? Because this is one of the most deeply rooted trees in the world. It is said that the roots of a mulberry tree can last up to 600 years! Unforgiveness is one of the most deeply rooted sins in the world, and it bears only bitter fruit and destructive influences.

Jesus doesn’t stop here. He ends his parabolic teaching in this chapter, saying:

“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.’”

Ah, I get it! Forgiving my offending brother, even if he commits the same offense seven times a day, doesn’t require great faith. Forgiveness requires no extraordinary feat, even if he offends me seven times a day. So don’t expect a pat on the back or count on a trophy for your amazing reconciliatory actions—you’ve only “done that which was your duty to do!”

The Christian life begins here; with forgiveness that requires only teensy weensy faith. And that, my friends, is what is at the root of God’s Kingdom. A faith so “small” that it can change the course of history for an individual, a family, a church, a community, and the world. And it all starts, with forgiveness.

Sincerely,

Mark Hamby

M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.

Recommended Reading and Listening:

Molly Mayo
Next

Expect the Unexpected