Luke 17:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Faith relies partly on our own efforts, yet is also a gift of divine grace: its inception is based on our commitment to trust in God with all our strength; however, the assurance and power necessary for this faith are provided by God's grace. This is why Jesus affirms that "all things are possible to him that believeth." The strength derived from faith is rooted in God. Recognizing this, the blessed Paul writes in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; and to another, faith in the same Spirit." Here he includes faith among the list of spiritual gifts. The disciples sought this from the Savior, contributing their own efforts, and He granted their request after His mission was fulfilled, manifesting through the Holy Spirit. Prior to the Resurrection, their faith was so frail that they could be described as having little faith. For example, during a voyage on the Sea of Tiberias, while the apostles were with Him, He intentionally fell asleep; when a fierce storm arose, they were terrified and woke Him, saying, "Master, save us; we are perishing." He then arose and calmed the raging waters but chastised the apostles, questioning, "Where is your faith?" They should not have feared while the Lord of creation was in their presence, one before whom all things tremble.

To share another pertinent example, He instructed the holy apostles to board a boat and travel to the opposite side of the lake, which they obediently did. After they had sailed approximately thirty miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water and were filled with fear, thinking He was a ghost. But when He reassured them, saying, "It is I; do not be afraid," Peter responded, "If it is You, command me to come to you on the water." Jesus replied, "Come," and Peter stepped out of the boat and walked towards Him. Yet, noticing the wind and waves, Peter grew frightened and began to sink, crying out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus rescued him but chastised him further, saying, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" It is well-known that during the Passion, when a band of soldiers sought to arrest Jesus, all His disciples fled, and Peter, in his fear, denied Him. These illustrations highlight the disciples' previously weak faith. Now, consider their transformation after receiving a divine increase in faith from Christ, our Redeemer. He instructed them, "Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father," until they would be empowered from on high. When the promised power descended upon them in the form of tongues of fire, filling them with the grace of the Holy Spirit, they became bold, fearless, and zealous, disregarding death and the threats posed by unbelievers, and they were empowered to perform miraculous deeds.

7:14), implying that the prophet signifies his own transformation from a sinner among many. Nevertheless, it was fitting for the forthcoming prophet of tongues to seek nourishment among the thorny brambles in order to draw spiritual sustenance from the faithless and feed the flocks of the Gentiles through his writings, thereby providing spiritual nourishment and drawing forth spiritual milk from the renewed sinner.

Moreover, in another Gospel, there is mention of a mountain (See: Matt. 17:20), which stands barren of fruitful vegetation, lacking vines and olive trees, and devoid of harvests, instead serving as a den for wild beasts—restless and high, it appears to symbolize malevolent spirits, as the Scriptures state, "Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain," (Jer. 51:25). Therefore, it is reasonable to interpret that here, faith is said to expel unclean spirits, especially given the characteristics of the plant align with this view: first, the white blossoms bloom, then the ripe fruit turns red, and ultimately, when fully grown, it appears black. Similarly, the devil, due to his deceitfulness, has forfeited the purity of his angelic state and the red hue of his might, becoming revolting and blackened by vile sin. Listen to the Lord's instruction to the mulberry tree: "Be uprooted and cast into the sea" (Luke 17:6). When He expelled a legion of demons from a man, He permitted them to enter swine, which, driven by the devil’s influence, rushed into the sea and perished (See Luke 8:30-35).

Thus, this narrative urges us toward faith, and its moral conveys that even the most obstinate can be vanquished by faith. From faith emerges love, and from love arises hope (See: 1 Cor. 13:13), thereby forming a sacred cycle within the divine exchange.

In contrast, Jesus perceives in the publicans and sinners, whom the Pharisees scornfully dismissed, the potential for genuine faith, referring to them as "these little ones." Consequently, having pronounced a curse upon those through whom temptations arise, He prompts His disciples to be vigilant regarding their conduct, emphasizing the consequences for leading astray these 'little ones.' He admonishes them against the attitudes of the Pharisees and instructs them that if their brother sins against them, they should respond with grace and forgiveness.

Additionally, the distressing news of their Master’s rejection and impending death may have affected the morale of some of the disciples. Regardless of the reasons, Jesus seized this moment to impart two vital lessons: firstly, that certain forms of spiritual, physical, and moral challenges are so formidable and ingrained that they can only be addressed through prayer, along with self-discipline and self-denial, with fasting being the most potent method; secondly, that with unwavering faith, all things are achievable. Even faith as small as a mustard seed can yield astounding results. A person with such faith can command a mountain to relocate and cast itself into the sea, and it will obey.

In His response, the Lord directed their attention to the mighty potential of faith, which, even in its nascent form—like the tiniest seed—can yield extraordinary results. “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move, and nothing would be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20). The Saviour had previously conveyed this truth to His disciples (Matt. 17:20) and reiterated it later on (21:21). By likening the Kingdom of Heaven and faith to a mustard seed (13:31-32), He aimed to inspire them with the concept of continual growth and deepening of the faith that God had implanted within them. The foremost duty of the disciples was to cultivate this faith within themselves, allowing it to gradually permeate their entire being. However, to caution them against pride in their spiritual accomplishments and self-important attitudes towards their deeds, the Lord illustrated humility with a commonplace analogy: “Which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Luke 17:7-10). Even though, as noted by St. Neil of Sinai, fulfilling obligations brings joy, it should not lead us to overestimate our worth. He emphasized that what is owed should not be treated as a mere gift, and one who pays their debt to Christ ought not to consider themselves a benefactor, especially when gratitude that is unrecognized feels like an obligation rather than a reward.