Matthew 17:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord did not declare, ‘You will certainly move it,’ but rather, ‘You may move it.’ If the mountains remained unmoved, it was not due to an inability on their part—after all, how could they perform even greater wonders?—but because they chose not to, as there was no exigency; potentially, it may have occurred, yet it is not documented, for not every miracle is recorded. Furthermore, their faith was not yet fully developed at that time. Why was this so? Was it due to a lack of faith? They indeed lacked it; they were not uniformly perfected. For instance, Peter received blessings and rebuke alike; likewise, others were corrected by Christ for their misunderstanding concerning leaven. It is possible that, in this instance, the apostles also exhibited a deficiency in faith, as they had not attained full perfection prior to the crucifixion. When Christ speaks of faith here, He refers to faith that accomplishes miracles, illustrating its extraordinary power by using the mustard seed as a metaphor; despite its small size, it possesses immense strength. Thus, to demonstrate that even the faintest authentic faith wields significant power, He references the mustard seed; He further mentions mountains and then ascends to the assertion, ‘Nothing shall be impossible for you.’ It is also noteworthy to consider their wisdom and spiritual power: they exhibited wisdom in acknowledging their own frailty; and the Spirit's strength was evident, as those who had minimal faith—akin to a mustard seed—were uplifted so swiftly that torrents of faith surged within them.

When He proclaims, “You shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move,” He is referring to a demon. Therefore, those who attempt to argue that the apostles and all believers lacked significant faith must be seen as misguided since none of them moved this mountain. In truth, the goal is not merely to shift a mountain physically from one location to another or to seek out miraculous displays, but rather to address the mountain that, as foretold by the prophet, has the power to bring destruction upon the earth.

The one who is called to be an apostle brings healing to every affliction by expelling demons, which represent the turmoil of sinful passions; through this restoration, he leads the downtrodden towards virtue through faith, and uplifts the fearful with decisive conviction (Matt. 10:1). For he who is granted the power to tread on serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19) annihilates both the genesis and culmination of sin.

The Word of God can be likened to a mustard seed; initially it appears insignificant, yet once it is sown, it grows immensely, allowing all the lofty concepts of temporary and visible creation, akin to the birds of the air, to find solace in its branches. All essences exist within the Word of God and reside in Him, while no creature can encompass Him. Thus, the Lord proclaimed that one with faith akin to that of a mustard seed can command the mountain with a single utterance, effectively displacing the dominion of evil that looms over us. The mustard seed represents the Lord, planted by the Spirit in the hearts of those who accept Him. When one diligently nurtures this seed through virtuous living, they move the mountain of flawed thought, intentionally shedding the ingrained habitual vices. Consequently, the Logos and the paths of fulfilling the commandments, along with the Divine Powers, find rest within their soul like birds finding refuge in the sky.

He indicates that if one's faith is as active and robust as a mustard seed, without any doubt in their ability to perform miracles, they will possess immense power to move even mountains. Achieving such profound faith may appear simple, yet it is indeed a lofty aspiration. It stems from a boldness before God, which itself arises from a deep sense of godliness. However, a significant struggle is essential to develop the kind of boldness that instills unwavering confidence in God's willingness to grant requests. It is written, Ask, and it shall be given unto you (Matthew 7:7). One should not be astonished that the apostles did not physically move mountains, for it was not due to their inability, but rather their lack of desire to do so, given the circumstances. After them, various saints, who may seem to be of lesser stature, were able to accomplish miracles in accordance with the needs they faced, moving mountains as per the Lord's directive. The adversary, too, can be likened to a mountain due to the height of his arrogance, yet the saints are able to distance themselves from it whenever they choose. Furthermore, nothing shall be impossible for you. Not only can you move mountains, but you will find that nothing else will be beyond your reach.

For if you acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9), and He will usher you into Paradise, just as He did for the thief on the cross. Do not doubt this possibility; the same Savior who, on that sacred hill, rescued the penitent thief in his final hour will save you if you place your trust in Him.

The second kind of faith is that which is bestowed by grace through Christ. “To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings” (1 Cor. 12:8-9). This grace-filled faith, granted by the Holy Spirit, is not merely a teaching faith but one that accomplishes extraordinary deeds beyond human capability. For those who possess such faith can command mountains to move, and they will obey. If anyone confidently utters such a command, believing in their heart without doubt (Mark 11:23), they will receive divine favor. About this faith, it is said, “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed...” A mustard seed, though tiny, produces strong effects; it grows and extends its branches, providing shelter for the birds. Similarly, faith within the soul can quickly accomplish great things. The soul, elevated in thought towards God and illuminated by divine belief to the extent of its capacity, perceives the limits of the world and glimpses the coming judgment and promised reward before the culmination of this age. Therefore, nurture your faith in Him so that you might also be granted a faith that transcends human limitations.

While the accounts of the holy Apostles do not explicitly record such an extraordinary miracle, the divine Chrysostom observed that these holy individuals, though lesser in virtue and station, were capable of transfiguring mountains when circumstances demanded it. The Lord did not suggest that the mountains would be truly annihilated; rather, if necessary, they could achieve that. Their failure to perform such feats was not due to inability but rather because the situation did not call for it. It is likely that such miracles were indeed performed, though not documented, as not every miraculous event has been recorded. After demonstrating the strength of fervent faith, the Lord also highlighted the spiritual armaments against evil spirits, declaring that certain demons can only be expelled through prayer and fasting.

St. Chrysostom observes that while some may question where mountains have been displaced, the reality is that even greater wonders have been accomplished, such as raising numerous individuals from the dead. Moving a mountain requires less power than overcoming death itself. It is noted that saints after them, even those of lesser stature, manifested such miraculous power when the situation called for it. Thus, it is clear that the apostles possessed the ability to move mountains if the need had arisen, though there was no such necessity at that time. Perhaps they did perform similar wonders, but not every miracle is recorded.

Marvel at their wisdom and spiritual fortitude: their wisdom in acknowledging their shortcomings, and their remarkable strength in faith, as those who were once filled with doubt, likened to a tiny mustard seed, were soon transformed by the Lord into vessels overflowing with faith like rivers and springs.

Matthew 21:21), one can accomplish remarkable deeds. Furthermore, just as a large tree emerges from a tiny mustard seed, so can genuine faith grow and empower individuals to perform extraordinary acts. This reference to faith particularly highlights miraculous faith, regarded as a unique gift from God (1 Cor. 13:9, 1 Cor. 14:2). As Chrysostom notes, "When speaking of faith that performs miracles, He uses the example of mustard to illustrate its immense power. Though the mustard seed appears tiny, it holds great strength." - When Christ says, "Say unto this mountain," He may have been gesturing toward one of the nearby mountains. "If one asks, how is it possible to move a mountain, I would assert that the apostles achieved even greater feats by raising thousands from the dead. Moving a mountain requires less strength than expelling death from a body. This shows that the apostles could have moved the mountain if it had been necessary; however, since it was not required at that moment, we need not criticize their inaction. The Lord did not declare, 'You will definitely move it,' but rather, 'You can move it.' Their lack of mountain-moving was not due to inability (after all, they performed far greater miracles), but rather a lack of desire, stemming from the absence of need. Perhaps such events occurred but are not recorded, for not every miracle is documented" (3l., cf. Theophilus). - "And nothing shall be impossible to you," for all things are possible for those who believe (Mk. 9:23).