The
apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’ and will not rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”
Luke 17:5-10
Luke 17 [1.] He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Luke 17 [5.] The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
Luke 17 [6.] The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’ and will not rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’”
Luke 17 [11.] As he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee. As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance. They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Meaning:
Jesus had just given his disciples two demanding commands: not to cause others to stumble, and to forgive a brother who sins against them “seven times in the day” whenever he repents (Luke 17:1-3, Luke 17:3-4). Feeling how hard this was, the apostles asked, “Increase our faith.” Jesus answered with a saying about mustard-seed faith and a short parable about a servant’s duty. Together they teach that what matters is not the size of our faith but the greatness of God, and that obedience is simply what servants owe their Lord.
- “Increase our faith.”
The request was humble and honest. The apostles recognized that they could not forgive endlessly in their own strength. Their prayer is like the father who cried, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). It is a good prayer, but Jesus’ answer redirected their thinking.
- “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed”
The mustard seed was proverbial for being tiny. The sycamore here is the black mulberry tree, known for its deep and spreading roots, very hard to uproot. To command it to be “planted in the sea” describes something impossible. Jesus’ point is that even the smallest real faith is enough, because faith draws on God’s power, not its own. Matthew records a similar saying about moving a mountain: “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed ... nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20), and Mark records, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). The disciples did not need more faith so much as faith in a great God.
- “having a servant plowing or keeping sheep”
Jesus then described an ordinary farm. A servant, or slave, who spent the day plowing or shepherding was expected to prepare his master’s supper when he came in, and only then eat himself. No master in that culture would thank a servant for doing his normal duties. The listeners would all agree: “I think not.”
- “We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.”
The disciples should see themselves in the same way. Forgiving, serving and obeying are not achievements that put God in our debt. Even after doing all that is commanded, a disciple says, “We have done our duty.” Salvation is by grace: “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet the same Lord who teaches this humility also promises that he himself will “dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them” (Luke 12:37).
The Significance of Luke 17:5-10
- Faith rests on God
When obedience seems too hard, we need not first feel stronger. A small faith placed in the almighty God can do what seems impossible.
- Service without pride
Disciples serve because God is their Lord, not to earn rewards or praise. This frees them from pride and from resentment when their service goes unnoticed.
Cross-References:
Matthew 17:20: “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed,” Faith that moves mountains.
Mark 11:22: “Have faith in God.” The object of faith.
Mark 9:24: “I believe. Help my unbelief!” A prayer for faith.
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,” Good works as a response to grace.
Conclusion: When the apostles asked for more faith to obey Jesus’ command to forgive, he told them that faith as small as a mustard seed could uproot a mulberry tree, because its power is God’s. He then reminded them that servants who do what they are told have only done their duty. Disciples are called to trust God fully and to serve him humbly, without seeking credit.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible