A Grain of Mustard Seed

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A Grain of Mustard Seed

Luke 17:5-6
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith [belief].
And the Lord said, If ye had faith [belief] as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say to this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

To believe God is to have confidence and trust in the information He has provided in His written word or that He has given to you by revelation to end that you act upon that information. Belief is simple yet because God supplies the results it is very very powerful.
Jesus Christ responded to the apostles request to increase their belief with the example of the mustard seed. Following are some other scriptures that help define the characteristics of the mustard seed:

Matthew 13:31-32
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown, is the greatest amoung herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Mark 4:30-32
   And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
   It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
   But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

Luke 13:18-19
Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Belief is a small thing that produces great results. The mustard seed of the Bible lands was a very tiny small dark seed about 10 times smaller than the American or western mustard seed. It was the smallest of all seeds: so tiny that if you were to get it in your eye you would hardly notice. The Bible lands' seed also produced a plant different from the western mustard plant. The Bible lands mustard plant grew into a tree the size of a fruit tree.

Luke 17:6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith [belief] as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say to this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

The sycamine tree is also a significant reference. The sycamore fig tree of the Bible lands had an extensive root system that held it firmly to the ground. It was nearly impossible to "pluck it up by the roots." No matter how deep rooted our needs or problems may be God is able to pluck them up by the roots and cast them into the sea when we believe the promises in His Word.

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in Christ Jesus.

In Matthew, another seemingly impossible task is described as possible with belief as a grain of mustard seed:

Matthew 17:19-20
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith [belief] as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

The disciples had attempted to cast out a devil spirit with no success. Jesus came and cast it out and the disciples wondered why they had not been able to do the same. Jesus told them that they had failed because of unbelief. Many of the texts read because of "little or weak believing." Once again Jesus Christ uses the description of the grain of mustard seed to describe how simple belief of the word of God produces seemingly impossible results. If God told you to say to a mountain be removed and cast into the sea, and you simply believed God, the mountain would obey you. With God NOTHING is impossible. Jesus then adds:

Matthew 17:21
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Prayer is pouring out your soul to God. Fasting is doing the work of the Word of God. Experience with doing the Word of God and time talking to God in prayer, increases our confidence in God and His Word. When we have confidence in the information provided by God we will believe God and receive the results His Word promises. Just as the tiny mustard seed produces a great tree, belief in God and action on the promises of His Word will produce great results in our lives.