In the NIV verse 1-10 are all in the same section, in ESV they are split into three sections. Verses 1-4 deal with forgiving people who sin against us, then verses 5 and 6 have the disciples asking for more faith. The importance is whether the disciples’ request that the Lord increase their faith is a general desire for more faith, or is in anyway related to the previous teaching on forgiveness. Ie do they just need more faith, or do they need more faith so that they can forgive people more readily. For forgiving people does require faith. It requires faith that God will look after us when we are wronged, that He will protect us. For when we are seriously wronged it harms, or threatens to harm, our lives. It also requires faith that God will actually change some people.
Whatever the case, Jesus’ reply is that we do not actually need masses of faith, but only a little. The important thing is that we act on the faith that we do have. Now this answer would possibly imply that the question was in relation to the forgiveness teaching. For Jesus did not envisage us going around uprooting mulberry trees, that is not one of the fivefold ministries! We do need to be a forgiving people, a forgiving community. Doing this is hard, and when we do forgive we often have doubts. Have we really forgiven the person? Is it really the best or the right thing to do? All sorts of emotional turmoil can go on inside. When we forgive we will not usually feel absolutely wonderful and full of the Spirit, but more likely full of conflicting emotions. In such circumstances we should still forgive, trusting in the Lord. For we only need a mustard seed of faith, not a mountain. When we forgive we are giving the matter over to God, putting our trust in Him, and that always pleases the Father.
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