With even the smallest grain of faith rightly placed, Jesus said we could move mountains. Did He mean that literally? If not, what was He talking about?
Overcoming huge obstacles
This is the most obvious and maybe the most common understanding. In fact, we still use this idiom today. The picture of doing something so unimaginably big that it would seem impossible.
Greater things than Herod
It is likely Jesus made these remarks on the Mount of Olives, within eyeshot of the Herodian palace. This fortress sat atop a hill that Herod ordered moved from about ¼ mile away. Remembering that rabbis teach what they can see, it is possible that Jesus was encouraging His disciples that they would do far greater things than Herod, the most powerful man of their time.
Referencing the prophets
He who removes mountains, and they know it not, when He overturns them in His anger. Job 9:5
There are multiple passages associating God’s judgment with His moving or removing mountains. Isaiah also uses a similar picture when looking forward to the glory of the Lord.
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low. Isaiah 40:4
Could God be calling His people to faith in order to bring the Kingdom?
Understanding Torah
There is some evidence that ancient scholars used this idiom for exceptional understanding of the text. Insight and knowledge was said to uproot mountains. A later sage, Resh Lakish, was such a passionate and learned debater that he became known as the “uprooter of mountains.”
We often point to study as a foundation of our faith, and rightly so. But maybe Jesus is also saying that it is our faith that allows us to understand our text. They are intertwined.
It is not our faith that produces results; it is Who our faith is placed in. And whichever of these ideas Jesus meant, they all convey the idea that God will use even the smallest trace, when rightly placed, to further His plan. He will literally and figuratively move mountains, even if they reside within me.
