Mustard Seed Faith

The black mustard of Palestine seems to be the species to which Jesus referred (Matt. 13:31–32; Mark 4:31–32; Luke 13:19). It was cultivated for its seeds, which were used as a condiment and for oil.

The mustard seed was the smallest seed known in Jesus’ day. Nevertheless, Jesus said that if one has faith like a mustard seed, he can move mountains (Matt. 17:20, "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”) or transplant a mulberry tree in the sea (Luke 17:6, "the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' The Lord replied, 'If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.'"