Luke 7:9

7:9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed ¹  at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!” ² 

Luke 17:6

17:6 So ³  the Lord replied, ⁴  “If ⁵  you had faith the size of ⁶  a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry ⁷  tree, ‘Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,’ ⁸  and it would obey ⁹  you.

Luke 18:8

18:8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. ¹⁰  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith ¹¹  on earth?”

[7:9]  ¹ tn Or “pleased with him and amazed.” The expanded translation brings out both Jesus’ sense of wonder at the deep insight of the soldier and the pleasure he had that he could present the man as an example of faith.

[7:9]  ² sn There are two elements to the faith that Jesus commended: The man’s humility and his sense of Jesus’ authority which recognized that only Jesus’ word, not his physical presence, were required.

[17:6]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.

[17:6]  ⁴ tn Grk “said.”

[17:6]  ⁵ tn This is a mixed condition, with ἄν (an) in the apodosis.

[17:6]  ⁶ tn Grk “faith as,” “faith like.”

[17:6]  ⁷ sn A black mulberry tree is a deciduous fruit tree that grows about 20 ft (6 m) tall and has black juicy berries. This tree has an extensive root system, so to pull it up would be a major operation.

[17:6]  ⁸ tn The passives here (ἐκριζώθητι and φυτεύθητι, ekrizwqhti and futeuqhti) are probably a circumlocution for God performing the action (the so-called divine passive, see ExSyn 437-38). The issue is not the amount of faith (which in the example is only very tiny), but its presence, which can accomplish impossible things. To cause a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea is impossible. The expression is a rhetorical idiom. It is like saying a camel can go through the eye of a needle (Luke 18:25).

[17:6]  ⁹ tn The verb is aorist, though it looks at a future event, another rhetorical touch to communicate certainty of the effect of faith.

[18:8]  ⁵ tn Some argue this should be translated “suddenly.” When vindication comes it will be quick. But the more natural meaning is “soon.” God will not forget his elect and will respond to them. It may be that this verse has a prophetic perspective. In light of the eternity that comes, vindication is soon.

[18:8]  ⁶ sn Will he find faith on earth? The Son of Man is looking for those who continue to believe in him, despite the wait.