275. What Did Jesus Mean by Faith That Could Remove Mountains?

This is the language of similitude and figure which Jesus frequently employed to illustrate and emphasize his teaching. A leading commentator writes of this passage (Matt. 21:21): "From the nature of the case supposed --- that they might wish a mountain removed and cast into the sea (a thing very far from anything which they could be thought to actually desire) --- it is plain that not physical but moral obstacles to the progress of his kingdom were in the Saviour's mind." What he designed to teach was the great lesson that no obstacle should be able to stand before a firm faith in God--that it would enable us to overcome all difficulties, if we absolutely trusted in him.