The Harm of Unbelief

     The verse I want to talk about is in Matthew chapter 13. Verse 58 "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." To shed some light as far as context goes, we will have to read a few verses prior as well.

Matthew 13: 54-57
"54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house."

     Of all places, you would think the hometown of Christ would be the most receptive of his teaching. How revealing this is of the state of affairs in America today. To those of us with much light, and easy access to the word of God, Americans in general are some of the hardest people to witness to. Their eyes have been blinded by the prince of this world.

     On to verse 58, Christ was unable to work many miracles in his home town due to unbelief, which can also be said a lack of faith. How much this must have broken his heart! Not only in his home town, but for all that lack faith and reject him, I believe the heartbreak it causes God is a burden beyond our ability to comprehend. True faith is such a rare thing in the world that Christ tells his disciples later in Matthew that even with just a small amount of faith God can do great things.

Matthew 17: 17-20
"17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

     How much have we fruitlessly petitioned God for in prayer that we didn't have the faith in his ability or willingness to answer? How much are the works and blessings of God hindered in our lives due to unbelief? How much more could God work mightily in our lives if we just cast aside the unbelief and had faith the size of a grain of mustard seed? Great and mighty things could be wrought through Gods power. Even just a little unbelief shows a lack of complete faith and trust in him. God tells us in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Oh Christians may we pray for one another that our faith would be complete, and that we would strive each and every day to cast down our unbelief and to trust God completely in everything.