Luke 17:5

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

And {G2532} the apostles {G652} said {G2036} unto the Lord {G2962}, Increase {G4369} our {G2254} faith {G4102}.

The emissaries said to the Lord, “Increase our trust.”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Commentary

Luke 17:5 captures a profound and honest request from the apostles to Jesus: "Increase our faith." This simple yet powerful prayer reveals their awareness of spiritual inadequacy in the face of the Lord's challenging teachings, offering a timeless model for believers seeking deeper trust and conviction.

Context of Luke 17:5

This urgent plea from the apostles comes immediately after Jesus delivered some of His most demanding instructions. He had just warned them about the severe consequences of causing others to stumble (Luke 17:1-2) and, perhaps even more challenging, commanded them to practice radical and repeated forgiveness—even forgiving a brother 'seven times in a day' if he repents (Luke 17:3-4). Such a high standard for interpersonal relations and spiritual responsibility naturally led the disciples to feel overwhelmed, prompting their cry for an increased capacity to believe and obey.

Key Themes

  • Acknowledging Spiritual Need: The apostles' request highlights a crucial aspect of spiritual growth: recognizing one's limitations and dependence on God. Their honest admission, "Increase our faith," models humility and a genuine desire for divine empowerment to live out God's challenging commands.
  • Faith as a Prerequisite for Obedience: The disciples implicitly understood that living a life of radical forgiveness and avoiding stumbling blocks required a faith beyond their natural abilities. Their prayer connects the strength of their belief directly to their capacity for obedience, underscoring the biblical truth that without faith it is impossible to please God.
  • The Dynamic Nature of Faith: Faith is not a static quantity but something that can and should grow. The apostles didn't ask *for* faith (implying they had none), but for *more* faith, indicating a desire for deeper conviction, stronger trust, and greater spiritual fortitude to face life's demands and God's expectations.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "increase" here is προσθές (*prosthes*), which literally means "add to" or "give more." It suggests a desire for an augmentation or growth of their existing faith. The word for "faith" is πίστις (*pistis*), encompassing trust, belief, conviction, and faithfulness. The apostles were asking for a deeper, more robust trust in Jesus and His power to enable them to live according to His challenging standards, not just intellectual assent but a living, active confidence.

Related Scriptures

  • Jesus' immediate response to their request in Luke 17:6, comparing faith to a mustard seed, suggests that even a small amount of genuine faith, when rightly placed, has immense power. This emphasizes the quality and object of faith over its perceived quantity.
  • This prayer resonates with the cry of the father in Mark 9:24, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief," highlighting a common human struggle and dependence on God for the very ability to believe.
  • The concept of faith's growth is also a recurring theme in the New Testament, as seen in passages like 2 Peter 1:5-8, which encourages believers to diligently add to their faith various virtues.

Practical Application

Luke 17:5 serves as a powerful encouragement for believers today. When faced with God's high standards, difficult circumstances, or seemingly impossible tasks, it is both humble and appropriate to turn to the Lord and pray for increased faith. This verse reminds us that faith is not static; it is a gift that can be cultivated and grown through prayer, obedience, and reliance on Christ. Asking God to "increase our faith" is a prayer He delights to answer, empowering us for greater obedience, perseverance, and spiritual victory in our daily lives.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 9:24

    And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

  • Hebrews 12:2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Philippians 4:13

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:8

    For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:10

    Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:3

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

  • Luke 7:13

    And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
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