Luke 17:6

as a grain of mustard seed "which is the least of all seeds," Matthew 13:32.

unto this sycamine tree The -this: is interesting because it shews that our Lord was teaching in the open air, and pointed to the tree as He spoke. The sycamine (Hebr. shikmah, 1 Chronicles 27:28) seems to be a generic name for various kinds of mulberries (e.g. the Morus albaand nigra),which were freely cultivated in the East. The black mulberry is still called sycameneain Greece (see Luke 19:4). In Matthew 17:20 we have a similar passage with the variation of "this mountain," which our Lord doubtless spoke pointing to Mount Hermon. The Jews gave to a great Rabbi the title of -uprooter of mountains," in the sense of 4 remover of difficulties;" and our Lord here most appropriately expresses the truth that Faith can remove all difficulties and obstacles, Mark 9:23; Luke 11:23. Perhaps the warning never to be spiritually elated springs from the magnificence of this promise.

Be thou plucked up by the root Literally, "Be instantly uprooted;" and yet it is a tree with very deep roots. See p. 384.