Having viewed the separate and individual uses of ‘pistis/faith’ in each of the Synoptics, the question can now be raised, ‘what does these three Gospels say concerning ‘pistis/faith’?  So glad you asked!  Because it makes us see a Word of Faith that is found EXCLUSIVELY IN JESUS!

Matthew tells ‘Jesus’ use of Faith’ this way:

“Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!” “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.”

“According to your faith let it be done to you.”

“O woman, great is your faith! be it done for you as you desire.”

“O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you?”

“Because of your little faith.  For truly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move hence to yonder place,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will be done.  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith;”

Mark tells it like this:

“Why are you afraid?  Have you no faith?”

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

“Go your way; your faith has made you well.”

“Have faith in God.”

Luke speaks to say:

“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!”

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

“Where is your faith?”

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

“If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, ‘Be rooted up, and be planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.”

“Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”“Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

“Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

“But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail;”

Where John is silent in the use of ‘pistis/faith.

A single exception to Jesus’ Spoken Word Faith is the disciples plea, “Increase our faith!”  Luke is the only one who knew about this.  (All by itself— this will preach!  I wish I had a praying Church!)  A singing Church, a dancing Church; but a Praying Church… “Increase our faith!”

What a striking observation it is to see ‘Biblical Faith’… as the mathematician might say —reduced to it’s lowest term… pure scripture without the interjections of man’s homiletical ‘cloak and dagger and AI’ fantasies.  Sobering, indeed to know and to understand that Jesus could clearly have seen the year 2024 in saying: ”“Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, (in 2024) will he find faith on earth?”

Beyond this Word of Faith Spoken by Jesus, there is the occurrence that all three Synoptic writers record on the occasion of ‘The Healing of The Paralytic’.  On this day, Jesus SEES FAITH!  In this man’s friends.  Their brother’s keeper.  Which prompts him to speak this Word on: FORGIVENESS OF SIN!  To SEE FAITH, to see faith, in family!  And in friends!  “When the Son of man comes, (in 2024) will he find faith on earth?”

I saw a most truthful and sobering Meme on Facebook this week:

“Christianity is helping others and controlling yourself.  When it becomes about controlling others and helping yourself, it ain’t Christianity.”

All inquiries By email: talk2therev@icloud.com “Words of Life Study” Wednesdays on Zoom.  12:00 Noon & 6:30 pm CST Join the Dialogue at my “Swellcast”.  At all times: https://SWELLCAST.com/therev