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The "will he find faith?" passage is one of several places in which Jesus expresses frustration at the unbelief of his disciples. Here's another:
Matthew 17:16-17: And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 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.
Might it be that Jesus is using a figure of speech - a hyperbole - as he frequently did? Certainly Jesus knew that his disciples would do greater things than he and that the redeemed would constitute a vast multitude which no man could number. Jesus spoke of his elect as those which couldn't possibly be decieved.
It was Jesus who declared the harvest was GREAT and that other sheep were his who WOULD certainly believe.
Let's say I dial you up and you put me on hold while you address your misbehaving kids. "Haven't I taught you brats anything?" you beg of them in temporary disgust." (Most parents have felt like this, sooner or later, now and then.)
Well, what would you say of me if I formed an entire opinion of your family on the basis of that remark, taken out of its orginal context? And I began to tell all our mutual friends that I overheard you admit that your kids were totally out of control and uneducatable.
Every major doctrine, btw, can be countered with verses which seem to teach the opposite. All scripture must be brought iinto view as we seek wisdom from above.
Thanks for the passage. I think you assessed Matt. 17 correctly and agree we can’t make a doctrine on one passage.
The passage I was referring to is:
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
I notice this question is between two parables. I believe the parable of the Pharisee and publican give the answer to the question. Many will proclaim to be faithful; but few will actually be humble and repentant.
There are many other passages that lead to my belief such as: broad is the way to destruction and few find the narrow way. Many cry Lord, Lord ; but he never knew them. He calls us the small, scatter flock, never the big one.
Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; [38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
While it is true the harvest is great or plenteous, I notice the laborers are few. In thinking of harvesting, often the field is full and ripe for the picking. If it is not picked, it rots. Thus, just because there are many to be harvested doesn’t mean all will be harvested into the barn (kingdom). I notice many gathered into bundles of tares. So a plenteous harvest doesn’t necessarily mean a large yield. I also notice it is angels who do the actual gathering
Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
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