Matthew 8:26
And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
When Jesus asks "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?", he's not just noting their fear but pointing out the contradiction: they've already entrusted themselves to him by getting in the boat. He's highlighting that their fear has overtaken the confidence they implicitly showed by being there with him in the first place.
Jesus and his disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, and during the journey, a fierce storm suddenly broke, threatening to swamp their vessel. While Jesus slept through the initial chaos, the disciples, terrified for their lives, woke him up in desperation. After this confrontation with the storm, the disciples would witness another miracle involving pigs, further revealing Jesus' authority.
When the storm hit, the disciples' fear wasn't just a feeling; it was a signal. Jesus used it to point them toward something deeper.
Jesus confronts the disciples not simply for being afraid, but for their little faith. He doesn't say, 'Why are you afraid?' but 'Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?' This tells us that fear itself isn't always the core problem; it's often a symptom of a deeper lack of trust.
Think about it: their fear was so intense that it nearly drowned out their belief in Jesus' presence and power. They were so focused on the overwhelming waves that they forgot the One who could command them. Jesus' question isn't to shame them, but to redirect their attention. He wants them to see that their fear is directly linked to how much they are relying on Him.
One word from Jesus calmed a raging storm. This wasn't just a helpful trick; it was a profound declaration of who He is.
The immediate aftermath of Jesus' question to the disciples is astonishing. He doesn't just ask them about their faith; He acts on it, and in doing so, reveals His absolute authority over the natural world.
'Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.' This wasn't a prayer or a plea; it was a command. The Greek word used for 'rebuked' carries a sense of authoritative reprimand, as if correcting a disobedient servant. The elements, the very forces that threatened to destroy the ship, instantly obeyed.
This is a powerful display of divine power. Jesus, the Creator, speaks, and creation itself stills. It shows that He is not just a wise teacher, but the Lord of all.
Understand the original words
deilos · Greek Adjective
A state of emotional distress or dread, often contrasted with trust in God's providence and power. In a spiritual context, it is frequently corrected by the presence and sovereignty of Christ.
oligopistos · Greek Adjective
Used in the NT to denote a deficiency in trust or confidence in God's power and promises. It is often rebuked by Jesus when disciples allow circumstances to override their knowledge of who He is.
epitimao · Greek Verb
A stern command or verbal censure. In the Gospels, it is used by Jesus to silence the demonic or to subdue the chaos of the natural world, demonstrating His divine authority over creation.
galene · Greek Noun
This event occurs during Jesus' active ministry in Galilee, highlighting his divine power and authority over the natural world, and serving as a crucial moment to teach his disciples about faith and trust in him, even when facing extreme danger.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus conducted his public ministry primarily in Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples around the Sea of Galilee.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Calls Disciples
Jesus called fishermen like Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their livelihoods and follow him, promising to make them 'fishers of men'.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Voyage across the Sea of Galilee
Jesus and his disciples embarked on a boat journey across the Sea of Galilee, a common practice for travel and outreach in the region.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Calms the Storm
During a sudden, violent storm, Jesus, who was sleeping, awoke to calm the wind and waves at the disciples' panicked pleas, demonstrating his divine authority over nature.
This passage vividly describes sailors in a storm crying out to the Lord and being delivered, mirroring the disciples' experience and Jesus' power over the elements.
Mark 4:39-40This parallel account in Mark directly quotes Jesus rebuking the wind and sea and then asks the disciples, 'Why are you so fearful? Have you still no faith?', highlighting the theme of faith versus fear.
Job 38:8-11God's powerful rhetorical questions to Job about His sovereignty over the sea and its boundaries demonstrate His absolute authority, which Jesus here exercises over the storm.
Isaiah 43:1-2This prophecy assures God's people that He will be with them through dangerous waters and fire, offering a theological framework for trusting God even in overwhelming circumstances like the disciples faced.
Romans 8:37-39This New Testament passage emphasizes that nothing can separate believers from God's love, providing a profound assurance that echoes the ultimate safety and peace Jesus brought to the disciples, regardless of outward storms.
calvinMatthew 8:23-27: "And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."
- And when he had entered into the ship, [535] his disciples followed him. 24. And, lo, there was a great swell in the sea, so that the ship was covered with the billows: and he was asleep. 25. And his disiples approached and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish. 26. And he saith to them, Why are you timid, O men of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea: and there was a great ca…
barnesMatthew 8:26: "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
Why are ye fearful? - You should have remembered that the Son of God, the Messiah, was on board. You should not have forgotten that he had power to save, and that with him you are safe. So Christians should never fear danger, disease, or death. With Jesus they are safe. No enemy can reach him; and as he is safe, so they shall be also, Jo…
When Jesus asks "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?", he's not just noting their fear but pointing out the contradiction: they've already entrusted themselves to him by getting in the boat. He's highlighting that their fear has overtaken the confidence they implicitly showed by being there with him in the first place.
Jesus and his disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, and during the journey, a fierce storm suddenly broke, threatening to swamp their vessel. While Jesus slept through the initial chaos, the disciples, terrified for their lives, woke him up in desperation. After this confrontation with the storm, the disciples would witness another miracle involving pigs, further revealing Jesus' authority.
Jesus and his disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, and during the journey, a fierce storm suddenly broke, threatening to swamp their vessel. While Jesus slept through the initial chaos, the disciples, terrified for their lives, woke him up in desperation. After this confrontation with the storm, the disciples would witness another miracle involving pigs, further revealing Jesus' authority.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 8:26 is available in the Sola app.
The result of a divine act; in this context, it signifies the restoration of order and peace following the exercise of Jesus' sovereign power over the elements.
Early 1st century AD
Disciples' Astonishment
The disciples were filled with awe and fear, wondering about Jesus' identity as even the winds and sea obeyed him.
"And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." — When Jesus asks "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?", he's not just noting their fear but pointing out the contradiction: they've already entrusted themselves to him by getting in the boat. H…
