Matthew 8:26 kjv
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.
Matthew 8:26 nkjv
But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26 niv
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Matthew 8:26 esv
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.
Matthew 8:26 nlt
Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
Matthew 8 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 6:30 | If that is how God clothes the grass... how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith? | Jesus challenges anxiety due to 'little faith' regarding provisions, mirroring this verse's theme. |
| Mt 14:31 | Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" | Jesus uses "little faith" to address Peter's doubt when walking on water, connecting doubt and fear. |
| Mt 16:8 | Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?" | Another instance of Jesus calling disciples 'little faith' when they worry about physical needs. |
| Mk 4:39 | He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. | Parallel account of Jesus calming the storm, highlighting His direct command and immediate result. |
| Lk 8:24-25 | "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm... "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. | Parallel account emphasizing Jesus' question about their faith. |
| Ps 89:9 | You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. | Old Testament affirmation of God's sovereignty over the sea and storms, paralleling Christ's power. |
| Ps 107:29 | He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. | Poetic description of God calming storms, underscoring the divine power Jesus demonstrates. |
| Job 38:8-11 | Or who shut up the sea with doors when it burst forth from the womb... "This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt"? | God's absolute authority over the boundaries and power of the sea established in the Old Testament. |
| Nahum 1:4 | He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. | Prophetic illustration of God's destructive and creative power over nature, including rebuking the sea. |
| Jn 1:3 | Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. | Christ's role in creation foundational to His power demonstrated here. |
| Col 1:16 | For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things have been created through him and for him. | Reiterates Christ's ultimate authority and creative power over all things, including nature. |
| Heb 1:3 | The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, upholding all things by his powerful word. | Christ's sustaining power over the cosmos by His word, exemplified by calming the storm. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen... | The visible creation reveals God's power, confirmed by Christ's control over it. |
| Ps 46:1-3 | God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way... though its waters roar and foam... | Encouragement to trust God in face of natural calamities, contrasting the disciples' fear. |
| Isa 41:10 | So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you... | Prophetic comfort against fear, applicable to trusting Christ's presence amidst crisis. |
| 1 Pet 5:7 | Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. | An exhortation to relinquish fear and worry, resonating with Jesus' call to faith. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. | Instructions to overcome anxiety through faith and prayer, a remedy for the disciples' fear. |
| Job 40:8-10 | Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s? Can your voice thunder like his? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor... | God's rhetorical challenge to Job about divine power, contrasting with human limitation and highlighting Christ's divine power. |
| Isa 51:15 | For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD Almighty is his name. | God's name, "LORD Almighty," denotes His absolute power over the sea, linking to Christ's demonstration. |
| Mt 8:27 | The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" | The disciples' astonishment highlights the extraordinary nature of Jesus' action. |
| Jn 14:1 | "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." | Jesus directly commands against troubled hearts and fear, reinforcing the need for faith in Him. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. | Defines the necessity of faith, the very thing the disciples lacked. |
Matthew 8 verses
Matthew 8 26 Meaning
Matthew 8:26 encapsulates a profound moment of divine revelation and a crucial lesson on faith for the disciples. After being awakened amidst a life-threatening storm, Jesus directly confronts the disciples' lack of trust, labeling them as "you of little faith" and questioning their fear. Immediately thereafter, He demonstrates unparalleled authority over creation by simply rebuking the fierce winds and waves, resulting in an instantaneous and complete calm. The verse thus reveals Jesus' sovereign power over the natural world, His awareness of and challenge to human fear, and His desire for unwavering faith in His divine presence.
Matthew 8 26 Context
Matthew chapter 8 initiates a section of the Gospel focusing on Jesus' demonstration of His divine authority through powerful miracles. Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus descends from the mountain and begins performing various acts of healing and deliverance. Before this storm incident, Jesus heals a leper, the centurion's servant, and Peter's mother-in-law, and casts out demons. These acts establish His authority over sickness, evil spirits, and distance. The calming of the storm marks a critical escalation in the demonstration of His power, extending His dominion over the fundamental forces of nature. The Sea of Galilee was notoriously prone to sudden, violent storms due to its location, surrounded by hills that channeled strong winds. The disciples, many of whom were seasoned fishermen, were genuinely terrified, believing their lives were in peril. Jesus' deep sleep in the stern despite the tempest further underscores His serene trust in His Father, serving as a silent rebuke even before He verbalizes one.
Matthew 8 26 Word analysis
He replied (Ἀποκριθείς - apokritheis): A calm, composed response, not panicked or hurried, even when abruptly awakened from deep sleep amidst a life-threatening storm. This calmness itself speaks volumes about His state of being.
"You of little faith" (Ὀλιγόπιστοι - oligopistoi): This term, unique to Matthew's Gospel in its use as a direct address by Jesus (elsewhere Mt 6:30, 14:31, 16:8; Lk 12:28 parallel to Mt 6:30), signifies not an absence of faith, but insufficient or underdeveloped faith. It indicates a spiritual immaturity or wavering trust in moments of crisis, despite witnessing His previous miracles.
"why are you so afraid?" (τί δειλοί ἐστε - ti deiloi este?): The word δειλοὶ (deiloi) translates as fearful, timid, or even cowardly, not merely "scared" (φοβούμενοι - phoboumenoi). It suggests a fear that incapacitates and overrides trust in God's presence and power. Jesus connects this deep fear directly to their "little faith," implying that genuine faith overcomes such crippling apprehension.
Then he got up (Τότε ἐγερθείς - tote egertheis): Signifies a deliberate action. His rising is a display of authority, preparing to command the forces of nature, indicating His sovereignty and direct intention to intervene.
and rebuked (ἐπετίμησεν - epetimēsen): This is a powerful and significant verb. It is used in the Gospels for authoritative commands to silence demons (Mk 1:25), silence fever (Lk 4:39), or address human opposition (Mt 16:22 for Peter). Here, it demonstrates Jesus treating the chaotic forces of nature as if they were sentient beings subject to His will, highlighting His divine, supreme authority.
the winds and the waves: These represent uncontrollable, chaotic natural forces. By directly addressing both, Jesus asserts comprehensive dominion over all aspects of the storm.
and it was completely calm (καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη - kai egeneto galēnē megalē): This phrase emphasizes the instantaneous and absolute transformation from extreme tempest to profound peace. The term γαλήνη (galēnē) means calm or tranquility, and μεγάλη (megalē) signifies its magnitude and completeness. The immediate cessation, rather than a gradual dying down, signals a supernatural intervention.
"You of little faith, why are you so afraid?": This phrase links an internal spiritual state (lack of faith) directly to an outward emotional response (fear). It's a fundamental theological principle: fear is often an indicator of insufficient trust in God's power or presence in our lives. Jesus doesn't rebuke their fear in isolation but traces it back to its root.
"rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm": This entire clause is a clear demonstration of Jesus' absolute and unique authority over creation. It sets Him apart from mere men or even prophets; no other figure in Scripture (except God Himself, in the Old Testament) exhibits such direct, effortless, and instantaneous control over the very fabric of the natural world. It underscores His divine identity as the Creator's Son.
Matthew 8 26 Bonus section
This incident challenges prevalent ancient worldviews, where natural forces like storms were often attributed to capricious gods, chaotic elemental spirits, or uncontrollable cosmic forces. Jesus' effortless rebuke and the immediate, total cessation of the storm stood in direct contrast to such beliefs, firmly asserting the monotheistic and omnipotent power of God, made manifest in Jesus. It implies that the Creator Himself is present and active, bringing divine order to natural chaos. Furthermore, Jesus' ability to sleep through such a tempest speaks to His perfect peace and unwavering trust in the Father's plan, serving as a powerful counter-example to the disciples' panic and a call to emulate His profound reliance on God, even while humanly exhausted.
Matthew 8 26 Commentary
Matthew 8:26 offers a pivotal insight into the person and power of Jesus Christ. Faced with the disciples' paralyzing fear and their frantic cry for help, Jesus first addresses their spiritual condition: a "little faith" that gave way to abject terror. This isn't merely a casual observation but a corrective teaching, demonstrating that true faith in His presence should dispel overwhelming fear even in life's most threatening storms. He then instantly backs this spiritual lesson with an undeniable display of His divine authority, rebuking the chaotic elements of nature with the same power He used to cast out demons or heal sickness. The resultant perfect calm serves as irrefutable evidence that He is not just a prophet or a teacher, but the Sovereign Lord who governs all creation. The storm became a classroom for the disciples, teaching them not only who Jesus is but also what kind of faith He expects – one that anchors itself in His omnipotent presence, irrespective of terrifying circumstances. This event urges us to move beyond superficial faith, embracing a deeper trust that truly calms our fears by recognizing Jesus' supreme command over every storm in our lives.