The way we speak is a difficult thing.
Words meant to encourage can end up hurting someone.
Words spoken gently, with the intention of guiding, can somehow leave behind irritation instead.
Did Jesus Christ ever have such bitter experiences?
His harsh denunciations of hypocritical people are well known.
(Matthew 23:27–28)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Of course, words like these provoked hostility. Those who hated Jesus eventually put him to death on a stake.
But what I want to think about here is not Jesus’ words toward his enemies.
Rather, I want to reflect on the way he spoke to those who were drawn to him—especially to the disciples who walked with him day after day.
There is an intriguing phrase, one that was never spoken to his opponents:
“You of little faith.”
What tone did Jesus use when he said this?
This phrase appears five times in Scripture. I will quote them all.
(Matthew 6:30–31)
“…If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”
(Matthew 8:24–27)
“…And behold, a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us; we are perishing!’ 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. And the men were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’”
(Matthew 14:29–31)
“…He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”
(Matthew 16:5–9)
“…When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, ‘We brought no bread.’ But Jesus, aware of this, said, ‘O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet understand…?’”
(Luke 12:28–29)
“…But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.”
The first and fifth passages may well have been spoken in similar circumstances.
What is clear from the context is this: Jesus addressed his close disciples with the words, “you of little faith.” And they were not spoken harshly, nor hurled at them coldly.
Those who heard these words likely felt gently corrected—lovingly reminded to trust more deeply. There is no doubt that the tone was entirely different from the sharp, uncompromising words spoken to his opponents.
Consider, for example, the moment when these words were spoken to Peter personally.
Peter steps out boldly onto the stormy lake. But partway across, fear overtakes him, and he begins to sink.
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
I can say this with confidence: Peter never forgot those words for the rest of his life. Nor did he forget the strength and feel of the hand that grasped his arm.
I cannot say it with certainty, but perhaps, in the final moment of Peter’s martyrdom as an old man, these words echoed once more in his mind. And perhaps he whispered with quiet pride, “Lord, this time, I did not give in to doubt.”
Jesus Christ, who is called the Word, was truly a master of words.
His brief, perfectly timed phrases leave a deep impression and linger long in the memory of those who hear them.
All the more so when his words are spoken in affection to those he loves. Even when they take the form of gentle irony—indeed, precisely because they do—they are etched into the hearts of his beloved disciples as unforgettable lessons.
Ah, Lord. Speak also to me.
Say to me, too: “You of little faith.”
I look forward to your comments.
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