ESTUDIO DEL VERSÍCULO
Matthew 8:26 — Faith and the Great Calm
Jesus rebukes both fearful little faith and the storm, bringing immediate calm.
Escritura
- 26.El les dijo: ¿Por qué teméis, hombres de poca fe? Entonces, levantándose, reprendió a los vientos y al mar; y se hizo grande bonanza.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.
Qué significa este pasaje
The passage joins Jesus’ question to his action. After the disciples awaken him with the cry, Save, Lord; we perish, he addresses their fear as little faith, then arises and rebukes the winds and the sea. The result is a great calm.
The sequence shows that Jesus’ word is effective even over the threatening natural forces described in the scene. His rebuke is not merely an instruction to the disciples; it is a command directed at the storm, and the sea immediately becomes calm.
The verse therefore presents faith in terms of trust amid danger, while displaying Jesus’ authority. The disciples’ fear is real, but it does not prevent Jesus from acting. The following verse makes the response explicit: the men marvel that even the winds and the sea obey him.
Contexto
Matthew 8 presents several displays of Jesus’ authority, including cleansing a leper, healing the centurion’s servant, driving out demons, and healing the sick. The storm account follows Jesus’ command to depart to the other side and the disciples’ decision to follow him in a boat.
The disciples’ fear stands between a perceived threat and Jesus’ demonstrated authority. After the great calm, the men marvel at the one to whom the winds and sea obey, before the account moves to the other side and an encounter with demon-possessed men.
Preguntas frecuentes
Why does Jesus call the disciples people of little faith?
They have followed Jesus, yet in the storm they respond with fear and the cry that they are perishing. Jesus connects their fear to the weakness of their faith, then shows his authority by calming the sea.
What does the great calm demonstrate?
The great calm demonstrates that Jesus’ command reaches the winds and the sea. The immediately calm sea confirms the effectiveness of his rebuke, and the following verse highlights the disciples’ marvel at his authority.
Does the passage say that the disciples had no faith at all?
No. Jesus calls them people of little faith, not faithless. The wording acknowledges a deficiency in their trust while also showing that their fear does not prevent Jesus from rescuing the situation through his command.