The Greek term translated as "little faith" and related terms appear five times in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20). It also appears once in Luke (Luke 12:28; compare James 1:6–7). This term refers to a specific event, not a permanent failure.
In Matthew, "little faith" occurs when Jesus' disciples lack knowledge or act without faith in a certain situation (Matthew 16:8–11). If someone always lacks faith, it is called "unbelief" (see 13:58).
Some examples of "little faith" include:
when the disciples do not understand their worth or God's protection (6:30);
when the disciples do not trust God's protection during danger (8:26; 14:31);
when the disciples misunderstand Jesus' teaching about yeast (16:8); and
when the disciples fail to cast out a demon (17:20).
These are failures in specific situations, not a total lack of faith.
The term faith includes two ideas: trust (personal reliance on the Lord) and belief (acceptance of truths). Matthew's concern with "little faith" is about a follower of Jesus lacking trust in a specific situation, rather than failing to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus wants his followers to not only believe in him but also to trust, love, and obey him (see Matthew 7:21–29; 22:34–40).
Passages for Further Study
Matthew 6:30; 7:21–29; 8:26; 13:58; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20; 22:34–40; Luke 12:28; James 1:6–8