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What does it mean to have "little faith" (Matthew 17:14-21)?

What does it mean to have
Redemption The Bible New Testament

TL;DR:

“Little faith” isn’t no faith—it’s a shaky faith that trusts one's own strength more than God’s power. Jesus’ point is simple: even mustard-seed faith can move mountains when it’s placed in the God who does the impossible.

what does the bible say?

“Little faith” does not describe unbelief but a genuine yet wavering faith that struggles to trust God when circumstances seem impossible (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 6:30; Matthew 8:26). Matthew 17:14–21 is a specific example in which the disciples’ “little faith” resulted in their being unable to cast out a demon.  Throughout the Gospels, the disciples repeatedly believed Jesus yet often became fearful and uncertain when confronted with difficulties beyond their own abilities (Matthew 16:8). In each instance, they were not disbelieving Jesus, but their faith wavered. This is what Jesus meant by “little faith.” In Matthew 17:20, Jesus encouraged them to stop having “little faith” by redirecting it toward God, who alone can accomplish the impossible. They were not to have faith in their natural abilities, which were hampering them, but in God's ability to accomplish all things. His illustration of a mustard seed teaches that even small faith can produce extraordinary results when its object is God's power (Matthew 17:20). Note that when Jesus said that a small faith would move mountains (Matthew 17:20b), He did not mean that one who is mighty in faith can do whatever he or she wants. Rather, He was showing that even small faith, when directed to God rather than self, can result in great things because it is God, not the one having faith, that does the great things. This principle echoes the Old Testament, where victories through Moses, Gideon, and David came not from human ability but from God's intervention (Exodus 14:13–14; Judges 7:2; 1 Samuel 17:45–47). Like the disciples, we can also vacillate in our own faith when we trust in ourselves. We must return our attention to God, who alone is able to do the impossible, and anchor our confidence in His character, promises, and power rather than our own strength (Mark 9:24; Psalm 18:2).

from the old testament

  • The Old Testament regularly shows that it was God, not God’s people, who accomplished good things. Whether it was Moses and the Exodus (Exodus 14:13–14), Gideon as judge (Judges 7:2), or David overcoming Saul and his enemies (1 Samuel 17:45–47), all were said to have been done because God was the one doing them. This sets the background for Jesus’ comment about not having “little faith” in contrast with a small faith that can move mountains.

from the new testament

  • Matthew 17:14–21 recounts a time when a father brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples to have it cast out. However, they failed to do so, and so Jesus needed to intervene and cast it out. Afterward, the disciples asked, “Why could we not cast it out?” (Matthew 17:19), to which Jesus said, “Because of your little faith” (Matthew 17:20a).
  • This was not the only time in the book of Matthew that Jesus is recorded as saying His disciples had “little faith.” Other examples include Matthew 6:30, 8:26, and 16:8. In no case was Jesus saying they lacked saving faith. Rather, He was saying that their genuine faith was weak and struggling. They would believe, but then, when faced with something difficult, they would vacillate and become frightened. This is the definition of having “little faith.”
  • Jesus contrasted that with having a rightly directed, small faith. He added, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20b). His correction was not that they needed to have giant faith, but that they had a misplaced faith. When the seemingly impossible came before them, they retreated because they knew they could not solve the problem. Jesus taught them to place their faith in God, who could do the impossible. Thus, the answer to “little faith” is not “strong faith,” but “faith in God rather than self.”
  • Note that some misunderstand Matthew 17:20b to teach that, with the right faith, one can do whatever they want. But Jesus’ point was that when one has the right faith in God, one will trust that He can do whatever He wants.

implications for today

“Little faith” happens when you believe God is real but still default to your own strength the moment things feel overwhelming. The disciples weren’t faithless; they were misdirected, trusting what they could do instead of who God is, which is why Jesus rebuked them by telling them they have little faith and corrected them by shifting their focus back to God’s power (Matthew 17:19–21; Mark 9:24).

That same pattern shows up today when anxiety drives decisions, when prayer feels like a last resort, or when you assume the outcome depends mostly on your effort. Jesus’ answer isn’t to shame small faith or to demand stronger self-confidence but to re-anchor even the smallest faith in the right object: God, who can “move mountains” and act where human ability ends (Matthew 17:20; Psalm 18:2). In practice, this looks like turning to Him first and consciously shifting from “What can I do?” to “What can God do?”

It also means learning to treat uncertainty as a signal to pray, not panic. When faith feels shaky, the goal isn’t to manufacture spiritual intensity but to return to simple trust: God is able, God is present, and God is not limited by what limits you. As we do this, our faith will become firm because God is our Rock (Psalm 18:2).

understand

  • "Little faith" refers to a vacillating, struggling faith—the disciples believed but often retreated when faced with something beyond their ability.
  • "Little faith" is problematic because it relies on own abilities rather than on God.
  • The mountain-moving statement is a focus on God, not the believer, who does the work.

reflect

  • In what situations do you find yourself struggling with your faith or trusting in your own ability instead of in God?
  • How does knowing who God is help you trust in Him with prayer, difficult circumstances, and situations that feel humanly impossible?
  • How are you encouraged or challenged by the truth that what matters is who you trust in not how much faith you have?

engage

  • What does the disciples' repeated pattern of little faith reveal about the nature of faith as a gift that must be actively cultivated?
  • How does the biblical pattern of God accomplishing great things through weak and unlikely instruments, such as Moses, Gideon, and David encourage you?
  • How can we help others understand the difference between "little faith" and “strong faith,” both in what it means and what it looks like?

More Resources

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