What does 'little faith' mean in Matthew 14:31, and is that too harsh to teach kids?

Jesus uses the phrase 'little faith' several times in Matthew, and it consistently describes disciples who trust him in part but let circumstances crowd out that trust. It is a diagnosis, not a condemnation. For older elementary students especially, it opens a genuinely useful conversation about the difference between no faith and shaky faith, and about how Jesus responds to both with patience rather than rejection.

Why did Jesus send the disciples into the storm alone if he knew it was coming?

The text does not give an explicit reason, but the pattern fits what we see throughout the Gospels: Jesus allows his disciples to face real difficulty so that when he shows up, they come to know him more deeply. By the end of the passage the disciples arrive at worship, saying 'You are truly the Son of God.' The storm becomes the setting for one of the clearest confessions of faith in Matthew's Gospel. Teachers can frame this honestly for upper elementary students without overpromising easy answers about why hard things happen.

Is this a good passage to teach kids about prayer, since Jesus goes off to pray?

It is worth mentioning with upper elementary students, since the detail that Jesus went up the mountain alone to pray is not throwaway background information. It shows that even in the midst of miraculous ministry, Jesus prioritized time alone with the Father. For younger children it may be a secondary thread rather than the main focus, but it is a natural, passage-grounded way to invite any age group to see prayer as something Jesus himself practiced.

Matthew 14:22-33 Sunday School Lesson for Kids

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!””
— Matthew 14:22-33

Scripture: World English Bible (Public Domain).

Big Idea

Even when our faith feels small and we start to sink, Jesus reaches out and catches us.

Opening Hook

Ask the class: 'Has anything ever scared you so much that your heart started pounding?' Give a few kids a chance to share briefly, then let them know that one of Jesus's closest friends had a moment exactly like that.

Teaching Points

The disciples were alone in the middle of the sea at night with a strong wind battering the boat. They had been waiting a long time, and then they saw something that terrified them even more.
Peter asked Jesus to call him out on the water, and Jesus said one word: 'Come.' Peter actually stepped out of the boat and walked, but when he shifted his focus to the wind, he started to sink.
The moment Peter cried out 'Lord, save me!' Jesus immediately grabbed his hand. The lesson for the class: the rescue came the instant Peter called, and that matters.

See also:Hebrews 11:1 — another lesson about faith→

Discussion Questions

Why do you think Peter started sinking after he was already walking on the water?
Have you ever started something brave and then got scared partway through? What happened?
What does it tell us about Jesus that he grabbed Peter's hand right away?

Sample Slide Titles

Alone in the StormA Ghost? No, It's Jesus!Peter Steps Out of the BoatSinking FastJesus Reaches Out His Hand

Sample Word Search Terms

FAITHSTORMPETERWAVESAFRAIDBOATJESUSWIND

Application & Send-Off

Challenge students this week to notice one moment when fear tries to take over, and to remember Peter's story and cry out to Jesus just like he did.

Bible Context

Matthew 14:22-33 comes immediately after the feeding of the five thousand, placing it in a section of Matthew's Gospel where Jesus's identity and authority are being revealed in rapid succession. Matthew, writing to a largely Jewish audience, presents this account with an echo of Old Testament passages where God alone is described as walking on the sea, making Peter's worship response in verse 33 theologically significant rather than merely emotional. The passage takes place on the Sea of Galilee, a lake known for sudden and violent storms, which grounds the disciples' fear in a very real physical danger.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The key is to keep the focus on what Jesus does immediately: he stretches out his hand and catches Peter before he goes under. For younger children especially, the takeaway is not that Peter messed up but that Jesus was right there the moment Peter called out. The rescue is instant and complete, and that's the part worth dwelling on.