Mark 4:40

KJV

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Why {G5101} are ye {G2075} so {G3779} fearful {G1169}? how is it {G4459} that ye have {G2192} no {G3756} faith {G4102}?

Complete Jewish Bible

He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?"

Berean Standard Bible

“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”

American Standard Version

And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following His dramatic demonstration of power over the elements, Jesus challenges His disciples' profound fear and apparent lack of faith during a life-threatening storm on the Sea of Galilee. His rhetorical questions expose the chasm between their panic and the trust they should have placed in His divine presence and authority, serving as a pivotal lesson on the nature of true faith in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 4:40 concludes the narrative of Jesus calming the storm, which immediately follows a series of parables about the Kingdom of God (the Sower, the Lamp, the Growing Seed, the Mustard Seed). This transition from teaching to a powerful miracle serves to illustrate the reality and power of the Kingdom Jesus proclaims. The disciples' fear and Jesus' subsequent rebuke highlight their initial struggle to grasp His true identity and the implications of His authority, setting the stage for future revelations and tests of faith in Mark's Gospel. The event also foreshadows the disciples' ongoing journey of understanding and their often-slow spiritual growth.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sea of Galilee was notorious for its sudden, violent storms, caused by cold air rushing down from the surrounding hills and colliding with the warm, humid air over the lake. For fishermen like many of the disciples, such a storm would have been a familiar, yet terrifying, occupational hazard. In Jewish thought, control over the sea and its chaotic forces was a hallmark of divine power, often attributed solely to Yahweh (e.g., [Psalm 89:9](/psalms/89-9 "Psalm 89:9 - God's Dominion Over the Sea")). The disciples' terror, despite their experience, underscores the severity of the storm, while Jesus' ability to command it with a word would have been an astonishing display of authority, challenging their preconceived notions of who He was.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes central to Mark's Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the **conflict between fear and faith**, demonstrating how overwhelming fear can reveal a deficit of trust in God's sovereign power, even in the presence of the divine. Secondly, it highlights **Jesus' unparalleled authority and identity**; His ability to command nature unequivocally points to His divine nature, far beyond that of a mere prophet or teacher. The disciples' question in [Mark 4:41](/mark/4-41 "Mark 4:41 - Who Then Is This?")—"Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"—articulates their dawning realization. Finally, the incident serves as a crucial **lesson in discipleship and spiritual growth**, revealing the disciples' initial immaturity in faith and the ongoing need for believers to cultivate unwavering reliance on Christ, especially when facing life's "storms" and uncertainties, as seen throughout their journey with Jesus in [the Gospel of Mark](/mark/1 "The Gospel of Mark").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **fearful (Greek, _deilós'_):** Derived from a root meaning "dread," this term describes someone who is timid or cowardly, often implying a lack of faith. It's not merely a natural human response to danger, but a spiritual condition that contrasts sharply with trust in God. Jesus' use of this word suggests that their fear was not just an emotion, but a manifestation of a deeper spiritual problem—a failure to rely on Him.
* **faith (Greek, _pístis'_):** This word signifies persuasion, credence, or moral conviction, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation. In this context, it refers to the disciples' trust and confidence in Jesus' ability and willingness to protect them. The absence of `pístis` is directly linked to their `deilós` (fearfulness), indicating that true faith should overcome paralyzing fear, even in dire circumstances.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto them,"**: This simple conjunction and statement mark Jesus' direct address to His disciples immediately after He had miraculously calmed the storm. It sets the stage for a profound, personal rebuke and teaching moment, emphasizing His authority not only over nature but also over His followers' spiritual state.
* **"Why are ye so fearful?"**: This is Jesus' first rhetorical question, a direct challenge to the disciples' overwhelming terror. The adverb "so" (G3779, _hoútō_) emphasizes the extreme degree of their fear, implying that their reaction was disproportionate to the reality of His presence and power. Jesus is not merely observing their fear but questioning its source and legitimacy in light of who He is.
* **"how is it that ye have no faith?"**: This second, even more penetrating rhetorical question identifies the root cause of their fear: a profound lack of `pístis` (faith). The phrase "no faith" (G3756, _ou_ + G4102, _pístis_) is a strong negation, indicating a complete absence or severe deficiency of trust. Jesus points out the logical inconsistency of their panic while He, the Lord of creation, was present with them in the boat. This question serves as a powerful indictment and a call to deeper spiritual understanding.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 4:40 is rich in **Rhetorical Questions**, which Jesus uses not to elicit information but to provoke self-reflection and highlight a truth. "Why are ye so fearful?" and "how is it that ye have no faith?" force the disciples (and the reader) to confront the incongruity between their panic and Jesus' divine presence. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** in this passage: Jesus' serene sleep amidst the tempest stands in stark opposition to the disciples' frantic terror, and His calm authority over the storm sharply contrasts with their powerlessness and fear. This contrast underscores His unique identity. Furthermore, the scene employs **Symbolism**, where the violent storm represents the chaotic, unpredictable, and often terrifying challenges of life, while the boat symbolizes the community of believers. Jesus' presence in the boat, even when seemingly inactive, symbolizes His constant presence with His people through all trials.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 4:40 profoundly connects to the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereignty over creation and His people's call to trust Him. The disciples' fear, though human, is portrayed as a failure of faith, a theological deficiency that Jesus directly addresses. This incident reveals that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a radical trust in God's active presence and power, even when circumstances seem dire. It underscores the biblical truth that God is the ultimate controller of chaos, and His presence should dispel the deepest fears. This passage serves as a foundational teaching on the nature of discipleship, emphasizing that following Christ means learning to rest in His authority and care, regardless of the "storms" encountered.

* [Psalm 107:29-30](/psalms/107-29-30 "Psalm 107:29-30 - God Calms the Storms")
* [Matthew 8:26](/matthew/8-26 "Matthew 8:26 - Jesus Rebukes His Disciples' Little Faith")
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - The Necessity of Faith to Please God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 4:40 speaks directly to the human experience of fear and anxiety in the face of life's inevitable "storms"—crises, uncertainties, and overwhelming challenges. Jesus' question to His disciples serves as a timeless challenge to all believers: when fear threatens to engulf us, where is our faith? This verse calls us to examine the root of our anxieties, prompting us to consider whether our fear stems from a lack of trust in God's unwavering presence, His infinite power, or His unfailing promises. Just as Jesus was physically present in the boat with His terrified disciples, He promises His spiritual presence with us through the Holy Spirit, enabling us to face any trial with courage. Cultivating a deeper, unwavering trust in God's sovereignty and care means actively choosing to believe His Word and character, even when circumstances seem dire, knowing that He is always in control and capable of calming any storm, whether literal or metaphorical.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "storms" are you currently facing in your life, and how is your faith being tested in them?**
* **In what specific ways does your fear reveal a lack of trust in God's presence or power?**
* **How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper, more active faith in Jesus when circumstances feel overwhelming?**
* **What promises of God can you cling to when fear tries to take root in your heart?**

### FAQ
**Was it wrong for the disciples to be afraid, given the severity of the storm?**

Answer: While a natural human response to a life-threatening situation is fear, Jesus' rebuke indicates that their fear was excessive and misplaced, revealing a deeper spiritual issue. The problem wasn't merely that they felt fear, but that their fear superseded their faith in Him, who was physically present with them. As the Lord of creation, Jesus' presence should have been a source of peace and assurance, transforming their natural fear into a confident trust in His power to save. His question, "how is it that ye have no faith?", points to the spiritual failure of not trusting in His divine ability and willingness to protect them, even when circumstances seemed dire.

**What kind of faith did Jesus expect from His disciples in this moment?**

Answer: Jesus expected a faith that recognized His unique identity and authority over all creation. Having witnessed His teachings and miracles, the disciples should have understood that His presence in the boat meant ultimate safety. The faith Jesus desired was not a blind optimism, but a deep, abiding trust in His person and power, a conviction that He was fully capable of delivering them, even from the most violent storm. This was a faith that looked beyond the immediate, terrifying circumstances to the sovereign Lord who was with them, demonstrating a reliance on Him that transcended their natural human limitations and fears. This kind of faith is foundational to following Jesus, as He teaches elsewhere about the power of even "mustard seed" faith to move mountains ([Matthew 17:20](/matthew/17-20 "Matthew 17:20 - Faith as a Mustard Seed")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 4:40, while a direct challenge to the disciples' lack of faith, ultimately points to Jesus as the quintessential object and enabler of true faith. His divine authority over the raging storm—a power attributed only to God in the Old Testament—foreshadows His ultimate victory over the chaos of sin and death. The disciples' fear highlights humanity's inherent powerlessness against the forces of a fallen world, a powerlessness that only Christ can overcome. He is the one who not only calms literal storms but also brings peace to the tempest-tossed souls, offering deliverance from the ultimate fear of eternal separation from God ([Romans 8:15](/romans/8-15 "Romans 8:15 - Spirit of Adoption, Not Fear")). Our faith is not in our own ability to weather life's storms, but in the Son of God who has conquered the grave ([1 Corinthians 15:55-57](/1_corinthians/15-55-57 "1 Corinthians 15:55-57 - Victory Over Death Through Christ")) and who promises His abiding presence, even to the end of the age ([Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "Matthew 28:20 - The Great Commission and Jesus' Presence")). Thus, Mark 4:40 beckons us to place our complete trust in Christ, the one who truly has "all authority in heaven and on earth" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - Jesus' Authority")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 8:25

And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Matthew 8:26

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.

Matthew 14:31

And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Matthew 16:8

[Which] when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Isaiah 43:2

When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Matthew 6:30

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?

John 6:19

So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.