“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?”
The full verse · Matthew 6:30 · KJV
, the of the , which to , to is the , shall he clothe , O ye of little ?
Asked to
Disciples: "his disciples" (Matthew 5:1), the followers who came to Jesus on the mountain with the multitudes nearby, not limited in the text to the twelve, who are first named in Matthew 10:1-2; Jesus calls them "O ye of little faith" as He speaks of God clothing "the grass of the field" (Matthew 6:30).
The Scene
Jesus has just told His hearers that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like a lily of the field (Matthew 6:28-29).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus asked this to draw the conclusion His pictures have been building toward. The grass lives "to day" and "to morrow is cast into the oven," yet God dresses it in beauty. If He does that for something so short-lived, He will do much more for His children. The closing words, "O ye of little faith," name the real problem: worry shows weak trust. Gill describes such people as those "who distrust the providence of God, with respect to food and raiment." Matthew Henry says our anxiety "is owing to the weakness of our faith, and the remains of unbelief in us."
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe answer is yes: He will much more clothe you. Jesus draws the lesson at once: "Therefore take no thought" (Matthew 6:31), because "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:32). The cure He offers for little faith is a new first priority: "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"O ye of little faith" is one Greek word, oligopistoi, which Thayer defines as "of little faith, trusting too little." Matthew uses it again for the disciples in a storm (Matthew 8:26), for Peter sinking in the waves (Matthew 14:31), and for the disciples reasoning among themselves about bread (Matthew 16:8). Luke uses it in his parallel account (Luke 12:28).
The "oven" (klibanos) shows how cheap the grass was. Gill explains, "For furnaces used to be heated with straw and stubble, and such like things, as were gathered out of the fields." Gill also quotes a Jewish saying of Rabbi Eliezer the Great: "whoever has a morsel in his basket, and says, what shall I eat tomorrow? is no other than . . . one of those of little faith."
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question is a gentle rebuke wrapped in a promise. Jesus does not call His hearers faithless; He calls them "of little faith," and in the same breath assures them that God will "much more" clothe them. Matthew Henry finds comfort here: "Sound believers shall be provided for, though they be not strong believers."
The same words follow the disciples through Matthew. When the storm rose, Jesus called them "of little faith" and then calmed the sea (Matthew 8:26). When Peter began to sink, "immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him" before saying, "O thou of little faith" (Matthew 14:31). Each time, His rebuke comes together with His help.
Look Closer
What does Jesus mean by calling His hearers "of little faith"?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Father, You clothe grass that lasts only a day; where is my faith small right now, and how are You inviting me to trust You there?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- What tends to shrink your trust in God: circumstances, comparison, or something else? Why?
- Share a time when your faith felt small but God was still faithful.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
If your faith feels small, take heart. Jesus did not send away people of little faith. He taught them, reasoned with them, and promised them the Father's care. Faith grows as you look at how God already provides, in creation and in your own story.
When anxiety rises, follow the logic of the verse: God takes care of what lasts a day, so how much more will He care for you? Then turn your attention where Jesus does, to His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
This does not mean every anxious feeling proves you have no faith. Jesus called His own disciples "of little faith" and kept walking with them, even reaching out His hand to Peter (Matthew 14:31).
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“How much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
“And why take ye thought for raiment?”
“What shall we eat? What shall we drink? Wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
“Are ye not much better than they?”