A review of the statements about faith by Jesus in the Gospels reveals an interesting contrast. To those He healed, the statements made about faith were a commendation for the faith exhibited by the person or persons being healed or the faith exhibited by those advocating for those needing to be healed. By contrast, many pronouncements by Jesus to his disciples and followers contained a statement regarding the “little faith” exhibited by these individuals.

In Hebrews 11:6, the writer makes the statement “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

How do we acquire the level of faith pleasing to God? Paul, writing in Romans 10:17, says “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 14:23 also indicates “…whatever is not from faith is sin.”

We may do well to review the verses below to see what Jesus had to say about true faith.

Faith Statements of Jesus to those He healed:

1.Centurion - "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
2.Paralytic - And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."
3.Bleeding woman - "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well."
4.Two blind men - "It shall be done to you according to your faith."
5.Demon possessed daughter - "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
6.Blind Bartimaeus - "Go; your faith has made you well."
7.Sinful woman who anointed Jesus feet - “Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
8.One of ten lepers - "Stand up and go; your faith [has saved you] has made you well."
9.Blind beggar - "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."

Faith Statements of Jesus to his disciples and followers:

1.Matthew 6:30(preceded by statements to store treasures in heaven and not to worry) "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
2.Matthew 8:26 (disciples in boat in storm) He said to them, "Why are you afraid, m you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
3.Matthew 14:31 (Jesus walks on water, Peter’s attempt) - Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
4.Matthew 16:8 (disciples) But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?
5.Matthew 17:20 (disciples could not heal boy with demon) And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
6.Matthew 21:21 (withered fig) And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.
7.Mark 4:40 (Jesus calms storm) - And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
8.Luke 12:28 (Jesus addressing his disciples) - "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!
9.Luke 17:5-6 (apostles) - The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.
10.Luke 18:8 (parable of the persistent widow) "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
11.Luke 22:32 (Jesus remarks to Simon before Simon betrayed Jesus) – “…but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Scripture quotations from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation