Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 14:31

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

Peter by saying, if it be thou, shewed that his Faith was not so strong, as it should have been, after he had heard his Masters Voice, by his saying to him, bid me come unto thee on the Water, he sheweth a something stronger Faith, and a Resolution to obey his Command, but his fear afterward, when the Wind began to rise higher; and he began to Sink, argued again the infirmity of his Faith. Thus Peter is a Pattern of the best believers, who tho they may sometimes think, that they could trust God in any State, or Condition, yet often mistake their own Hearts, and begin to shrink in an Hour of great Extremity, which lets us see what need we have to Pray, That God would not lead us by his Providence into great Temptations, much more to take heed, that we do not throw our selves into them. No Man knows how he shall find his Heart, under a great Temptation, until he hath tryed it. It therefore gives us a caution as against Condemning others, so against Boasting, and too much Confidence as to our selves, and lets us see how much need we have, to keep our Eye upon Christ, and his strength in such an hour. And immediately Iesus stretched out his Hand. God is never far off from his People, when extream troubles are hard at Hand, Christ saveth Peter, but not without a Check. O thou of little Faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Doubting is directly contrary to Faith, yet it will not conclude a Soul to have no Faith, only a little Faith.