Overcoming the Laws of Nature.
Mat 14:22 Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people away.
Mat 14:23 After sending the people away, he went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone;
Mat 14:24 and by this time the boat was far out in the lake, tossed about by the waves, because the wind was blowing against it.
Mat 14:25 Between three and six o'clock in the morning Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water.
Mat 14:26 When they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. "It's a ghost!" they said, and screamed with fear.
Mat 14:27 Jesus spoke to them at once. "Courage!" he said. "It is I. Don't be afraid!"
Mat 14:28 Then Peter spoke up. "Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you."
Mat 14:29 "Come!" answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. "Save me, Lord!" he cried.
Mat 14:31 At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, "What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?"
Mat 14:32 They both got into the boat, and the wind died down.
Mat 14:33 Then the disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus. "Truly you are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.
Introduction
Matthew Mark and John all follow Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand with this account of His walking on the Water. These acts are not simply parables to help us in difficult situations but real incidents in the Life of our Amazing Messiah. Notes from LM.
Mat 14:22 Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people away.
Notes
And immediately Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a boat and to go before Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
To “constrain” usually means to compel. It here means to command. There was no need of compulsion. They were at this time on the east side of the Lake of Gennesareth. He directed them to get into a ship and cross over to the other side; that is, to Capernaum. Mark adds that he sent them to Bethsaida Mar_6:45. Bethsaida was situated at the place where the Jordan empties into the lake on the east side of the river.
The effect of the miracle [of the five loaves and Two small fish] on the multitude was so great Joh_6:14 that they believed him to be that prophet which should come into the world; that is, the Messiah, the king that they had expected, and they were about to take him by force and make him a king, Joh_6:15.Barnes Notes
Mat 14:23 After sending the people away, he went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone;
Notes
He went up into a mountain apart, to pray - He whom God has employed in a work of mercy had need to return, by prayer, as speedily, to his Maker, as he can, lest he should be tempted to value himself on account of that in which he has no merit - for the good that is done upon earth, the Lord doth it alone. Some make this part of our Lord’s conduct emblematic of the spirit and practice of prayer, and observe that the proper dispositions and circumstances for praying well are:
1. Retirement from the world.
2. Elevation of the heart to God.
3. Solitude.
4. The silence and quiet of the night.
It is certain that in this also Christ has left us an example that we should follow his steps. Retirement from the world is often a means of animating, supporting, and spiritualizing prayer. Other society should be shut out, when a soul comes to converse with God.Adam Clark
Mat 14:24 and by this time the boat was far out in the lake, tossed about by the waves, because the wind was blowing against it.
Notes
See the scene the Disciples on the Lake with a Contrary Wind blowing. Jesus was up on a Hill praying to His heavenly Father. They were making little progress in the Night. They must have rowed until they were exhausted.
Mat 14:25 Between three and six o'clock in the morning Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water.
Notes.
Because of His foreknowledge He must have known what He would do in this dangerous situation.
The fourth watch - Anciently the Jews divided the night into three watches, consisting of four hours each. The first watch is mentioned, Lam_2:19 : the second, Jdg_7:19; and the third, Exo_14:24; but a fourth watch is not mentioned in any part of the Old Testament. This division the Romans had introduced in Judea, as also the custom of dividing the day into twelve hours: see Joh_11:9. The first watch began at six o’clock in the evening, and continued till nine; the second began at nine, and continued till twelve; the third began at twelve, and continued till three next morning; and the fourth began at three, and continued till six. It was therefore between the hours of three and six in the morning that Jesus made his appearance to his disciples.
Walking on the sea - Thus suspending the laws of gravitation was a proper manifestation of unlimited power. Jesus did this by his own power; therefore Jesus showed forth his Godhead. In this one miracle we may discover three: -
1. Though at a distance from his disciples, he knew their distress.
2. He found them out on the lake, and probably in the midst of darkness.
3. He walked upon the water.
Adam Clark
Mat 14:26 When they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. "It's a ghost!" they said, and screamed with fear.
Notes
they were terrified. "It's a ghost!" they said, and screamed with fear.
After many hours of labour in the cold and wet of the night to see an apparition coming towards them would have scared them spitless.
They were troubled (etarachthēsan). Much stronger than that. They were literally “terrified” as they saw Jesus walking on the sea.
An apparition (phantasma), or “ghost,” or “spectre” from phantazō and that from phainō. They cried out “from fear” (apo tou phobou) as any one would have done. “A little touch of sailor superstition” (Bruce).RWP
Mat 14:27 Jesus spoke to them at once. "Courage!" he said. "It is I. Don't be afraid!"
Notes
But instantly Jesus spoke to them, and said, "There is no danger; it is I; do not be afraid." WNT
It is I; be not afraid - Nothing but this voice of Christ could, in such circumstances, have given courage and comfort to his disciples: those who are grievously tossed with difficulties and temptations require a similar manifestation of his power and goodness. When he proclaims himself in the soul, all sorrow, and fear, and sin are at an end..AC
Mat 14:28 Then Peter spoke up. "Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you."
Notes
bid me come to you upon the water."
Impulse and regulation
There are two powers working side by side under which Christ has taught us He means every true Christian life shall move forward, undervaluing neither the one nor the other. One of these is the impelling power, impulse. This impulsive part of religious character is indispensable. St. Peter was right in his outset “Bid me come to Thee,” etc. The other is the regulating power. It is this that keeps alive the life that has been awakened, and fulfils the good intentions. Impulses spring up in the region of feeling. Their continuance, regulation, and practical results, depend on the conscience and the will. It is easy to reach the transition point between impulse and principle; some reach it as soon as danger threatens. How shall I turn the ardent impulse of penitent faith into consistent piety? By leaving no good impulse to grow cold or waste in a neglected sentiment, but by embodying it immediately in its corresponding action; in other words, by Christian regulation. Steadfastness will come as you are really planted in Christ. (Bishop Huntingdon.)
Mat 14:29 "Come!" answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus.
Notes:
What an invitation! “Come” answered Jesus. It was alright for Jesus to walk on water but now Jesus invites Peter to do the same. Overcoming the Laws of Nature by the Power of faith in Jesus Word. In the New testament we see Phillip being Transported from the Ethiopian Eunuch to Azotus. We see the prison doors opening for Peter of their own accord as he was lead out by the Angel. We see Paul bitten by a poisonous snake unaffected at Malta. And also Paul raising Eutychus from the dead at Troas. What God does in answer to faith is often contrary to natural Law.
Mat 14:30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. "Save me, Lord!" he cried.
Notes
When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid - It was by faith in the power of Christ he was upheld; when that faith failed, by which the laws of gravitation were suspended, no wonder that those laws returned to their wonted action, and that he began to sink. It was not the violence of the winds, nor the raging of the waves, which endangered his life, but his littleness of faith.A.C
Mat 14:31 At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, "What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?"
Notes
Jesus stretched forth his hand - Every moment we stand in need of Christ: while we stand - we are upheld by his power only; and when we are falling, or have fallen, we can be saved only by his mercy. Let us always take care that we do not consider so much the danger to which we are exposed, as the power of Christ by which we are to be upheld; and then our mountain is likely to stand strong.A.C
Mat 14:32 They both got into the boat, and the wind died down.
Mat 14:33 Then the disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus. "Truly you are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.
Notes
They that were in the ship came and worshipped him. Not only did they approach him with an outward gesture of worship, "but they avowed him, for the first time collectively, to be the Son of God."
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