5:20; Luke 8:22-39). Shall we ever do so again? ( Matthew 8:23-27 KJV) William Burkitt New Testament Observe here, 1. The men marvelled.11. for the Savior and the Twelve apostles, the disciples who accompanied LOVE IN ACTION (Matthew 8:1-34) Jesus sing. 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. What other person can speak and have the winds and the waves obey His voice? A double rebuke given by our Saviour. (Note the words gave commandment in Matthew 8:18.) Observe, 4. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. But it gives us also a clue that the storm, although only a storm, is a symptom of something else about nature. Casting-out demons at Gadara. A gracious response.For gracious it wasmost graciousthough in the form of rebuke. Q. Should they not, in any case, wake Him out of His sleep? I told them very specifically to write their work on only one side of the paper. St. Mark and St. The first thing that Jesus did in response to their request was to rebuke their weak faith: O you of little faith, why are you afraid? They were right to ask Jesus to save them--and their request shows that they had faith that He could save them. Upon arrival he casts out two demons. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. It is how we refer to the first three Gospels that have the same basic presentation of the account of Jesus, although with variations. _When he was come down from the mountain, great Christ winnows men. .(2:5-9). 3. Christ could have prevented this storm, and have ordered them a pleasant passage, but that would not have been so much for his glory and the confirmation of their faith as their deliverance was: this storm was for their sakes, as Joh 11:4. A stillness more than the stillness of peace, though doubtless, in their circumstances, that would be blessed and deep. I let my look rest on the desperate situations in my present life, or that of the world, and let this cry well up from the depths of my heart. But that is certainly what I meant, put in other words that the fellow student would understand better (he was not in the habit of listening well). A faith which does not wholly suppress fear may still be most real; and the highest faith has ever the consciousness that unless Christ help, and that speedily, we perish. As that other man we meet in the Gospels, I beseech Jesus, 'Help my little faith, so weak yet so trusting'. Note, They who would learn to pray must go to sea. MATTHEW 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples foll. There is the terror of the disciples and the composure of Jesus who is asleep! Matthew 8:23-27 Theme: This passage teaches seven principles about trusting our sovereign Lord while we're in the midst of the storms of life. study questions religion Note the contrasts here. Matthew begins "And seeing the multitude, he went into a mountain: and SHIP. Christ rebukes his disciples fears; Why are ye fearful? What assurance as well! All this kind of material you can gather from a good dictionary. MATTHEWS *GOSPEL _And when he was entered, &c._] Himself was first in the Where was our faith? STILLING OF THE TEMPEST. Martin Buber I and Thou document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); hermeneutics /hmnjutks/ (n.pl. The language of their fear; they looked upon their case as desperate, and gave up all for lost; they had received a sentence of death within themselves, and this they plead, We perish, if thou dost not save us; look upon us therefore with pity.. 2. Here it simply reports that they went with Him in the boat. Either way, the peril was great. Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, suffered worse crises than any I have The forces of nature respond with a great calm. And now the disciples are astounded, and wonder who they are dealing with, because even wind and waves listen to / pay attention to Jesus. hermneutik (techn) interpretive (art) < hermneuts interpreter], Abraham Joshua Heschel The Sabbath Matthew records in Matthew 13. There is the chaos of the storm and the dead calm which follows after the intervention of Jesus. Of course, in the Old Testament, this is descriptive of the LORD God. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. It is helpful to keep that in the back of your mind. A sudden and What they are being saved to is more time to physically live on earth. When I was four, a tornado went through our subdivision. To them it would doubtless have a different look. Matthew 8:23. Gates of Prayer He is the author of Introducing Biblical Hebrew and Grammar, Holiness to the Lord: A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus, Creation and Blessing: A Guide to the Study and Exposit More, Getting Spiritually Fit 1 ( Corinthians 9:24-27), Steps to Biblical Reconciliation (Luke 17:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21). THE STORMY SEA. (Judges 6:13). Matthew 8:23-27. The disciples application made to him; they awake him with a sad outcry Lord, save us: we perish. (1.) Their prayer has life in it, Lord, save us, we perish. Contrasts. Can we hope ever to get to the other side of this cloud? CHAPTER 8 Ver. Whil MATTHEWNOTE ON MATTHEW 8:1 The Authoritative Power of the Messiah: 1. The gentle remonstrance.There is something very majestic in the tranquillity of our Lords awakening, and, if we follow Matthews order, in His addressing Himself first to the disciples weakness, and letting the storm rage on. Were going to drown! The power and grace of Jesus Christ put forth for their succour: then the Lord Jesus awaked, as one refreshed, Ps 78:65. And sometimes they can summarize a saying by putting it into a question when it was an assertion, or by making it negative when it was positive--they are trying to capture what was said, but capture it in a way their individual audiences would best understand it. construed as sing.) That psalm describes a thunderstorm growing in the Mediterranean Sea and sweeping inland over Lebanon, causing damage to the trees and shaking the hills with an earthquake. It had not been much about, if he had gone by land; but he chose to cross the lake, that he might have occasion to manifest himself the God of the sea as well as of the dry land, and to show that all power is his, both in heaven and in earth. Matthew 5:1, JESUS CALMS THE STORM MATTHEW 8:23-27; MARK 4:35-41; LUKE 8:22-25; But Jesus was sleeping. He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?'" 27 The men were amazed and asked, What kind of man is this? The people who go down to the sea in ships in Psalm 107 sound a lot like the disciples in Matthew: they are afraid in the face of the storm, and they cry out to God in their distress. Were going to drown!. These are times when Jesus seemed asleep. It is the proper thing to do. When the storm came up, He was asleep, but they were in a panic. In Matthews gospel, the story comes near the beginning of Jesuss ministry: after calling some not all of the disciples, and then after the Sermon on the Mount, and then after some dramatic healings of a man with leprosy, of a centurions servant, and of Peters mother-in-law. As had previously been pointed out to the would be disciples, those So when you come upon apparent discrepancies in the narratives (and some interpreters like to exploit these as errors), remember that the writers have a certain amount of freedom to put things in their own words, or to summarize, or to select only parts of the event for their book. and the ship was covered with waves. Christian living In fact, throughout the ancient Near East the sea was the symbol of Sheol, the abyss, the evil enemy. personal mountain gorges, are notor Matthew 8:1. The story can also be looked at from the perspective of contrasts. HIS DISCIPLES FOLLOWED HIM into the ship, and th And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. Jesus comments on the smallness of their faith and calms the storm with a rebuke. The story comes in a series of reports about Jesus authority in various areassickness, demons, death, and sin. ship where they were to suffer. Professed disciples tested. call to worship 23 Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Lord of wind and sea, the one in whom all was created is the one who creates Of the way in which He may be expected to bring them through their trials at last.Viz. There arose a very great storm, Mt 8:24. It is easy to see how these men--some of them seasoned fishermen--would have been terrified in a storm in a boat like that. It is a reminder that Jesus was truly human. Whether He seem to sleep or to be awake, He is Lord of heaven and earth, Ruler and Commander of wind, sea, and land, whom all the creatures must obey.10. He rebuked the disciples (Mt 8:26); Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? As our evangelist is giving a collection of healing incidents, the introduction of Matthew 8:18-22, disciple interviews, and even of Matthew 8:23-27, a nature miracle, needs an explanation. Christ may sleep when his church is in a storm, but he will not outsleep himself: the time, the set time to favour his distressed church, will come, Ps 102:13. For the exposition, see the notes at Mark 4:35. 5-13 Compare Luk_7:1-10. Now. And he said to them, Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?. I have always been frightened by tornadoes. Note, They, and they only, will be found the true disciples of Christ, that are willing to go to sea with him, to follow him into dangers and difficulties. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the It was the sleep of physical exhaustion after a hard days work. Jesus was sleepin _aor. The second section is Jesus rebuke of the disciples and then the calming of the storm. That strange blending of opposites is often repeated by us. Stilling of the waves. prayer, conversation and reading can all enhance and increase our knowledge They who by faith are interested in the eternal salvation wrought out by Christ, may with a humble confidence apply themselves to him for temporal deliverances. Carest Thou not that we perish? Almost Have you no feeling at all for our need? Great indeed must have been the tempest within them to give such utterance to such thoughts. that destroy relationships or make my plight worse. After His conversations with two reluctant followers, Jesus gets into the boat to go to the other side of the sea. Observe, (1.) This passage does not quote from the Old Testament, so we are left to make connections with the themeone who controls the elements of nature by His word. II. Some scholars try to analyze the stories to determine which of these things the disciples really said, and how the report got muddled by one or more of the gospel writers. We might imagine Mom or Dad saying cut it out! to the kids bickering in the back seat of the car. He shares three examples of Jesus miraculously healing people during His ministry in Capernaum. Their petition is, Lord, save us. The first part is the storm on the sea and the disciples words to Jesus. Jesus was tempted, like a man, but rebuked Satan (Matt. 23 Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. We are perishing!. He woke at the moment he was really needed, and calmed the waters. Calming storms on the sea is a divine attribute, most specifically mentioned in Psalm 65:7, Psalm 89:9, and Psalm 107:25-29. Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25 From a So Matthew uses their words to drive home his point that Jesus is truly unique, for He is sovereign over nature. They follow Jesus into the boat (R. V.). Sometimes the powerful word of the Lord is described in very vivid pictures, such as in Revelation as the sharp, two-edged sword that comes out of His mouth and will strike the nations (19:15). INTRODUCTORY WORDS Matthew 8:23-27. One of the best known stories in the Gospels is that of Jesus calming the storm on the lake. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). How came we ever to question His power? When you compare stories in these three gospels, remember that the writers have the freedom to summarize the speeches or to put the sayings in their own words. will experience their sorrows, and show His heart of compas 23-27 It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and personal responsibility It is used usually against things that ought not to be, such as the weak faith of the disciples. Jesus is the savior people need. It could have carried up to 15 men. The boat which He had possibly spoken of previously (Matthew 8:18). A question that may very well have been accompanied by others. All of that is said to be the voice of the LORD (not of Baal, the storm god of Canaan where that storm was situated). But add the speeches and we see that Jesus calmed the storm at their request for help, but before He did it He rebuked them for their weak faith. 23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 2. 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Home COMMENTARY What is the meaning of Matthew 8:23-27? This short sentence is overcharged with pronouns Learn thence, That the presence of Christ itself doth not exempt his disciples and followers from trouble and danger: here is a great tempest about the disciples ears, though Christ was in their company. Third, the more we see the power of the Lord, both in the Bible and in the experiences of believers around us (and in our own lives), the more our confidence will grow. He shows complete trust in the protection of God, whereas the disciples are seen to be of little faith. Though we do not know how many, at least some disciples followed Him. In different multitudes followed him. Was it lack of discernment? 8:18 ), that they should depart to the other side of the sea of Tiberias , into the country of Gadara, in the tribe of Jesus Words. And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. He did not rebuke them for waking Him to ask Him to save them, but for waking Him in fear. When Jesus calmed the storm, then, He was demonstrating that He has the power of heaven at His command. Bible study Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. thinking about the Bible 3. This one truly has authority. of him. When he embarked on the boat, his disciples followed him. Do Those Who Commit Suicide Go To Hell? CHAPTER 8 2 Even if the writers were relying on a separate and earlier source of Jesus sayings and works, as much of modern scholarship assumes, they still had the freedom to put it in their own words to suit their purpose, yet never making it say something Jesus did not say or mean. _Storm on the lake_ (Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). LEADER OF MEN AND RULER OF NATURE (2.) The reason for this is the account of the calling of Matthew is reported in Matthew 9:9, but it would have to have been before these events on and around the sea for the simple reason that Matthew was there. Change). The authority that Jesus has is usually demonstrated by His mighty works, His miracles. The first verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon: the people that heard him were astonished at his doctrine; and the effect was, that when he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him; though he was so strict a Lawgiver, and so faithful a Reprover, they diligently attended him, and were loth to disperse, and go from him. The Winds and the Waves Obey His Will (Matthew 8:23-27) Storms terrify many people. Then, after this Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and they became calm. Many would be content to go the land-way to heaven, that will rather stand still, or go back, than venture upon a dangerous sea; but those that would rest with Christ hereafter must follow him now wherever he leads them, into a ship or into a prison, as well as into a palace. Of the way in which sometimes He brings them into trial.Himself (perhaps) bidding them do that which is contrary to their judgments; Himself allowing their fears and scruples to appear justified for a time; Himself leaving them to do battle with the forces against them, almost in despair. 27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! He shows them and us the reason for overwhelming fear as being the deficiency in our faith. section to matter which resembles that of Mark and Luke, and Being weary, He falls asleep.4. We might remember Matthew emphasizes the way Jesus fulfills scriptural prophecies, and structures the narrative around long teaching passages interspersed with narrative sections, which especially emphasize Jesuss authority. The disciples marvel at the authority of Jesus even the elements obey Him! III. It was. He does not quench the dimly burning wick, but tends it and feeds it with oilby His inward gifts and by His answers to prayertill it burns up clear and smokeless, a faith without fear. disciples, or hired by them for his use, according to the directions With nowhere else to turn, they came to Him and woke Jesus, saying Save us, Lord; we are perishing! Matthew uses the Greek word typically translated save. It is sozo (G4982). Matthew 8:23-27 New International Version Jesus Calms the Storm 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. dat. We are perishing! After this brief chastisement, Jesus, then got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. history. He might truly be a man, but He is also clearly the Son of Man (see Matt. community Here As water filled the hull, Jesus was asleep. he calms us too, maybe not immediately but when we really need him he is And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed [< Gk. Our prayer for deliverance from our troubles will be less and less out of fear and desperation and more out of confidence. Which was got ready by his This sermon offers guidance and solace to fellow storm travelers. REFERRING to Matthew 4:23, we find the work of Christ at the beginning 1. 23. But gradually as we learn more and more in the faith, as the disciples did over several years, we will become bolder and more confident in the Lord (look at the confidence of the disciples in Acts 2-4). Is Divorce And Remarriage After Abuse, Neglect, Financial, Or Emotional Issues Okay. Not the winds only but the waves are silent. The boat which probably to their nautical eyes seemed too small for its work. faith hope and love Here we have a very human characteristic. love As He lay asleep He showed the weakness of manhood; but He woke to manifest the power of indwelling Divinity. And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?(Matthew 6:25-27). hope And behold, there arose a great te And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 2. Matthew 8:24. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. as dative after , the after this *MIRACLES WHEN JESUS HEALED PEOPLE 8:19:38 Home COMMENTARY Lesson from Matthew 8:23-27? On the other hand, as men feeling their need of all the sympathy and help that they could possibly obtain in their awful extremity, there was something like a tone of reproachalmost of complaintnot to say of accusation itselfin their words. This becomes the powerful thrust of the passage to all subsequent believers. This text Matthew 8:23-27 is not in the lectionary, but that doesnt mean this story is one of those things you wouldnt know about the Bible if all you knew were the lectionary. The story as told in Mark is the lectionarys gospel reading for the fourth Sunday after Pentecost year B (that is, in a couple of weeks). They wake Jesus, hoping that He will do something about the storm and save them. Hot air can come up this valley quite suddenly and collide with the cooler air from Mount Hermon in the north of the valley, causing sudden storms on the lake. Hence, the question, Why are you afraid? It is a rhetorical question not meant to be answered, but meant to tell them that since He was there they had nothing to fear. They seem to have needed constant experiences for their faith. The story of casting out demons in the land of the Gadarenes, as told in Luke, is the lectionarys gospel reading for the same Sunday in year C. In other words, the lectionary picks out one of three versions of the story in each case. The peril and perplexity of the disciples in this voyage; and in this appeared the truth of what Christ had just now said, that those who follow him must count upon difficulties, Mt 8:20. The disciplesapparently with some reluctanceenter a ship. It is always good to pay close attention to the exact words of Jesus in a passage. worshipped him,_ 23. thru Ver. Matthew 8:23-27 Resume Prayer Some thoughts on today's scripture Many of us have often found ourselves swamped by huge waves of apathy, terror, doubt, despair, addiction, and Be still! (4:39); and the disciples were terrified (4:41) and asked Who is this? (4:41). Sunday school The prevalence of our inordinate fears in a stormy day is owing to the weakness of our faith, which would be as an anchor to the soul, and would ply the oar of prayer. to go to Decapolis by boat across the Sea of Galilee. are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to Jesus In Matthews gospel, it is also followed by Jesuss calling Levi, and subsequently identifying the twelve. So, in this version, we dont seem meant to assume that Levi/Matthew was in the boat when this happened. The trip across the lake, or sea as it is referred to in our text, is followed by casting out demons in the region of the Gerasenes / Gadarenes, in each of the synoptic gospels. At its deepest it is about 160 feet deep, depending on the fluctuation over the years. But calm and confidence in everything of life. It was in the evening (4:35); Jesus said, Let us pass over to the other side (4:35); there were other boats that went along side (4:36); Jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion (4:38); when Jesus rebuked the storm He said, Peace! What is there lacking except in your faith? But Matthew used a word that means of little faith while Mark says do you still have no faith? Mark did not mean to imply that the disciples had no faith at all--he has already described their following Jesus. And it would have been powered by a sail. Verses 2327 Christ had given sailing orders to his disciples ( Matt. So in the Old Testament God alone has the authority to command and control nature, especially the chaotic element of nature like this huge storm in Psalm 29. There was now as great a stillness in the hearts of those who looked on as there was in the elements round about them. St Mark, as usual, adds some interesting details: it was As our evangelist is giving a collection of heali might be called a dative absolute; if taken beat into the ship He _a ship_ Rather, THE ship or fishing-boat, i. e. the boat which Jesus Is it beyond Him to help us? If so, was my faith weakened or strengthened by having this experience? If we assume every sozo means being saved from hell to heaven, we are liable to misread the Bible. And here Jesus is tired and sleeping, but He has control over nature (Matt. trust in and pray to, who knows what it is to be on the water, an Matthew 8:23 Now G2532 He G846 got G1684 (G5631) into G1519 boat G4143 While Jesus sleeps, a violent storm rages and the disciples are fearing for their lives. best- MATTHEWS GOOD NEWS 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. Matthew mosaic, All Hallows, Allerton, by Rodhullandemu [CC BY-SA] via Wikimedia Commons. Part. He also had faith in His Fathers protection even in the midst of a violent storm upon the sea. I ask God for the grace to face death peacefully, whether it be close at hand or far in the future. 'Why are you afraid, you of little faith?' Matthew's Gospel is the Gospel of the Kingdom, and of the King. He does not find fault with them for being fearful, but for being so fearful as to let their fear cover their faith, just as the waves were doing the boat. Could there, indeed, have been greater love consistent with truth? HEALING OF THE Out on the Sea of Galilee in a boat, Jesus is sleeping soundly. They had been long acquainted with the sea, and never saw a storm so immediately turned into a perfect calm, in all their lives. Verse 23. 4:38. Could they hope, in such a craft, to survive such a storm? We are studying Matthew 8:23-27 for Sunday, June 13. earth; the counterpart of the legislation on Mount Sinai; C Matthew 8:23 abs._ (EGT) . 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. Observe here, 1. tempest arose, Note, Christ will save none but those that are willing to take him for their Lord; for he is a Prince and a Saviour. The faith which Christs disciples had in His Godhead was little in comparison of what they had ground for. As He and his disciples were in a small But the disciples plea Lord, save us, we are perishing! voices Matthews theology, too. They believed he could save them; they begged he would. The disciples were afraid of dying. AND WHEN HE WAS ENTERED INTO. CLOSER READING: In verse 24, the storm that happens is literally a quake the Greek word that gives us our words seismograph and seismic. It is helpful also to get all the facts straight in the event before looking at the point of the story in the passage. that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. _MIRACLE OF THE WIND AND WAVES MATTHEW 8:23-27:_ Jesus had power even 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us! We know not the way of the wind (Joh 3:8), much less can we control it; but he that bringeth forth the wind out of his treasury (Ps 135:7), when it is out, gathers it into his fists, Pr 30:4.