Matthew 14:22-27

Sep 13, 2011 06:00 AM v27 Done.

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-22.htm" >22</a> And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

Guzman

<ul>

<li>Jesus felt it was important for He and His followers to leave the area quickly. Perhaps this was to avoid the multitudes clinging to Him as a potential source of constant bread. Therefore, Jesus compelled (made) the disciples get into the boat.</li>

<li>Actually, there were several reasons why Jesus did this. He did this because He wanted to be alone to pray; because He wanted to escape the crowd and get some rest; and because He wanted the crowd to disperse so as to avoid a messianic uproar (John 6:15).</li>

<li>John 6:14-15 tells us that the crowd responded to the miraculous feeding with a rush of messianic expectation. If the disciples shared this enthusiasm – perhaps sensing that now was the time to openly promote Jesus as Messiah the King – then it was more important than ever for Jesus to get the disciples away from the excited crowd.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>The effect of the miracle on the multitude was so great <a href="http://bible.cc/john/6-14.htm" >John 6:14</a> 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, <a href="http://bible.cc/john/6-15.htm" >John 6:15</a>.</li>

<li>To avoid this, Jesus got away from them as privately as possible. He went into a solitary mountain alone. In view of the temptation - when human honors were offered to him and almost forced upon him - he retired for private prayer; an example for all who are tempted with human honors and applause.</li>

<li>Nothing is better to keep the mind humble and unambitious than to seek some lonely place; to shut out the world with all its honors; to realize that the great God, before whom all creatures and all honors sink to nothing, is round about us; and to ask him to keep us from pride and vainglory.</li>

</ul>

Gills

<ul>

<li>

and knowing also, that his disciples had imbibed the same notion of a temporal kingdom, were very fond of it, and big with expectation thereof; and would have readily encouraged the populace, and joined with them in such an action: wherefore, in all haste, he hurried them away, obliged them to depart, lest any step should be taken, which might be of dangerous consequence to them, and the people: it looks as if the disciples were bent upon the same thing, and that it was with much difficulty and reluctance they were brought off of it. Christ was forced to use his power and authority; and order them directly

to get into a ship; very likely, the same they came over in;

</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://vws.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm" >Vincent's Word Studies</a>

<ul>

<li>Constrained - Implying the disciples' reluctance to leave him behind.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://mhc.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>But even appearances of deliverance sometimes occasion trouble and perplexity to God's people, from mistakes about Christ.</li>

<li>Nothing ought to affright those that have Christ near them, and know he is theirs; not death itself.</li>

<li>Christ bade Peter come, not only that he might walk upon the water, and so know his Lord's power, but that he might know his own weakness.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-23.htm" >23</a>And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>And when he had sent the multitudes away,.... Had ordered them at least to go away; for, it seems, according to <a href="http://bible.cc/john/6-22.htm" >John 6:22</a> that they did not in general disperse: there was a large body of them that continued upon the spot all night, expecting his return; in which being disappointed, they took shipping, and came to Capernaum.</li>

<li>His going up into a mountain and praying there, were quite contrary to the canons of the Jews; which forbid praying in places ever so little raised.</li>

<li>he was there alone; in the mountain, where he continued the greatest part of the night, even until the fourth watch.</li>

</ul>

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary.

<ul>

<li>Those are not Christ's followers that do not care for being alone; that cannot enjoy themselves in solitude, when they have none else to converse with, none else to enjoy, but God and their own hearts.</li>

<li>Observe, When the disciples went to sea, their Master went to prayer; when Peter was to be sifted as wheat, Christ prayed for him.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-24.htm" >24</a>But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>John says they had sailed about 25 or 30 furlongs. About 7 1/2 Jewish furlongs made a mile; so that the distance they had salted was not more than about 4 miles.</li>

<li>At no place is the Sea of Tiberias much more than 10 miles in breadth, so that they were literally in the midst of the sea.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>Tossed with waves - Grievously agitated. This is the proper meaning of the word βασανιζομενον: but one MS. reads βαπτιζομενον, plunged under the waves, frequently covered with them; the waves often breaking over the vessel.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>and what was worst of all, and most discouraging to the disciples, Christ was not with them.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary.</a>

<ul>

<li>Note, It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to meet with storms in the way of their duty, and to be sent to sea then when their Master foresees a storm; but let them not take it unkindly; what he does they know not now, but they shall know hereafter, that Christ designs hereby to manifest himself with the more wonderful grace to them and for them.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-25.htm" >25</a>And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Guzic:</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >In the fourth watch of the night: This was somewhere between 3 and 6 a.m. According to the Gospel of Mark (Mark 6:47-52), Jesus came to the disciples when the boat was in the middle of the sea and after they had exhausted themselves rowing against the waves and windy storm.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >The Jews anciently divided the night into three parts of four hours each, usually called watches. The first of these watches is mentioned in <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/lamentations/2-19.htm" >Lamentations 2:19</a>, the middle watch in<a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/judges/7-19.htm" >Judges 7:19</a>, and the morning watch in <a href="http://bible.cc/exodus/14-24.htm" >Exodus 14:24</a>.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >In the time of our Saviour they divided the night into four watches, the fourth having been introduced by the Romans. These watches consisted of three hours each.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >The first was called evening; the second midnight; the third cock-crowing; the fourth morning,<a href="http://bible.cc/mark/13-35.htm" >Mark 13:35</a>.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >It is probable that the term watch was given to each of these divisions from the practice of placing sentinels around the camp in time of war, or in cities, to watch or guard the camp or city; and that they were at first relieved three times in the night, but under the Romans four times.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >Walking on the sea - A manifest and wonderful miracle. It was a boisterous sea. It was in a dark night. The little boat was 4 or 5 miles from the shore, tossed by the billows.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >a fourth watch is not mentioned in any part of the Old Testament.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >This division the Romans had introduced in Judea, as also the custom of dividing the day into twelve hours: see <a href="http://bible.cc/john/11-9.htm" >John 11:9</a>.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >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.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >In this one miracle we may discover three: -

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >1. Though at a distance from his disciples, he knew their distress.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >2. He found them out on the lake, and probably in the midst of darkness.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >3. He walked upon the water.</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >[My note - Did Jesus walk the whole distance out to them?]</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >Job, speaking of those things whereby the omnipotence of God was demonstrated, says particularly, <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/job/9-8.htm" >Job 9:8</a>, He walketh upon the waves of the sea: intimating that this was impossible to any thing but Omnipotence.</li>

</ul>

Matthew Henry

<ul>

<li class="MsoNormal" >It was in the morning-watch that the Lord appeared for Israel in the Red sea (Ex. 14:24), so was this. </li>

<li class="MsoNormal" >He that made the waters of the sea a wall for the redeemed of the Lord (Isa. 51:10), here makes them a walk for the Redeemer himself, who, as Lord of all, appears with one foot on the sea and the other on dry land, Rev. 10:2. </li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-26.htm" >26</a>And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>It was a common belief among the ancients that the spirits of people after death frequently appeared to the living.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>

The Jews, especially the sect of the Pharisees, had a notion, from whom the disciples might have their's, of spirits, apparitions, and demons, being to be seen in the night; hence that rule (u),

"it is forbidden a man to salute his friend in the night, for we are careful, lest , "it should be a demon".''

</li>

<li>They say a great many things of one "Lilith", that has its name from "the night", a she demon, that used to appear in the night, with an human face, and carry off young children, and kill them. Some such frightful notions had possessed the minds of the disciples:</li>

<li>add to all this, that the fear of the disciples might be increased, through a vulgar notion among seafaring men, that such sights are ominous, and portend evil to sailors; and they might the more easily be induced to give credit to this, and fear, since they were already in such imminent danger.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li>A spirit. An apparition, an unreal appearance of a real person. The Greek word phantasma is not that unusually rendered spirit. He would appear to them at first like a dark, moving speck upon the waters, then as a human figure; but in the dark, tempestuous sky, and not dreaming that it could be their Lord, they take it for a spirit, pneuma (Lu 24:37).</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/14-27.htm" >27</a>But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Guzic:

<ul>

<li>There are two good reasons to put away fear. One reason may be that the problem is not nearly as bad as one had thought; perhaps you are afraid because you exaggerate the danger. The other reason is that even though the problem may be real, there is an even great solution and help at hand.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>But straightway Jesus spake unto them,.... Directly, the very moment, as soon as ever they cried out, and he perceived the consternation they were in, as one truly affected towards them, and concerned for their welfare; he called out aloud unto them, not coming with any intention to fright them, but to save them;</li>

<li>Christ may be sometimes near his people, and they not know him; as the Lord was in the place where Jacob was, and he knew it not, <a href="http://bible.cc/genesis/28-16.htm" >Genesis 28:16</a> and as Christ was standing by Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, and she took him to be the gardener:</li>

<li>and for want of a distinct knowledge of Christ in his person, offices, and grace, persons have wrong apprehensions of him, and are filled with dread and fears, concluding they have no interest in him; that he is a Saviour, but not of them; that their sins are so many, and of such a die, and attended with such aggravating circumstances, that though he is able to save them, he never can be willing to receive such vile sinners as they are:</li>

<li>but when Christ makes himself known unto them, as the able and willing Saviour, and their Saviour and Redeemer, then, instead of dreading him as a judge, their fears vanish, their faith increases, and they are ready to do anything he shall order them;</li>

<li>as Peter says in the next verse, who was willing to come to Christ on the water, when he knew who he was, if he was but pleased to bid him come.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/14.htm">People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li>14:27 It is I. Literally, I am. The same language used by Jesus in Jerusalem (Joh 8:58), for which the Pharisees would have stoned him, and in the Old Testament to designate Jehovah (Ex 3:14). Here I should prefer to give it this meaning: Christ says not merely, It is I, your Friend and Master; he says, at least implies, it is the I AM, who is coming to you, the Almighty One who rules wind and waves, who made them, and whom they obey.</li>

<li>Be not afraid. How often has he to speak this word of encouragement, even to his own! almost always when they are brought suddenly, or in an unusual way, face to face with him. See Ge 15:1 21:17 Jud 6:23 Mt 28:5 Lu 2:10.</li>

</ul>