This is a prayer that will never go unanswered and which echoes through my heart, touching my deepest desires. he had given, Either way, the peril was great. The other changes are small variations of the wording. commonly used for fishing on the lake. Mount Hermon to the north is over 9,000 feet high, and the Dead Sea is about 1250 feet below sea level. Instead, he simply exercised divine authority in daily lifelike when he literally commanded a storm to be still and all of nature hastened to obey him (Matthew 8:23-27). Jesus There was now as great a stillness in the hearts of those who looked on as there was in the elements round about them. It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to trust in, and pray to, who knows what it is to be at sea, and to be in storms there. THE CENTURION'S SERVANT HEALED. The Lord sits upon the floods, and is mightier than the noise of many waters. "Behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea." In our story Jesus must have gotten into the boat in the region of Capernaum, on the north west shore, because He got out of the boat on the other side near Kursi (on the eastern shore about half way down the coast). 1. We accept the chronology of Mark, who explicitly The reason of it; Even the winds and the sea obey him. ship where they were to suffer. They did not want to drown. 8:23-27 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. In a way, their request for Him to save them already had answered who this one was. (1-2) The leper makes his request of Jesus. But God is portrayed as mightier than the raging seas (Ps. For He is not only their teacher: He He emphasizes this point with the exclamation And behold. The glory of the deliverance which Christ doth give to His people in their greatest strait is marvellous and far above all that they can apprehend ere it come. 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. to go to Decapolis by boat across the Sea of Galilee. Image: St. Matthew 8:23-27. Though we do not know how many, at least some disciples followed Him. wisdom Open Matthew 8:23-27. This bark is the Catholic Church. Luke says that one day Jesus said to His disciples, Let us go over to the other side of the lake (8:22); He fell asleep (8:23); and when the storm came up they were in great danger (8:23). It is the basic cry to the Lord for help by a needy people. We might imagine Mom or Dad saying cut it out! to the kids bickering in the back seat of the car. Do we think they huddled, decided on a precise wording to use in their approach to waking Jesus, and then in unison or by representative said their one sentence? him. 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. Calming storms on the sea is a divine attribute, most specifically mentioned in Psalm 65:7, Psalm 89:9, and Psalm 107:25-29. calm and confidence in everything of life. gratitude I. For additional references, see Pss. By faith we might see through the storm to the quiet shore, and encourage ourselves with hope that we shall weather our point. And so their question is What kind of man is this? It too is a rhetorical question, not designed to be answered, but to express the idea that there is no one like this. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 8:23-27 It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to trust in and pray to, He does not chide them for disturbing him with their prayers, but for disturbing themselves with their fears. It is used usually against things that ought not to be, such as the weak faith of the disciples. Observe, 2. 'Why are you afraid, you of little faith?' The writer to the Hebrews quotes from that 8th psalm, and then says, Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him, but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor . (LogOut/ And, behold, there came a leper_ prayer When He did, the wind, the waves, the sea, everything became perfectly calm. Over the next several years they treated and preserved it. 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. Their petition is, Lord, save us. While Jesus sleeps, a violent storm rages and the disciples are fearing for their lives. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! It can do no harm, and, for the present, may blow as it listeth, while He gives the trembling disciples a lesson. We're going to drown!' CHAPTER 8 Ver. This was the Messiah, the one everyone believed would be the Lord of all the earth. He slept at this time, to try the faith of his disciples, whether they could trust him when he seemed to slight them. We do not know if the two men who approached Jesus got into the boat with Him or if they decided to stay. In fact, throughout the ancient Near East the sea was the symbol of Sheol, the abyss, the evil enemy. Is Divorce And Remarriage After Abuse, Neglect, Financial, Or Emotional Issues Okay. Think about it. As that other man we meet in the Gospels, I beseech Jesus, 'Help my little faith, so weak yet so trusting'. 23 Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Matthew 8:2327 demonstrates Jesus' authority over nature. Out on the Sea of Galilee in a boat, Jesus is sleeping soundly. A sudden and violent storm springs up, pouring water into the boat from the waves. The disciples fear for their lives and wake Jesus to ask Him to save them. Were going to drown!. The journey to the other side would have normally taken a couple of hours. part. REFERRING to Matthew 4:23, we find the work of Christ at the beginning When the sayings were particularly important teachings, or teachings that were repeated frequently, then they might put more of the exact phrasing in their gospel reports. Even something like the story of the battle of Deborah against Sisera (Judg. Jonah slept through the storm because his conscience was stupefied; but Christ as a tired child laying its head on its mothers lap. eveningthere were other boats with Hima great storm They came and wakened him. The disciples said all these things and probably more as well. He did not rebuke them for waking Him to ask Him to save them, but for waking Him in fear. Jesus rebuke of the disciples is contrasted with Jesus rebuke of the storm. Note the contrasts here. Christianity 24. One of the best known stories in the Gospels is that of Jesus calming the storm on the lake. MATTHEW 8:1 It is helpful to keep that in the back of your mind. But it was their fear that betrayed the weakness of their faith. 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. Chronologically, though, it has to come later in Jesus ministry, probably in the fall of the second year of his ministry (fall of 31 A.D.). justice Mark, who relied on Peters report, recorded another. at a later point. Choose the speed the daily prayer fades between stages. 24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. Throughout these episodes we see Jesuss power over sickness, His power over a storm, and His power over the spiritual realm. church This is the short episode in Matthews gospel where Jesus stills the storm. [Some questions on the text are here.] Christ and his disciples no sooner put forth to sea, liturgy How effectually it was done? Not the winds only but the waves are silent. Here was faith mixed with human frailty: they had faith in his power, that he could save them; but being asleep, they concluded he must awake before he could save them: whereas though his human nature was asleep, yet his divine nature neither slumbered nor slept. And if we can go into the next story, the disciples question about who this one is will be contrasted with the demons who knew exactly who He is. he calms us too, maybe not immediately but when we really need him he is 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him? of His righteousness; the sublimest code of morals ever proclaimed on He shares three examples of Jesus miraculously healing people during His ministry in Capernaum. (1.) 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. And, lo, there was a great swell in the sea, so that the ship was covered with the billows: and he was asleep.25. And that is certainly true here, for without the speeches we have a storm, the disciples panic, Jesus calming the storm, and the disciples amazement. hope _HILDA BRIGHT_ The first part is the storm on the sea and the disciples words to Jesus. As they cross the sea, a great storm arises and threatens to sink their boat and drown them all. What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him? (Matthew 8:27). Only God has power over the natural forces of the sea. Matthew 8:24. The sea became severely agitated so the 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. The disciples are amazed at this power. Jesus was sleepin _aor. _Storm on the lake_ (Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). LEADER OF MEN AND RULER OF NATURE Here we have a very human characteristic. The ship in which Very striking were its remoter results. WIFE'S MOTHER AND MANY OTHERS. As Matthew is proving with his gospel, this man was God, the One who created the wind and the waves and all things. Jesus calmed the storm to encourage their faith (v. 26). ( after ). We are studying Matthew 8:23-27 for Sunday, June 13. 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 Jesus was accused of having a demon, but He cast out demons (Matt. of him. 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. history. small open row boat, large enough ENTERED INTO A CHAPTER 8 (2.) Then He calls them a name: oligopistoi meaning little faiths. This moniker is translated here as you men of little faith. Very effectual were its first consequences. In this case, what is being saved is the disciples physical lives. (LogOut/ See. In prayer 2. How easily this was done, with a words speaking. 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). In these nature miracles, though, Jesus was demonstrating what God had intended for humans to be. We have already discussed the boat and the storm so that we do not need to reiterate that now. _When the even was come, they brought unto him many that 12). Home COMMENTARY What is the meaning of Matthew 8:23-27? Lord of wind and sea, the one in whom all was created is the one who creates But a rearrangement of the order of the stories by Matthew for rhetorical or theological purposes is not a problem. Being weary, He falls asleep.4. INTO A SHIP - This was on the Sea of Tiberias. 1. And the comforting thing is that even in our fears and terrors, our weak faith, we may cry to the Lord: Lord, if you are willing, save/heal/deliver/protect . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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. And today? Could there, indeed, have been greater love consistent with truth? When I was four, a tornado went through our subdivision. Just from a simple reading of the few verses we would rightly conclude that the account demonstrates Jesus authority over the elements of nature, and, the disciples weak faith for being afraid. ship they were about to be sunk by a storm. The Storm on the Lake. The disciples faith in forsaking all and following Christ, was great faith, but in this present act their faith was week, through the prevalency of their fear. A gracious response.For gracious it wasmost graciousthough in the form of rebuke. Matthew 8:23. Jesus has also given instructions to cross to the other side of the lake, in verse 18. The Yet Ryries Notes Say Otherwise. The posture our Saviour was in when the tempest arose; he being weary on the land, was fallen, asleep in the ship: our blessed Redeemer hereby sheweth himself to be truly and really man; as he took upon him our human nature, so he subjected himself to our human infirmities. The nature of their appeal, when they came to make it, was in full accord with such feelings. Stilling of the waves. when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: And he open DISCIPLESHIP IN TRAINING CHARACTERS: Jesus, leper, centurion Matthew 8:2. The lake is in the famous rift valley, a natural fault line that runs from this region in the north down the Jordan River Valley to the Dead Sea and in fact all the way to Africa. Both Matthew and Mark included Jesus question about their being afraid. Which was got ready by his (Matthew 8:1 .) To them it would doubtless have a different look. The disciples wonder at what kind of a man this was could ultimately be answered only by an understanding of the incarnation, God with us. Our Lord, of set purpose, will lead His disciples into dangers, for the stirring up and trial of their faith, and for evidencing His own glory.2. A sudden and violent storm springs up, pouring water into the boat IV. The storm was so great that the boat was being covered with the waves. Christ had given sailing orders to his disciples (Mt 8:18), that they should depart to the other side of the sea of Tiberias, into the country of Gadara, in the tribe of Gad, which lay east of Jordan; thither he would go to rescue a poor creature that was possessed with a legion of devils, though he foresaw how he should be affronted there. 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. alone makes the disciples (some of them skilled boatm II. 5:20; Luke 8:22-39). 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. Learn hence, That the most raging winds and outrageous seas cannot stand before the rebukes of Christ; if once he rebukes them, their rage is down; God lays a law upon the most lawless creatures, even when they seem to act the most lawlessly. And yet despite this miraculous calming of the storm those disciples could at times still be as faith-less as they had been in that boat beforehand. Christ winnows men. Christ reproved them first, and then delivered them; this is his method, to prepare us for a mercy, and then to give it us. This one truly has authority. thinking about the Bible Dr Ross joined the faculty of Beeson Divinity School in 2002 as Beeson Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew. He was the Messiah, the King of Heaven and Earth. AND WHEN HE WAS ENTERED INTO A SHIP, HIS DISCIPLES FOLLOWED 2. One day in teaching class I was instructing students about the form of their homework assignment. He would be accepted by the nations, as is the case in the book of Great multitudes often count for nothing; it is here or ther Matthew 8:1. What they are being saved from is physical death, by drowning. Jesus questions the disciples fear, calls them little faiths same word as last week and then rebukes or warns the wind and the waves. The poor disciples, though used to the sea, were in a great fright, and in their fear came to their Master, Mt 8:25. THE LEPER CLEANSED. When you pray you are not alone. The two narratives that follow are brought together in all three In a storm, whether of the sea or of my own emotions, the urgent often pushes The story is placed here in chapter 8 no doubt to be a part of this demonstration of Jesus authority. A double rebuke given by our Saviour. So Matthew uses their words to drive home his point that Jesus is truly unique, for He is sovereign over nature. As we will see, the men in the boat didnt fully catch on to who Jesus was until after He rose from the dead. The effect of Jesus powerful command was to calm the storm on the sea, but also to calm their fears. He shows them and us the reason for overwhelming fear as being the deficiency in our faith. Note, Christ is a Nonesuch; every thing in him is admirable: none so wise, so mighty, so amiable, as he. 23. See his absolute dominion over all the creatures, which bespeaks both his honour, and the happiness of those that have him on their side. Have there been occasions in my own life when I invoked the Lords help and he restored peace and calm to my troubled waters? On the way He quiets a terrible storm. Of course not. This sermon offers guidance and solace to fellow storm travelers. Second, our faith may be expressed in our prayers to Him, Lord, save us from any of the dangers and troubles of life that we face. 8). He was likely tired from the long day of preaching, dealing with the crowds, healing, and casting out demons. The use of the word rebuke is interesting and deserves some study. Christ had given sailing orders to his disciples (Mt 8:18), that they should depart to the other side of the sea of Tiberias, into the Those that can lay their heads upon the pillow of a clear conscience, may sleep quietly and sweetly in a storm (Ps 4:8), as Peter, Ac 12:6. He delays His help that He may try our faith and quicken our prayers. But that is a stilted bookish view and totally unrealistic. books They are not contradictory statements; they are not discrepancies. Church. 2. II. Observe here, 1. Matthew 8:23. We have already noted how the speeches give us the meaning of the flow of the story. Because people are perishing in spiritual chaos. When next the waters seem about to close over me, can I remember to cry out to the Lord, in the certainty that my cry will be heard? But as is often the case in the gospels, words like this are retained in the Christian community with added meaning. On the one hand, as natural to men who did not know how many moments they had to live, it was exceedingly brief and abrupt. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. [1.] The fifth chapter of What about me? His G846 disciples G3101 followed And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him.' out his material haphazardly. . Matthew 8:23-27 New International Version Jesus Calms the Storm 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 1. Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. . of life. (Note the words gave commandment in Matthew 8:18.) He rebukes the wind; the former he did as the God of grace, and the Sovereign of the heart, who can do what he pleases in us; this he did as the God of nature, the Sovereign of the world, who can do what he pleases for us. (Matthew 8:23-27 KJV). He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?'" Observe, 4. Matthew begins "And seeing the multitude, he went into a mountain: and Jesus power over all nature is referred to at the very beginning of the Book of Hebrews, for it begins by reminding us that Jesus is sustaining all things by His powerful (spoken) word (1:3). It is interesting to note that here Jesus answered their prayer/plea and calmed the storm even though they had little faith. Any turning to Him in prayer is an act of faith. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! First, it should help us to build our faith, our confidence in Christ. A words speaking a different look the peril was great of man is this, even. 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