St Matthew Chapter VIII : Verses 23-27
Contents
- Matt. viii. 23-27 Douay-Rheims text & Latin text (Vulgate).
- Notes on the text
Matt. viii. 23-27
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| He was asleep. J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum. |
Et ascendente eo in naviculam, secuti sunt eum discipuli ejus :
24 And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep.
et ecce motus magnus factus est in mari, ita ut navicula operiretur fluctibus, ipse vero dormiebat.
25 And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish.
Et accesserunt ad eum discipuli ejus, et suscitaverunt eum, dicentes : Domine, salva nos, perimus.
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| He commanded the winds, and the sea, J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum. |
Et dicit eis Jesus : Quid timidi estis, modicæ fidei? Tunc surgens imperavit ventis, et mari, et facta est tranquillitas magna.
27 But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him?
Porro homines mirati sunt, dicentes : Qualis est hic, quia venti et mare obediunt ei?
Notes
23. he entered into the boat. They set out in the boat which Jesus had desired to he kept in readiness, and from which He had been preaching. The disciples seem to have insisted on our Lord’s resting awhile, while they dismissed the multitude.
They steered for the district of Decapolis, east of the Sea of Galilee. This side being more rocky and barren, was not so thickly peopled as the eastern side. “ There is no recess in the eastern hills, no towns along its banks corresponding to those in the plains of Genesareth. Thus the wilder region became a natural refuge from the active life of the western shore ” (Dean Stanley).
his disciples followed him. Cf. And sending away the multitude., they take him even as he was in the ship ; and there were other ships with him (St Mark iv. 36). They set off without making any special preparation. The other ships most likely belonged to some of Christ’s listeners, who had utilized their boats that they might be nearer to Him. If so, these people would have been dismissed, as well as those on the land. In such a busy place, many boats for transports would be at hand. Some of these people, perhaps, crossed the lake with our Saviour.
24. a great tempest arose. It was one of the sudden and violent squalls to which the lake is exposed. As it lies 600 feet below sea-level and is surrounded by mountain gorges, these serve “ like gigantic funnels to draw down the cold winds from the mountains” (Thompson).
he was asleep. Resting in the hinder part of the ship., sleeping upon a pillow, — i.e. upon the steersman’s leathern cushion.
Jesus was wearied with the labours of the day; also He wished to try His disciples’ faith. For another occasion when Jesus experienced fatigue, see St John iv. 6. “ Jesus fell asleep as Man, when He was about to command the wind and waves as God.”
25. they came to him. Because they feared the imminent danger. Note the different petitions of the disciples : —
(a) Lord save us, we perish (St Matt.).
(b) Master, doth it not concern thee that we perish ? (St Mark).
(c) Master, we perish (St Luke).
Naturally all would not use exactly the same words. Their prayer was earnest, but it betrayed a want of faith. The Evangelists do not conceal the defects of our Lord’s followers, and consequently their own shortcomings.
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| OCR not available. Reproduced from source volume. |
Additional Notes
Note. — Many commentators think that the tempest was caused by a special providence of God in order to try the faith of the disciples ; others think it was a natural phenomenon ; but in either case it served our Lord’s purpose equally well.
23. He entered into the boat. Peter’s bark is looked on as a type of the Church. The waves break over her, the winds toss her hither and thither, but Jesus is in the bark, and though often He appears to sleep, heedless of our cries of distress, yet in His own good time He will arise and calm the winds and seas. As long as we are in the bark of Peter we are safe for eternity, but this presupposes a living faith, which is shewn by good works, that are the fruit of the habitual indwelling of God’s grace in the soul; This miracle also teaches a lesson to those who are harassed by temptations. These may be very violent, but so long as we are united to Christ by grace, though at times He may appear not to heed our prayers. He will enable us to resist these temptations and calm the interior tempest if we pray with confidence.
24. He was asleep. Jesus was overcome by fatigue, for He had had a very full day. If we ‘compare the narrations given by the Synoptists, we find that Jesus had —
(a) healed several who were possessed of devils.
(b) disputed with the Scribes and Pharisees.
(c) spoken with His mother and His brethren.
(d) preached from the boat.
(e) spoken with the three who offered to follow Him. (Some commentators place this incident later, in agreement with St Luke’s order.)
26. Ye of little faith. The disciples were not without confidence in Christ; for He Himself credits them with a little faith ; and had they been without faith, they would not have appealed to Jesus, saying, Save us, we perish ! The weakness of their faith is seen by their imagining that they could not be saved while Jesus was sleeping.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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