←
Explanation for:
Matthew
8
:
24
And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep.
13
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The fifth miracle He performed occurred when He commanded the winds and the sea as He boarded the boat on His journey from Capernaum. The sixth instance took place in the region of the Gergesenes, where He granted authority to the demons over the herd of swine. In the seventh event, upon entering His city, He restored health to a second paralytic lying on his mat, while the first paralytic was the son of the centurion. The basis for this sign can be found in the book of the prophet Jonah, where, amidst others filled with distress, he exhibited calmness and peace as he slept. When awakened, he utilized his power to rescue those who roused him, showcasing the mystery of his suffering."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Matthew mentions succinctly that Jesus slept, while Luke emphasizes that He rested His head, illustrating His humility and imparting profound wisdom to us."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"This vessel, mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew as being tossed by the waves and in Luke as filled with fish (see Luke 5:6), symbolizes both the early Church experiencing turmoil and its later flourishing, abundant with believers who journey through life. In this boat, Christ remains at rest for His followers; yet, He offers teachings for those who seek Him. He rests for the anxious yet awakens for those who are spiritually mature. You may recall how the prophet spoke of this: I sleep, but my heart is awake (Song of Songs 5:2)."},{"author-name":"Peter Chrysologus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896c8505740d15218d3ed_Peter%20Chrysologus.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The ocean, which initially welcomed Christ's feet with its restless waves, calmed itself, lowering its crests to resemble a flat expanse, restraining its fury, and transforming from a state of chaos into a path as firm as rock. Yet, why did it become tumultuous, striving to thwart its Creator? Why did Christ, who possessed foreknowledge, appear so oblivious to the present circumstances that He did not prepare for the impending storm and peril, and why did He alone remain at rest while He and His followers faced such significant threat? Dear friends, it is not serene conditions, but rather tumultuous storms, that reveal the true skills of a captain. In gentle winds, even the most inexperienced sailor can navigate a vessel, but it takes authentic expertise to manage in the midst of a storm."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The narrative about Christ resting in the boat illustrates this point: when the disciples felt threatened and feared a shipwreck, they approached Him and roused Him from His slumber. Christ then stood up, spoke to the winds and the waves, and there was a profound calm (see Matthew 8:24-26). This mirrors your own experiences. The ‘winds’ represent inner turmoil that sweeps into your heart, the very place where you navigate through life, akin to a turbulent and perilous sea. These winds provoke turmoil, causing the waves to rise and unsettling your vessel. What do these winds symbolize? You may hear a slanderous remark and feel yourself becoming upset. The insult embodies a gust of wind, while your anger manifests as a wave. In such moments, you find yourself endangered, poised to respond in kind, retaliating with harsh words that threaten to capsize your vessel. It is essential to awaken the Christ who dwells within you. Your unrest and inclination to repay evil with evil stem from His being asleep in your boat. The slumber of Christ in your heart signifies a lapse in your faith."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He permits them to encounter peril to equip them for trial, so that when they witness the miracle, their faith may deepen. He rests so that the disciples, in their fear, may become aware of their frailty and seek Him in prayer."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"This individual, referred to as cowardly, is described by Mark as facing a powerful storm and by Luke as a fierce tempest. Both terms reflect a tumultuous situation, as the waters rise and fall violently. Matthew and Mark indicate that the boat was overwhelmed by waves at sea, while Luke refers to it as occurring on a lake. However, there is no contradiction here, as all accounts point to the Lake of Tiberias, which is essentially a lake yet impressive in size, thus sometimes referred to as a sea. This tumult was permitted to humble the disciples’ inflated self-importance, as they felt significant for being the only ones to accompany the Master on the boat while the others stayed behind. It served to challenge them as if they were athletes facing perils, enduring the storms of temptation. Mark mentions the specific spot where He rested, stating that He slept in the stern on a cushioned seat, crafted from wood. His choice to sleep was deliberate; it was meant to instill deep fear in the disciples. Had He been awake, their fear would have diminished, perhaps even not emerged at all. This fear was essential for them to truly recognize His authority and to grow in their faith in Him."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Great commotion\\": such disturbances often arise abruptly on this lake, encircled by mountains and deep gorges; the winds that surge down from the heights create fierce storms, putting the lives of those swimming at great risk. - \\"And He slept\\": in the back of the boat, on a cushion (Mark 4:38). After the day's toil (for it was evening - Mk. 4:35), the Lord surrendered to rest despite the imminent peril, demonstrating to His disciples that even in perilous times, the body can find rest when the conscience is tranquil and unblemished."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"On a dark night in the south, tumult reigned over the waters. Suddenly, a fierce storm, common to this lake encircled by steep mountains, erupted. The danger intensified as the boat rocked violently and filled with water, waves crashing over it. Yet, the Lord, fatigued from His day's toil, rested His head against the leather cushion at the back of the vessel and drifted into a deep slumber. He slept soundly. By His actions, He intended to demonstrate that it is possible to remain completely untroubled during peril, provided one possesses a tranquil and clear conscience. Unlike the prophet Jonah, who succumbed to sleep amidst the storm due to his troubled heart and the heaviness in his spirit, the Savior rested peacefully, free from guilt. Jonah’s presence brought calamity, while Christ’s presence offered hope and assurance of deliverance from danger. However, the disciples failed to recognize this truth. In the tranquil slumber of their Teacher, they encountered a test of their faith, foreshadowing the trials they would face later; for the Lord would often permit them to endure severe hardships, thereby fortifying their spirits. Had the storm arisen while He was awake, they would have been unafraid, not questioning Him or wondering about His miraculous capabilities. Thus, He chose to sleep, allowing them the space to experience their fears, to confront their vulnerabilities, to etch this miracle in their memories forever, and to teach them to be brave amidst adversity. As the boat, likely already in the lake's center, began to take on water and succumb to sinking, the expertise of seasoned fishermen proved of no avail; the faith of the disciples dwindled, prompting them to awaken their Divine Master and Lord."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The exhausted Jesus rested in the back of the boat. A fierce tempest erupted, and the waves crashed against the vessel, causing it to fill with water, yet He remained in deep slumber."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Regardless, the Savior found rest among His faithful disciples in the boat. As they departed from the shore, He reclined His tired head on the leather seat in the stern and sank into a deep slumber, the kind that comes from a soul at complete peace with God and a clear conscience. However, this much-needed rest was soon to be abruptly interrupted by a fierce awakening. A violent storm, typical in the lowlands of this region, suddenly erupted over the lake. Powerful winds spiraled in the atmosphere, and the water churned violently. The peril was immense as the boat was tossed by the choppy waves. Christ, reclining on the open deck at the stern, was sprinkled by the spray, yet He remained asleep undisturbed. His exhaustion was so profound that not even the tempest could rouse Him, and none dared to wake Him just yet."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The challenging day had come to an end, and the Lord, weary from the lengthy dialogue, lay down to rest at the stern, at the front of the vessel. Out of nowhere, a fierce wind surged forth from the ravines of the nearby hills, stirring up turmoil on the lake; the waves crashed against the boat, filling it with water and placing the sailors in grave peril. Through this unforeseen ordeal, the Lord was teaching His closest disciples to rely on His aid and safeguarding presence; hence, as St. John Chrysostom notes, \\"He gave Himself up to sleep, in order to give them time to be frightened and to make them feel what was happening most strongly.\\""},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Mark offers additional details that enrich his narrative, making the vividness of the event more pronounced. He uniquely states that the disciples, having sent the crowd away, took Jesus just as He was in the boat, indicating their hurried departure without preparation for the nighttime journey across the sea. Furthermore, he notes that other boats accompanied them (36); he alone describes Jesus sleeping peacefully in the stern, resting His head (38), and he uniquely shares the very words with which Jesus commanded the winds and the sea to cease (39). In this account, Matthew and Luke present a more aligned perspective with each other. However, Matthew’s sequence of events diverges from that of Mark and Luke: he chronicles that while still reclining, Jesus admonished the disciples for their lack of faith, and thereafter, He stood up to command the sea and the winds (26); by contrast, Mark and Luke depict Jesus as first addressing the sea and the winds (26). In their accounts, after Jesus rises, He brings calm to the sea before chastising the disciples for their weak faith (Mk. 4:39-40; Lk. 8:24-25)."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
