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Explanation for:
Matthew
14
:
25
And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The sea elevated Christ and bore Him upon its waves, thereby indicating the path that the Lord had destined for the apostles in their homeland. In this way, the Scriptures were realized: ‘You rule over the power of the sea, and You tame its currents’ (cf. Psalm 88:10)."},{"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 training of soldiers and guards is divided into three segments of hours. Therefore, when it is stated that the Lord revealed Himself to them during the fourth watch of the night, it indicates that they remained in fear throughout the darkness, and that assistance would arrive in the final moments of the night and at the culmination of time."},{"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":"Along with their deep compassion, the Lord instilled in them a greater desire to be united with Him and to keep Him in their thoughts. This is why He chose not to reveal Himself to them at once; rather, as the evangelist recounts, during the fourth watch of the night, Jesus approached them, walking on the waters. Through this act, He was instructing them not to look for immediate escape from their tribulations but to steadfastly persevere through whatever challenges they may face."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In the midst of their struggles, the disciples found themselves tormented by the fierce winds and turbulent waves, reflecting the chaos of the world and their conflict with unclean spirits. Yet, during the fourth watch, the Lord arrives to once again reach out to the lost and battered church. This fourth watch unveils the fullness of His compassionate care. The first watch represents the era of the law, the second watch signifies the age of the prophets, the third watch marks His incarnation, and now we enter the fourth watch, heralding His return in glorious splendor. However, when He returns, He will discover an exhausted church, beset by the spirit of the Antichrist and the desires of the present age. He will come to those who are inconsolable and suffering. As is typical of those who serve the Antichrist, they will face numerous temptations, and even upon the Lord’s arrival, they may be troubled by misleading visions and distorted images pressing upon their sight. Yet, the gracious Lord will swiftly proclaim, ‘It is I,’ thus dispelling their fears. He will calm their trepidation of imminent disaster through their faith in His arrival."},{"author-name":"Chromatius of Aquileia","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a3df6d7a747a33b4f4a_Chromatius%20of%20Aquileia.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Who else could tread upon the waves but the One who brought the universe into being? It is certainly Him of whom the Holy Spirit had declared through Job long ago, stating, He alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the heights of the sea (Job 9:8). Solomon, speaking on behalf of Wisdom, proclaimed: I have set the tabernacle on high, and my throne in a pillar of cloud; I alone have traversed the circle of heaven, and walked in the depths of the abyss (Sir. 24:4-5). Similarly, David expressed in the Psalms: Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters (Psalm 76:20). Habakkuk affirmed the same truth: When the mountains saw Thee, they trembled, the waters surged; the abyss raised its voice, lifted up its hands on high (Hab. 3:10). What could be more evident than these declarations? They point to the One who walks both on the water and on the earth—the only-begotten Son of God, who, according to the Father's will, spread out the heavens and guided the people through Moses in a pillar of fire.\\n\\nNow, let us explore the significance of the fourth watch when the Lord approaches His disciples, who are caught in the storm. The first watch of the night—representative of this present age—extends from Adam to Noah; the second watch stretches from Noah to Moses, through whom the law was unveiled. The third watch persists from Moses until the arrival of the Lord and Redeemer. Throughout these three watches, the Lord, even prior to His Incarnation, safeguarded His faithful through His vigilant angels, shielding the assembly of the saints from the schemes of the adversary, namely the devil and his angels, who have sought to thwart the salvation of the just since the dawn of creation. In the first watch, protection was granted to Abel, Seth, Enosh, Enoch, Methuselah, and Noah. The second watch saw the safeguarding of Abraham, Melchizedek, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. In the third watch, Moses, Aaron, Joshua ben Nun, and other righteous men and prophets found their protection. The fourth watch signifies the moment the Son of God entered the flesh and embraced suffering, a time when He assures His disciples and His Church of His everlasting presence after the resurrection: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20)."},{"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 did not first reveal Himself to them to calm the tempest, but rather to teach them the importance of enduring hardships with courage rather than hastily seeking their removal. It was during the fourth watch of the night—the period divided into four segments of three hours each by the soldiers on guard—that He manifested Himself. Thus, the Lord came forth after the ninth hour, walking upon the waters in a divine manner."},{"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":"Mark recounts that Jesus observed His disciples struggling during their journey, while John noted they had traveled approximately twenty-five to thirty stadia, which equates to a distance of one hundred fathoms. The ancient night watchmen referred to the final part of the night as its last three hours. Christ permitted His disciples to face peril from the waves until that moment, imparting a lesson on the importance of courage in trials that are divinely allowed, rather than seeking immediate rescue. This experience helped them recognize that the One who rescued them was indeed God, a truth they had not fully grasped before. Following their deliverance, they worshipped Jesus, exclaiming, \\"Truly you are the Son of God.\\""},{"author-name":"Gregorios Palamas","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bfc03f555204c307b7e_Gregorios%20Palamas.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":14,"exegesis-text":"After the ninth hour of the night, it is customary for the night watch to divide the hours into four segments. Thus, the fourth watch begins at the start of the tenth hour. The Lord allowed them to endure the storm for a considerable time to cultivate their patience and strengthen their ability to endure trials. In the fourth watch of the night—beyond the natural order that existed prior to the Mosaic Law and that which is inherent in human conscience (Romans 2), and following the written Law of Moses, as well as the First Advent of the Lord, which ushered in the era of grace—there will undoubtedly be a Second Coming of Christ. This event is aptly compared to the fourth watch of the night, during which the Lord will return to vanquish, dismantle, and subdue all powers and authorities. He must visibly quell the surging waves that rise in opposition to His Church. The term ‘waves,’ stirred by a contrary wind, mystically represents the rulers of this world. In my effort to focus on the core narrative, I shall skip over the events that transpired in between. When Jesus and Peter, who stepped out of the boat to approach Him, boarded the ship, the wind calmed, and after crossing over, they reached the shore."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"The ancient Hebrews segmented the night into three distinct parts, with the change of watchmen marking the beginning of each segment, leading to the nomenclature of first watch, middle watch, and morning watch. However, during the era of Jesus Christ, the night was more commonly divided into four watches, following Greek and Roman traditions. Initially, the Lord allowed His disciples to experience fear and anxiety for a significant duration, as previously noted, to strengthen their faith and patience. Then, during the fourth watch of the night, which corresponds to the tenth hour, He approached them, walking on the sea as if it were solid earth (Lamentations 2:19; Judges 7:19; Exodus 14:24; Mark 13:35. See Zlat. in conversation with Matt.). What a glorious miracle! Moses parted the Red Sea, creating a barrier on both his right and left, allowing the Israelites, who were on foot, to traverse the dry seabed (Exodus 14:21-22). Joshua also caused the Jordan River to part, opening up its depths, enabling the Israelites to cross over (Numbers 3:17). Undoubtedly, these two miracles are remarkable; yet, when we reflect upon the fact that these individuals walked through both the Red Sea and the Jordan River on dry land, our understanding finds some ease. In contrast, the sight of a man walking on the sea presents a miracle beyond comprehension. Did the sea solidify under Him? Was the body of Jesus Christ unaffected by gravity? Did the sea yield to the Lord and His Divine nature, allowing Him to walk contrary to its natural laws? Or did only the tips of Jesus' feet graze the water while His Divine weight was sustained by heavenly power? Truly, the essence of this miracle is profound and incomprehensible, as are many others. It is no wonder that the disciples were filled with fear upon witnessing it."},{"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":"During the fourth watch of the night, after three o'clock in the morning, Jesus approached them, walking on the sea as though it were solid ground. He intended to expedite their salvation, and it appeared as if He sought to pass by them to inspire them to call out and seek His aid."},{"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":"In the fourth watch of the night, the ancient Hebrews organized the night into three segments known as watches, each lasting four hours. The first watch, spanning from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., is referenced in the book of Lamentations (Jeremiah 2:19). The second watch, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., is mentioned in the book of Judges (Judges 7:19), and the third watch, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., can be found in Exodus (Exodus 14:24). However, during the time of the Savior, the Jews adopted a Roman-influenced system that divided the night into four watches lasting three hours each: the first from 6 to 9 p.m., the second from 9 p.m. to midnight, the third from midnight to 3 a.m., and the fourth from 3 to 6 a.m. The term \\"watches\\" likely originated from the military practice of assigning sentry duty in cities and camps during times of warfare, with guards rotating their posts multiple times throughout the night, a tradition that evolved into four changes under Roman customs instituted from the era of Pompey. The Lord approached His disciples during the fourth, or final watch, indicating He had spent most of the night on the mountain in prayer. The act of 'walking on the sea' signifies a clear miracle that transcends the conventional laws of nature."}]}
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