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Explanation for:
Matthew
14
:
33
And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God.
12
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{"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":"At a certain command from the Lord, there was a calm that followed the chaos of a fierce tempest—a stillness that sailors often experience after a storm. In that moment, the seafarers acknowledged Him as the true Son of God, while Arius continues to teach in the Church that He is merely a created being."},{"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":"It was once asked, ‘Who is this man that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’ However, the perspective has shifted. Those aboard the vessels, as noted by the evangelist, approached Him in worship, proclaiming, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God’ (v. 33). Observe how the Lord progressively elevated the understanding of all. Because He walked upon the waters, instructed another to do likewise, and rescued him from peril, the faith of the disciples grew significantly. Previously, He had commanded the sea; now He reveals His might in a new and supreme manner. Thus, they declared, \\"You are indeed the Son of God.\\" Did He discourage such declarations? On the contrary, He affirmed their words by healing those who came to Him with even greater authority than before."},{"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":"Arius, who challenges the divinity of Christ's origin from the Father, is refuted by the proclamation made aboard the vessel: ‘they that were in the boat came up to the Lord, and began to worship Him, and said, Verily Thou art the Son of God.’ This aligns with the scripture that states, ‘the waters saw Thee and were afraid, and ... the abysses were troubled, and Thy footsteps are not revealed’ (cf. Psalm 76:17, 20). Through these declarations, the apostles acknowledged that He is indeed the Son of God to whom these truths refer."},{"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":"The Lord's entrance into the boat during the tempest and His dominion over the winds illustrate that our Redeemer, after the trials of persecution have subsided, will return in the end times to His disciples and His Church. This is why He appointed Saint Peter as the foremost among the Apostles and entrusted him with the care of His flock, commanding him, ‘Shepherd My sheep’ (John 21:17). When the apostles, akin to those aboard a vessel, witnessed the brilliance of the Lord's resurrection, they proclaimed to humanity, in reverence for our Lord and Saviour, that He is indeed the Son of God."},{"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":"Having come to recognize Jesus, they acknowledge His Divinity. Walking upon the sea is an act not characteristic of humanity, but of the Divine, as David declares, \\"Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters\\" (Psalm 76:20). The ship serves as a representation of the world, the tumult signifies the turmoil of life influenced by malevolent spirits, and the night symbolizes ignorance. \\"In the fourth watch,\\" which refers to the closing of the ages, Christ manifested Himself. The first watch encompasses the covenant established with Abraham, the second encompasses the Law given through Moses, the third relates to the prophets, while the fourth marks the arrival of the Lord. He delivered those who were in distress when He came to dwell among us, enabling us to recognize Him as God and to offer Him our worship. It is also worth noting that Peter's experiences in the sea prefigured his denial, followed by his conversion and repentance. Just as he boldly declared, \\"I will not deny Thee,\\" there he also implored, \\"Command me to come to Thee by water.\\" While the Lord allowed him to momentarily deny, here He granted permission for him to begin to sink; yet it was here that the Lord reached out to save him from drowning, and through repentance, He lifted him from the depths of his denial."},{"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":"The magnitude of the miracle enhanced their faith, for it is a greater wonder to traverse the waters than merely to command them. Not only did He walk on the sea, but He also enabled another to do so during a tempest that agitated the waters intensely. This evangelist notes that all acknowledged Christ as the Son of God; however, Mark (Mark 6:51-52) indicates that they were astonished but failed to comprehend fully. He states, “And they were greatly astonished and wondered. They did not understand about the bread, for their hearts were hardened.” This indicates that the disciples were profoundly surprised by Christ's human ability to perform such wonders, while they ought to have revered Him as the Almighty God. To illustrate their lack of recognition even after the miracle of the five loaves, he mentioned, “They do not understand the bread.” He also pointed out the reason for their confusion, stating, \\"Their heart was petrified.\\" However, it is clear that as soon as Jesus entered the boat, what Mark described occurred; subsequently, when the disciples’ hearts became softened, Matthew’s account came to be. It is important to understand that at times, the disciples’ hearts grew hard, preventing comprehension, while at other times, softness of heart allowed them to grasp the truth. Both scenarios unfolded according to the divine wisdom of God. Thus, when we find ourselves overwhelmed by the waves of temptation, we too can call upon Jesus, who will immediately extend His hand and rescue us."},{"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":"‘But those who were in the boats,’ as recorded by the Evangelist, “came and worshipped Him, saying, Verily thou art the Son of God”; for indeed, even at the time of Christ's Second Coming: ‘At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in the heavens and things on the earth and things under the earth: and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (Phil. 2:10, 11). Moving beyond the symbolic comparison, let’s recall the essence of our discussion: temptations serve as a benefit not only to individuals with unwavering faith, like Job, Peter, and Paul, but also refine the less perfect. In this instance, it was not just Peter or the other Disciples, who themselves were not fully perfected at that time, but all those aboard the boat who experienced a profound enhancement in their faith through the trial they endured, leading them to honor Jesus and proclaim to Him, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ It is fitting to reflect upon the Apostle we mentioned earlier, who stated, ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life’ (James 1:12). I do not wish, beloved, for you to be unaware that there exists a dual nature of temptation; however, I will refrain from discussing this right now. I will merely note that temptations arise from both joy and sorrow, health and sickness, glory and shame, wealth and poverty; yet the most perilous are those stemming from pleasure, health, glory, and riches—this much is true. But for now, what do I want you to grasp? Pay heed, for this great James, known as the Lord’s brother by lineage due to the Virgin Mother’s betrothal to Joseph, by divine design, speaks: ‘Rejoice when ye fall into diverse temptations’; and: ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life’. As if someone were to raise the concern, ‘But, there are individuals who, when faced with temptation, utter blasphemies; others sink into utter despair; some even take their own lives; and if temptations arise from earthly and carnal desires, these yield passions and lusts; some have succumbed to murder, while others have indulged in immoral acts; how then are these temptations considered from God and agents of crowns?’ To respond to such inquiries, the Apostle articulates, ‘Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man’ (v. 13). Here, ‘temptation’ clearly refers to evil and sin, and to falling into it, concerning which Christ remained untainted, despite experiencing temptation: ‘In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted’ (Heb. 2:18). Even after His baptism in the Jordan, He ascended to the mountain to face temptation, as the Gospel recounts (Matt. 4:1); hence, ‘temptations’ encompass both the external trials of the flesh that beset humanity and the direct assaults of the enemy, though they remain unsuccessful against Him. ‘Temptations’ also manifest as sins, by which each individual is led astray, as James points out: “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed; for lust, when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (1:14). What manner of death?—Eternal separation from God, resulting from sin, which ultimately leads to physical death from Adam until the end of the age; thereafter, for those unrepentant, will come eternal torment of both soul and body, justly condemned to that which can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. This is the temptation we must flee from, beloved, for it is within our means to escape it. We ought to grieve when we find ourselves ensnared by it. If we genuinely mourn it, we can achieve true repentance that leads to salvation. My purpose here is to help rid you of this harmful type of temptation, which inflicts injury not just in the temporal realm but in the eternal. Our Lord Jesus Christ, by whose grace we serve as ministers, is the High Priest of eternal, not fleeting, blessings and by His blood He has indeed entered the Holy of Holies, securing our eternal redemption. This eternal redemption was our goal, guiding us to focus on spiritual, not merely physical, confrontations; for our weapons are not carnal, as the Apostle teaches, but divinely empowered to dismantle strongholds, not of fleshly nature, but those erected against us by spiritual adversaries. Yet, it seems you do not grasp or seek deliverance from these spiritual temptations. Instead, you often lament those trials that should bring us joy as they serve our eternal liberation. Conversely, I perceive you seek my compassion to free you from earthly hardships, though in truth, I hold lesser regard for these temporal woes. If we mourn our sins more earnestly than we do the tribulations of this life, not only shall we be saved and redeemed eternally, but we will also be liberated from temporal trials. For why has our existence become burdened with pain and endurance, rife with struggles and afflictions?—Is it not the result of our transgression of divine commandments that has drawn us into forbidden temptations, namely, sin? If we now cleanse ourselves of all iniquity through genuine repentance, we will encounter lighter trials and in due time shall enter into a state of rest and tranquility. Embracing this salvific mindset, let us focus not on earthly hardships but on spiritual wounds, which are the true temptations deserving of sorrow, that we may proclaim to God as He has instructed us: ‘Lead us not into temptation’—a temptation we must shun altogether—‘but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen."},{"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":"Why is it that when Jesus Christ commanded ‘the wind and the sea,’ and there followed ‘great silence,’ those who witnessed this miracle could only express their astonishment and ask, ‘Who is this, that the winds and the sea will listen to him?’ (Matthew 8:26-27) Rather than acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Son of God, those who beheld the miracle later came to Him, recognized Him as the Son of God, and worshipped Him, proclaiming with certainty that He is, in fact, the Son of God. This miracle transcends human understanding. While the wind and the sea can be subdued and calmed once a storm has passed, the act of walking on the sea by Jesus Christ and Peter, at Jesus’ command, represents a deed far beyond human comprehension. From this, the disciples realized that Jesus Christ is indeed the One foretold by the prophet David: ‘Thy ways are in the sea, and Thy paths in the waters of many waters’ (Psalm 76:20) – they understood that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. Subsequently, Jesus and His disciples crossed the sea and arrived at the region of Gennesaret."},{"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":"“Indeed, you are the Son of God”: this refers to the Anointed One, the unique Son of God made flesh (cf. Matt. 16:16). The astounding multiplication of the loaves, His miraculous walking on water, and the silencing of the storm led the disciples to boldly affirm their belief in Him as the Messiah."},{"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":"The apostles and those with them in the boat approached Him with great awe, knelt before Him, and proclaimed, \\"Truly You are the Messiah, the incarnate Son of God.\\""},{"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":"The bewildered disciple, accompanied by his Lord, stepped into the boat; the tempest swiftly ceased, guiding them toward the illuminated shore, where they reached the dock designated for their arrival. All present, including the followers and the sailors, were increasingly filled with awe, and some called out to Him using the designation that Nathanael had previously reserved, proclaiming, \\"Truly Thou art the Son of God!\\""},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Those present in the vessel were astounded by this miraculous event and bowed down in reverence to the Lord, declaring, ‘Truly you are the Son of God!’ They acknowledged His divinity, for it is unnatural for a human to tread upon the waves, yet this is within God's power. In an instant, the boat reached the shores of Gennesaret, located to the south of Capernaum."}]}
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