Matthew 8:18

THE TEMPEST STILLED. -- Matthew 8:18-27.

GOLDEN TEXT. -- Why are ye fearful,. ye of little faith. -- Matthew 8:26. TIME. --Either A. D. 27 or 28. PLACE. --Sea of Galilee and the coasts thereof. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 4:37-41; Luke 9:57-62; Luke 8:22-25; John 6:15-21. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. Following Christ; 2. The Stormy Sea; 3. The Tempest stilled.

INTRODUCTION.

Matthew inserts this group here; Mark (4:35) and Luke (8:22) at. later point. We accept the chronology of Mark, who says that the Lord crossed over the sea on the evening of the day that the parable of the sower was delivered. The events of this day were recorded more fully than those of any other of the ministry in Galilee. The order of Matthew is probably owing to his desire to group together important miracles.-- Schaff.

It had been. busy day; our Lord had first healed. demoniac (Matthew 12:22), then encountered the accusation of his family (Mark 3:20-21); afterwards the accusation of the Pharisees (Mark 3:22-30. more fully in Matthew 12:24-45), when his mother and brethren sought him (Mark 3:31-35; Matthew 12:46-50); then after some discourses narrated by Luke only (ch. 11:37-12:59), departing to the seaside, had given the long discourse, parts of which are recorded in Mark. and Matt. 13, then encountered half-hearted followers (Matthew 8:16-22), and in the evening crossed the lake. After such exhausting labors it is not strange that he fell asleep, even amid the storm.-- Schaff.

I. FOLLOWING CHRIST.

18. Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him.

The multitudes had gathered to listen to his teaching, or to behold his miracles. See verses 16, 17. They were eager and excited, and when evening came (Mark 4:35) the Lord was weary with the busy labors of the day and directed his disciples to carry him to the other side of the sea that he might escape the throng and be at rest. The sea was only six miles wide and the Savior often crossed it in order to secure retirement. There is no recess in the eastern hills; no towns along its banks corresponding to those in the plain of Gennesareth. Thus this wilder region became. natural refuge from the active life of the western shores.-- Stanley's Sinai and Palestine.