Matthew 14:28

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. For the exposition, see the notes at John 6:15....

28._And Peter answering. _The condition which he lays down shows that his faith was not yet fully settled. _If it is thou, says he, bid me come to thee on the water. _But he had heard Christ speak. Why then does he still argue with himself under doubt and perplexity? While his faith is so small and weak, a wish not well considered bursts into a flame. He ought rather to have judged of himself according to his capacity, and to have supplicated from Christ an increase of faith, that by its guidance and direction he might walk over seas and mountains. But now, without the wings of faith, he desires to fly at will; and though the voice of Christ has not its due weight in his heart, he desires that the waters should be firm under his feet. And yet there is no room to doubt that this longing sprung from a good principle; but as it degenerates into a faulty excess, it cannot be applauded as goo...

22-33 Those are not Christ's followers who cannot enjoy being alone with God and their own hearts. It is good, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to meet with storms in the way of duty, but he thereby shows himself with the more grace to them and for them. He can take what way he pleases to save his people. But even appearances of deliverance sometimes occasion trouble and perplexity to God's people, from mistakes about Christ. Nothing ought to affright those that have Christ near them, and know he is theirs; not death itself. Peter walked upon the water, not for diversion or to boast of it, but to go to Jesus; and in that he was thus wonderfully borne up. Special supports are promised, and are to be expected, but only in spiritual pursui...

Verse Matthew 14:28. _BID ME COME UNTO THEE ON THE WATER._] A weak faith is always wishing for signs and miracles. To _take Christ at his_ _word_, argues not only the perfection of faith, but also the highest exercise of sound reason. He is to be credited on his _own_ _word_, because he is the TRUTH, and therefore can neither _lie_ nor _deceive_....

AND PETER ANSWERED ... - Here is an instance of the characteristic ardor and rashness of Peter. He had less real faith than he supposed, and more ardor than his faith would justify. He was rash, headlong, incautious, really attached to Jesus, but still easily daunted and prone to fall. He was afraid, therefore, when in danger, and, sinking, cried again for help. Thus he was suffered to learn his own character, and his dependence on Jesus: a lesson which all Christians are permitted sooner or later to learn by dear-bought experience....

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 14:1 CHRIST'S POWER TO SUPPLY AND PROTECT AND HEAL, PREFACED BY A STATEMENT OF HEROD'S RELATION TO HIM. MATTHEW 14:1 _Herod_'_s opinion of Jesus, and a parenthetical account of his murder of John the Baptist. _Parallel passages: Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7;...

AND PETER ANSWERED HIM AND SAID,.... Who knew his voice, and was ready to believe it might be Christ; and having more courage, and being more forward than the rest of the disciples, ventured to speak to him; saying, LORD, IF IT BE THOU; for he was not fully assured that it was he: he might consider that nocturnal apparitions are deceitful, and that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, and could put on the appearance, and mimic the voice of Christ; wherefore, to try whether it was a spectre, or really Christ, he says, BID ME COME UNTO THEE ON THE WATER; thereby expressing great love and affection to Christ, being willing to come to him, though through danger, through storms and tempests; and also his strong faith in him, supposing it to be he; who, he knew, was as able to support his body on the water, as his own; and yet much modesty, submission, and dependence; not will...

Matthew 14:13. _When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by a ship into a desert place apart:_ It is well for us to get alone with God when he takes home the best and most faithful of his servants. Neither the Church nor the world could afford to lose such a man as John the Baptist; so it was well for Christ's disciples to retire with him to a desert place that he might teach them the lesson of that proto-martyr's death. Matthew 14:13. _And when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick._ He needed quiet, but he could not get it; yet he was not «moved» with indignation against the crowd that had sought him out

2. JOHN'S MARTYRDOM. The Fourfold Attitude of the Rejected King. CHAPTER 14 _ 1. John's Martyrdom. (Matthew 14:1 .) 2. The Disciples of John with the Lord Jesus. (Matthew 14:12 .) 3. Feeding the Five Thousand. (Matthew 14:13 .) 4. Praying on the Mountain-top. (Matthew 14:22 .) 5. Walking on the Sea; Coming to His Disciples. (Matthew 14:24 .)_ The fourteenth chapter contains the record of events put together so as to harmonize with the purpose of this Gospel. The Lord had revealed the mysteries of the kingdo

JESUS WALKS ON THE SEA (Mark 6:45 *). Mt. omits to Bethsaida, seeing that the boat arrived at Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34), and the remark that Jesus would have passed by them. But he amplifies the story by the attempt of Peter to walk on the water. This incident, which has a close parallel in Buddhist legend, emphasizes the power of faith. It may reflect the later proud impulsiveness, fall, repentance, and restoration of the apostle. Loisy regards it as a piece of resurrection-legend, like the miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5:1 Matthew 14:11. Similarly he sees in the whole story a picture of the dismay of the disciples between the cru