Matthew 8:26

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. For the exposition, see the notes at Mark 4:35....

26._He rebuked the winds _Mark relates also the words of Christ, by which, addressing the sea, he enjoins _silence, _( σιώπα,) that is, _stillness _not that the lake had any perception, but to show that the power of his voice reached the elements, which were devoid of feeling. And not only the _sea and the winds, _which are without feeling, but wicked men also, with all their obstinacy, obey the commands of God. For when God is pleased to allay the tumults of war, he does not always soften the fierce minds of men, and mould them to obedience, but even while their rage continues, makes the arms to drop from their hands: And thus is fulfilled that declaration, He maketh wars to cease to the ends of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in pieces, and burneth the chariots in the fire, (Psalms 46:10.)...

23-27 It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to trust in and pray to, who knows what it is to be on the water, and to be in storms there. Those who are passing with Christ over the ocean of this world, must expect storms. His human nature, like to ours in every thing but sin, was wearied, and he slept at this time to try the faith of his disciples. They, in their fear, came to their Master. Thus is it in a soul; when lusts and temptations are swelling and raging, and God is, as it were, asleep to it, this brings it to the brink of despair. Then it cries for a word from his mouth, Lord Jesus, keep not silence to me, or I am undone. Many that have true faith, are weak in it. Christ's disciples are apt to be disquieted with fears in a stormy day; to torment themselves that things are bad with them, and wi...

Verse Matthew 8:26. _WHY ARE YE FEARFUL, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH?_] _Faith_ is ever _bold - incredulity_ always _timid_. When faith fails in temptation, there is the utmost danger of shipwreck. _Lord,_ _increase our faith_! is a necessary prayer for all who desire to be saved. _THEN HE AROSE AND REBUKED THE WINDS_, c.] As the agitation of the sea was only the _effect_ of the wind, it was necessary to remove the _cause_ of the disturbance, that the _effect_ might cease. Joshua did not say to the _earth, Earth, stand thou still_, because the earth is not the _cause_ of its own motion: but, _Sun, stand thou_ _still_, שמש דום shemesh dom, Sun, be silent, or restrain thy influence, which is a proper cause of the revolutions of all the planets. When the solar influence was by the miraculous power of God

WHY ARE YE FEARFUL? - You should have remembered that the Son of God, the Messiah, was on board. You should not have forgotten that he had power to save, and that with him you are safe. So Christians should never fear danger, disease, or death. With Jesus they are safe. No enemy can reach him; and as he is safe, so they shall be also, John 14:19. REBUKED THE WINDS - Reproved them, or commanded them to be still. What a power was this! What irresistible proof that he was divine! His word awed the tempest and allayed the storm! There is not anywhere a sublimer description of a display of power. Nor could there be clearer proof that he was truly the Son of God. A GREAT CALM - The winds were still, and the sea ceased to dash against the vessel and to endanger their lives....

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 8:1 MESSIAH'S WORK AS COMPLEMENTARY TO HIS TEACHING. We return in this section to matter which resembles that of Mark and Luke, and undoubtedly belongs to the Framework (_vide _Introduction). St. Matthew has given a lengthy summary of the teaching of the Christ, and he now supplements it by a summary of his daily work. He is not concerned with the chronological connexion of the incidents here narrated, for this is evidently to him a matter of but secondary importance. He only desires to bring out different aspects of the Lord's life. Thus he notices— 1. Christ's miracles of healing, and the secret of his ability to perform them (verses 1-17). 2. The personal t

AND HE SAITH UNTO THEM, WHY ARE YE FEARFUL?.... Though they had some faith in him, yet there was a great deal of fear and unbelief, for which Christ blames them, saying, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH: Matthew 6:30. In Luke, the phrase is, "where is your faith?" what is become of it? You professed but just now to believe in me, is your faith gone already? In Mark it is, "how is it that ye have no faith?" That is, in exercise, their faith was very small, it could hardly be discerned: some faith they had, as appears by their application to him, but it was very little. They had no faith in him, as sleeping, that he could deliver them; but had some little faith in him that he might, could he be awaked out of sleep; and for this Christ blames them; for he, as the eternal God, was as able to save them sleeping as waking. Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and

Matthew 8:1. _When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him,_ Great multitudes often count for nothing; it is here or there one who is the notable individual. There may be a great company come up outwardly to worship, but it is the soul that comes into contact with Christ that is the most worthy of observation. There is no «Behold!» when the great multitudes are mentioned by Matthew; but there is a «Behold!» before the record of the leper coming to Christ: «Behold, there came a leper and worshipped him.» Let us all be of the leper's mind, let us worship Christ. Surely we may do so, if only out of gratitude for having escaped from so dire a disease; but, inasmuch as, spiritually, by nature that disease is upon us, we have good reason to come to Jesus as the «leper came, and worshipped him,»-...

6. THE KING MANIFESTED BY SIGNS OF DIVINE POWER. Chapter s 8-9. CHAPTER 8 1. The Healing of the Leper. (Matthew 8:1 .) 2. The Healing of the Centurion's Servant. (Matthew 8:5 .) 3. The Healing of Peter's Wife's Mother.(Matthew 8:14 .) 4. The Healing of All. (Matthew 8:16 .) 5. The Self-seeking Scribe and the Test of True Discipleship.(Matthew 8:18 .) 6. His Power over Nature. (Matthew 8:23 .) 7. His Power over the Demons. ...

THE STILLING OF THE TEMPEST (Mark 4:36 *, Luke 8:23). Mk.'s narrative is the fullest; note how both the others omit the reproach of Mark 4:38. Mt. alone makes the disciples (some of them skilled boatmen) directly invoke the help of their passenger; also he gives them credit for a little faith (Matthew 8:26). In Matthew 8:27, according to him it is not the disciples that discover who the Lord is, but people (_cf._ (the) men in Matthew 16:13). There is more in the incident than a n