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Matthew 8:23
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21 aThen another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, blet me first go and bury my father.”  
22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
24 aAnd suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.  
25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then aHe arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  
27 So the men marveled, saying,1 “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  

Two Demon-Possessed Men Healed

28 aWhen He had come to the other side, to the country of the1 Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.  
29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Matthew 8:22   Matthew 8:24 >>

What Does Matthew 8:23 Mean?



Matthew 8:23-27

Two miracles of Jesus Christ recorded in Scripture tell of Him calming storms on the Sea of Galilee. The first miracle of this type appears in Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; and Luke 8:22-25. For Jesus, this is a day of both significant teaching, including the seven parables of Matthew 13, and considerable testing. He is sought by concerned friends, His mother, and half-brothers, and is accused of being demon-possessed by some who think that He is not in His right mind.

These things, along with performing this miracle, leave Jesus physically and mentally tired. Mark indicates that He shows signs of fatigue from incessant interruptions and distractions by the people pursuing Him. Yet, He unselfishly gives Himself to serve others. Because of the large crowds still gathering around Him, He tells His disciples to take Him in their small boat to the quieter region of Perea across the Sea of Galilee.

Once on board, Jesus falls asleep on a pillow, an item normally found among the sparse furnishings of that type of boat. A storm rises suddenly, terrifying the disciples. Mark describes the waves beating into the boat and filling it. Luke expresses the disciples' urgency by repeating the Greek word epistates, which means "Master, Master!" or "Rabbi, Rabbi!" However, because of His complete trust in His Almighty Father's care and protection, and His knowledge that He had God-given power over the winds and the sea, Jesus remains peacefully asleep.

Martin G. Collins
The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Stilling a Storm

Related Topics: Christ, Humanity of | Epistates | God's Control | God's Control over the Elements | Humanity of Christ | Jesus Christ's Miracles | Jesus Christ's Stilling a Storm | Weather, God's Control Over | Wind and Waves under God's Control




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Matthew 8:23:

Matthew 8:23-27
Mark 4:35-41
Luke 8:22-25
Ephesians 4:14


 
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