Matthew 14:25Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Along with their deep compassion, the Lord instilled in them a greater desire to be united with Him and to keep Him in their thoughts. This is why He chose not to reveal Himself to them at once; rather, as the evangelist recounts, during the fourth watch of the night, Jesus approached them, walking on the waters. Through this act, He was instructing them not to look for immediate escape from their tribulations but to steadfastly persevere through whatever challenges they may face.

He did not first reveal Himself to them to calm the tempest, but rather to teach them the importance of enduring hardships with courage rather than hastily seeking their removal. It was during the fourth watch of the night—the period divided into four segments of three hours each by the soldiers on guard—that He manifested Himself. Thus, the Lord came forth after the ninth hour, walking upon the waters in a divine manner.

The sea elevated Christ and bore Him upon its waves, thereby indicating the path that the Lord had destined for the apostles in their homeland. In this way, the Scriptures were realized: ‘You rule over the power of the sea, and You tame its currents’ (cf. Psalm 88:10).

The training of soldiers and guards is divided into three segments of hours. Therefore, when it is stated that the Lord revealed Himself to them during the fourth watch of the night, it indicates that they remained in fear throughout the darkness, and that assistance would arrive in the final moments of the night and at the culmination of time.

Mark recounts that Jesus observed His disciples struggling during their journey, while John noted they had traveled approximately twenty-five to thirty stadia, which equates to a distance of one hundred fathoms. The ancient night watchmen referred to the final part of the night as its last three hours. Christ permitted His disciples to face peril from the waves until that moment, imparting a lesson on the importance of courage in trials that are divinely allowed, rather than seeking immediate rescue. This experience helped them recognize that the One who rescued them was indeed God, a truth they had not fully grasped before. Following their deliverance, they worshipped Jesus, exclaiming, "Truly you are the Son of God."

In the midst of their struggles, the disciples found themselves tormented by the fierce winds and turbulent waves, reflecting the chaos of the world and their conflict with unclean spirits. Yet, during the fourth watch, the Lord arrives to once again reach out to the lost and battered church. This fourth watch unveils the fullness of His compassionate care. The first watch represents the era of the law, the second watch signifies the age of the prophets, the third watch marks His incarnation, and now we enter the fourth watch, heralding His return in glorious splendor. However, when He returns, He will discover an exhausted church, beset by the spirit of the Antichrist and the desires of the present age. He will come to those who are inconsolable and suffering.

Who else could tread upon the waves but the One who brought the universe into being? It is certainly Him of whom the Holy Spirit had declared through Job long ago, stating, He alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the heights of the sea (Job 9:8). Solomon, speaking on behalf of Wisdom, proclaimed: I have set the tabernacle on high, and my throne in a pillar of cloud; I alone have traversed the circle of heaven, and walked in the depths of the abyss (Sir. 24:4-5). Similarly, David expressed in the Psalms: Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters (Psalm 76:20). Habakkuk affirmed the same truth: When the mountains saw Thee, they trembled, the waters surged; the abyss raised its voice, lifted up its hands on high (Hab. 3:10).

After the ninth hour of the night, it is customary for the night watch to divide the hours into four segments. Thus, the fourth watch begins at the start of the tenth hour. The Lord allowed them to endure the storm for a considerable time to cultivate their patience and strengthen their ability to endure trials. In the fourth watch of the night—beyond the natural order that existed prior to the Mosaic Law and that which is inherent in human conscience (Romans 2), and following the written Law of Moses, as well as the First Advent of the Lord, which ushered in the era of grace—there will undoubtedly be a Second Coming of Christ. This event is aptly compared to the fourth watch of the night, during which the Lord will return to vanquish, dismantle, and subdue all powers and authorities.

The ancient Hebrews segmented the night into three distinct parts, with the change of watchmen marking the beginning of each segment, leading to the nomenclature of first watch, middle watch, and morning watch. However, during the era of Jesus Christ, the night was more commonly divided into four watches, following Greek and Roman traditions. Initially, the Lord allowed His disciples to experience fear and anxiety for a significant duration, as previously noted, to strengthen their faith and patience. Then, during the fourth watch of the night, which corresponds to the tenth hour, He approached them, walking on the sea as if it were solid earth (Lamentations 2:19; Judges 7:19; Exodus 14:24; Mark 13:35. See Zlat. in conversation with Matt.). What a glorious miracle!

During the fourth watch of the night, after three o'clock in the morning, Jesus approached them, walking on the sea as though it were solid ground. He intended to expedite their salvation, and it appeared as if He sought to pass by them to inspire them to call out and seek His aid.

In the fourth watch of the night, the ancient Hebrews organized the night into three segments known as watches, each lasting four hours. The first watch, spanning from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., is referenced in the book of Lamentations (Jeremiah 2:19). The second watch, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., is mentioned in the book of Judges (Judges 7:19), and the third watch, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., can be found in Exodus (Exodus 14:24). However, during the time of the Savior, the Jews adopted a Roman-influenced system that divided the night into four watches lasting three hours each: the first from 6 to 9 p.m., the second from 9 p.m. to midnight, the third from midnight to 3 a.m., and the fourth from 3 to 6 a.m.