Matthew 14:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This occurrence is even more extraordinary than the earlier one, as it took place subsequently. After revealing His dominion over the sea, Christ performed another astonishing miracle in front of His disciples. Previously, He had merely commanded the winds; now He walks upon the waters and grants permission for another to do likewise. Had He commanded this from the outset, Peter would not have been willing to accept it with the right attitude, as his faith had not yet matured. So, what was the reason behind Christ allowing Peter to act? If Christ had told him, "You cannot," Peter, in his impulsiveness, would have likely argued against Him at that moment. Therefore, Christ encourages him through the very act to exercise greater caution moving forward. Yet, Peter remains undeterred by this.

Those who believe that the body of the Lord was not a genuine physical body, due to its ease of movement akin to air currents on light waves, should explain how Peter was able to walk on water, as they would undoubtedly agree that he was indeed a true human being.

The sea, despite its turbulence, did not instill fear; rather, filled with faith in the authority of the One who commanded it, he courageously walked through the tumultuous waters and moved forward with determination.

With the Lord's consent, St. Peter steps out of the boat and walks on the sea, but soon succumbs to fear and starts to descend. His willingness to undertake such a remarkable act, placing his faith in the Lord, cannot be blamed, as the Lord would not have permitted it otherwise. What is indeed blameworthy is his inability to maintain the initial strength of his spirit. He was initially filled with vibrant faith in the Lord’s omnipotence, which inspired him to place his trust in the treacherous waters.

When Peter hears the voice of the Lord Jesus, he experiences both doubt and belief, displaying a deeper love than the other disciples. “Lord, if it is You,” he expresses, “if You are indeed my Lord,” revealing his uncertainty. He also questioned if Jesus Christ was truly the One he had encountered and listened to. “Command me to come to You,” signifies his faith, as he believed that at the command of Jesus Christ, he could walk on water. This also illustrates his love: “Command me, so that I may come to You.” He desires to hasten, draw near, envelop, and worship Him before Jesus boards the boat. Such is the nature of love: it anticipates, gives warning, and approaches the beloved.

He was aware of how Peter's bold attempt to walk upon the waves would unfold. He did not command him outright nor beckon him with words like "Come to Me," but instead simply said, "Go," should you choose (St John Chrysostom). Yet He declared, "Go." If Christ had insisted, "You cannot," Peter, in his fiery spirit, would likely have responded defiantly. Thus, Christ encourages him through action to be more cautious moving forward. Nevertheless, Peter remains undeterred, as noted by St Chrysostom. He aims to demonstrate that his faith and love for the Savior surpass those of the other Apostles. Later, he boldly asserted, "Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will" (Mt 26:33). However, experience revealed that, once again, he was overly confident and lacking in faith.

Meanwhile, the disciples found themselves on the sea during the night when a fierce storm arose. The Lord remembered them; He interrupted His prayer to assist them. He came to the sea, walking upon the waves, His feet untouched by the water. When the disciples noticed Him, they mistook Him for a spirit, and only His reassuring words, "It is I, do not be afraid," lifted their spirits. This time, they displayed more courage than they had in the earlier storm. Peter, granted permission by the Lord, stepped onto the water to approach Him, but he struggled against the test of faith. Doubt overtook him, and he was nearly submerged, yet he received rescue from the Savior. The Lord then entered the boat, and instantly they reached the shore, thus bringing Him back to Capernaum. A multitude of remarkable miracles unfolded in this short span, reinforcing the disciples' faith during these turbulent times and preparing them for the new revelations that both they and others would receive from Him.

Peter emerged from the boat, and through the strength of his faith, he performed the miraculous act of walking on water. However, the relentless wind and turbulent waves distracted him from Jesus, who awaited his arrival. Fear took hold of him, his faith faltered, and he began to submerge into the depths. In his urgent plea, he called out, "Lord, save me." Christ chose not to calm the storm and the sea but extended His hand towards Peter, lifting him up and asking, "You of little faith, why did you doubt? What caused your faith to falter, the very faith that enabled you to walk on water as you came to Me?" Jesus intentionally refrained from calming the tumultuous waters at once, wanting to demonstrate to Peter that, once his faith was renewed, he could indeed walk on water once more.

“Go!” was the response. Peter plunged into the tumultuous waters. As he focused on the Lord, the wind fiercely whipping through his hair and the waves dousing his garments meant nothing to him.

Peter traversed the water: the strength of faith accomplished wonders through Peter, enabling him to walk upon the waves.

Peter, who was always passionate and fervent, consistently cautioned the other disciples. He had complete confidence that not only could Jesus traverse the waters, but He could guide others to do the same. Peter expressed his eagerness to draw near to the Lord, saying, "Lord, if You are, command me to come to You by the waters.” The strength of his faith enabled a miraculous event; as he stepped out of the boat, he walked on the water toward Jesus Christ.