Matthew 8:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the Gospel of Luke, without delving into a chronological analysis, it is noted that one day He boarded a boat along with His disciples (Luke 8:22). Mark records this similarly. However, Matthew presents the events in a slightly different sequence, highlighting the order of occurrences. It is important to understand that not every evangelist conveys the same aspects of the story in identical ways, as previously mentioned, to avoid the misconception that there are contradictions among them. Therefore, Christ first dismissed the crowds and brought His disciples along, as their accounts affirm. He had a specific purpose in retaining them: to allow them to witness the miracle He was about to perform.

He withdrew from the crowd for these reasons, yet He took His disciples with Him to demonstrate the miracle He would perform on the sea. While He bestowed blessings upon the people by healing their ailments, the disciples seemed to be overlooked. Consequently, He extends His grace to them as well, and after permitting them to face the peril of drowning, He wondrously saves them from that threat.

St. Chrysostom reflects that when only miracles were present, the Lord permitted the crowd to gather; however, in times of trials and fears, He was accompanied solely by the ascetics of creation—His apostles. As a compassionate mentor, He gradually enlightened them about the labor and risks they would face in their future ministry, fostering their trust in His love and divine power, as well as teaching them humility in their exaltation. By the time He sent away the crowds who had listened to His sacred teachings, it was evening. He blessed them with God's grace and guidance. When He entered the boat to journey to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, His disciples followed Him—not just the apostles, but all His followers who were closer to Him than the masses. The apostles boarded the same vessel as the Lord, while others navigated their own boats, as noted by St. Mark, who mentions that "there were other boats with Him."

Alongside His spoken teachings, the Lord demonstrated His lessons through His actions, equipping His disciples for a broader ministry. He did not extend the same assurance to every individual eager to be near Him as He offered to His selected apostles; instead, He desired them to be entirely devoted to Him, depending on Him for all things and being attentive to His every movement. Following His stern condemnation of the blasphemous Pharisees and the unveiling of the new doctrine of the kingdom of God, on the evening after He had shared parables (Mark 4:35), the Lord took the Apostles with Him to cross over to the opposite side of the Lake of Gennesaret, heading toward the Gadara region, predominantly inhabited by Gentiles (Joserch, Antiqn. 17:11, 4), and to Ten Grad (Mark 5:1-20).

In this passage, Mark provides additional details that enhance the clarity and vividness of his narrative. He uniquely notes that after sending the crowds away, the disciples took Jesus with them in the boat as He was, indicating their rushed departure without preparation for the nighttime passage (36). Moreover, he mentions the presence of other boats accompanying them. Mark is the only one who describes Jesus sleeping peacefully at the stern, resting His head (38), and he exclusively reports the specific command with which Jesus silenced the winds and the sea (39). In this account, Matthew and Luke exhibit greater similarity to each other.

Jesus entered the boat alongside His disciples and instructed them to head to the far side of the lake, toward the east. In obedience, they set out on their journey. Other vessels accompanied Him, as noted by Mark, but it seems these boats either fell behind or followed a different course, as they are not referenced in the subsequent portion of the story.

At last, after a period of waiting, the disciples managed to raise the sail of their vessel and embark on their journey. However, even then, Jesus seemed to be followed by a multitude, as Mark notes, ‘there were other boats with Him.’ These additional boats likely soon lost ground, as there is no record of their presence upon reaching the other shore, possibly overwhelmed by the ominous signs of the impending tempest.

He entered the boat, ready to leave Capernaum and cross to the opposite shore of the Lake of Gennesaret. The term “His disciples” refers not just to the apostles but also to the broader group of followers who were closer to the Lord than the crowds were, a group likely consisting of many individuals. Other boats also accompanied Him, enhancing the impact of the miracle performed by Jesus Christ that is described later.

Jesus Christ entered the boat, followed by His disciples after dismissing the crowd, and He proposed, “Let us head to the midpoint of the lake,” so they departed. As the boat moved, other vessels belonging to the local fishermen trailed behind, reluctant to part with the Divine Teacher.