Matthew 8:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He took His disciples with Him, and in a boat, that they might learn two lessons; first, not to be confounded in dangers, secondly, to think lowly of themselves in honour. That they should not think great things of themselves because He kept them while He sent the rest away, He suffers them to be tossed by the waves. Where miracles were to be shewn, He suffers the people to be present; where temptations and fears were to be stilled, there He takes with Him only the victors of the world, whom He would prepare for strife.

He who lay in slumber awakened and calmed the tumultuous waters, bringing peace to the sea that had been troubled, so that the nature of the Divine, who never slumbers, would be unmistakably manifested (Matt. 8:23-27, Lk. 8:24, Mk. 4:39). He controlled the winds and they became still. What manner of power is this? And what grace is found in Jesus? By His sovereign command, He brought the sea under His authority. Thus, through that which was outside of His own nature, namely the stormy sea and the demons He rendered silent, He demonstrated Himself as the Son of the Creator.

From this passage we understand, that all creation is conscious of its Creator; for what may be rebuked and commanded is conscious of the mind commanding. I do not mean as some heretics hold, that the whole creation is animatec—but by the power of the Maker things which to us have no consciousness have to Him.

According to Luke, the disciples expressed their amazement, while Matthew notes that the crowd, referring to the common folk as Chrysostom remarks, responded similarly. It seems highly likely that upon hearing about such a miracle from the disciples, he too was filled with wonder and echoed their sentiments. The disciples, with their incomplete faith, perceived Him primarily as a man, and even more so did the crowd. His use of a boat to navigate the waters and His act of sleeping revealed His humanity; however, His command over the winds and the sea affirmed His divine nature. Thus, in their bewilderment, they questioned, "Who is this man?" This particular miracle caused even greater astonishment than the earlier ones, for no individual had ever performed anything comparable. Unlike Moses, who extended his staff or others who traversed the waters, He issued commands with authority, like a Master to His servants and like a Creator to His creation.

Or; He sleeps, because by our sloth He is cast asleep in us. This is done that we may hope aid from God in fear of danger; and that hope though late may be confident that it shall escape danger by the might of Christ watching within.

Or; The boat is the present Church, in which Christ passes over the sea of this world with His own, and stills the waves of persecution. Wherefore we may wonder, and give thanks.

Otherwise; The sea is the turmoil of the world; the boat in which Christ is embarked is to be understood the tree of the cross, by the aid of which the faithful having passed the waves of the world, arrive in their heavenly country, as on a safe shore, whither Christ goes with His own; whence He says below, He that will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mat. 16:24.) When then Christ was fixed on the cross, a great commotion was raised, the minds of His disciples being troubled at His passion, and the boat was covered by the waves. For the whole strength of persecution was around the cross of Christ, on which He died; as it is here, But he was asleep. His sleep is death.

What manner of Man is this, the Apostles ask. It is the sinless Son of God, O holy Apostles, Whose Name you bear throughout the whole world. For His Name's sake you were tortured and murdered like lambs by the wolves. Who are the wolves? They are those who think that the wind blows of itself and the waves of the sea rise either of themselves or through the devil.

It was at the moment when a single command subdued the waters, commanded the winds to cease, dispelled the storms, and restored peace that the seafarers came to grasp, trust, and acknowledge in Christ as the Creator of everything.

THE PEOPLE, possibly those aboard the other vessels that sailed alongside the boat of the Lord Jesus, or everyone within His boat, were filled with awe and began to discuss their amazement in fear. They exclaimed: WHO IS THIS, this mighty Being, that even the winds and the sea obey His command? Who is this, who has authority over the elements and the chaotic forces of nature? ‘The calmness and humanity reflected in Him, while the tranquil sea highlighted His divinity,’ as noted by St. John Chrysostom. The Church of Christ resembles a ship with Christ as its captain and His saving cross as its mast. Countless times, the daunting waves of erroneous teachings have surged over this spiritual vessel.

Mark includes specific details that enhance the richness and clarity of his narrative. He uniquely notes that after sending away the crowd, the disciples took Jesus just as He was in the boat, indicating they hastily embarked without preparing for the nighttime voyage across the sea. He also mentions that other boats accompanied them (36), describes Jesus as resting in the stern, resting His head (38), and recounts the exact words Jesus used to command the winds and the sea (39). In contrast, Matthew and Luke maintain more similarity in their accounts. However, their sequence of events differs from Mark's.

This event served as the initial challenge to the apostles' faith, revealing their lack of belief. While they were on a voyage with Jesus Christ, they were overwhelmed by fear due to the tempest and feared for their lives. When the winds and the waves immediately responded to Christ's command, they were filled with an even greater dread, questioning among themselves, 'Who is this man that even the wind and sea obey Him?' Matthew records that it was the men, likely fishermen, not included among the disciples, who expressed this. However, Mark and Luke attribute this remark to the disciples themselves.

The wind calmed, and a deep silence enveloped the scene. As the gentle glimmer of the stars reflected on the tranquil waters, both the disciples and the fishermen exchanged fearful whispers, asking, “Who is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” This extraordinary occurrence served as an addition to the teachings about the kingdom of heaven that had just been shared. From this moment, the disciples and all followers of Christ should have grasped that the kingdom of heaven, or the body of Christ, resembles a vessel tossed by the relentless waves of the worldly ocean. The tumultuous waves may sometimes threaten to engulf the ship of the church, but those aboard need not fear. Christ is present with them, and as long as He is by their side, no powers of darkness can prevail against them.

The crowd refers to those navigating in the other vessels alongside the boat of the Lord Jesus. Their question, "Who is this?" reveals their curiosity about the mighty individual who governs the elements and the powers of nature. At that moment, the people were unaware that this was the very Messiah they had anticipated for so long.

The Lord once more inquired of the disciples, "Where is your faith?" He questioned them, "Why do you harbor such fear?" Yet, at that moment, they were filled with immense dread and wondered among themselves, "Who is this man that even the winds and the waters obey him?" They were astonished because, although he appeared as a man, his deeds were of a divine nature, prompting them to question, "Who is this man?" Their uncertainty about his true identity lingered, reflecting their incomplete understanding of him (Blessed Theophylact). The vessels accompanying them were either scattered by the tempest on the lake or turned back from their course.