Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 14:26

"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear." — Matthew 14:26 (ASV)

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit, and they cried out for fear. (Matthew 14:26)

Yes, the disciples saw him; they saw Jesus their Lord and derived no comfort from the sight. Poor human nature's sight is a blind thing compared with the vision of a spiritual faith. They saw, but did not know what they saw.

What could it be but a phantom? How could a real man walk on those foaming billows? How could he stand in the teeth of such a hurricane? They were already at their wits' end, and the apparition put an end to their courage.

We seem to hear their shriek of alarm: "they cried out for fear." We do not read that "they were troubled" before: they were old sailors and had no dread of natural forces; but a spirit—ah, that was too much of a terror.

They were at their worst now, and yet, if they had known it, they were on the verge of their best. It is noteworthy that the nearer Jesus was to them, the greater was their fear. Want of discernment blinds the soul to its richest consolations.

Lord, be near, and let me know you! Let me not have to say with Jacob, Surely God was in this place; and I knew it not! (Genesis 28:16)

Yes, the disciples saw him; saw Jesus their Lord, and derived no comfort from the sight. Poor human nature’s sight is a blind thing compared with the vision of a spiritual faith. They saw, but did not know what they saw.

What could it be but a phantom? How could a real man walk on those foaming billows? How could He stand in the teeth of such a hurricane? They were already at their wits’ end, and the apparition put an end to their courage.

We seem to hear their shriek of alarm, they cried out for fear. We do not read that they were troubled before. They were old sailors and had no dread of natural forces, but a spirit—ah, that was too much of a terror.

They were at their worst now and yet, if they had known it, they were on the verge of their best. It is noteworthy that the nearer Jesus was, the greater was their fear. Want of discernment blinds the soul to its richest consolations. Lord, be near and let me know You! Let me not have to say with Jacob, Surely God was in this place and I knew it not!