Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 14:28

"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto the upon the waters." — Matthew 14:28 (ASV)

Peter must be the first to speak. He is impulsive; besides, he was a kind of leader in the group. The first speaker is not always the wisest man.

Peter’s fears had gone, all except for one “if.” But that “if” was doing him no good, for it seemed to challenge his Master: “Lord, if it is you.” What a test to suggest: “Command me to come to you on the water”!

What did Peter want with walking on the water? His name might have suggested that, like a stone, he would go to the bottom. It was an imprudent request. It was the swing of the pendulum in Peter from despair to an unwise venture. Surely, he did not know what he said.

Yet we, too, have put our Lord to tests almost as improper. Have we not said, “If you have ever blessed me, give me this and that”? We, too, have had our water-walking and have ventured where nothing but special grace could uphold us. Lord, what is man?

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Peter must be the first to speak; he is impulsive, and besides, he was a sort of foreman in the company. The first speaker is not always the wisest man.

Peter's fears have gone, all but one "if"; but that "if" was working him no good, for it seemed to challenge his Master: "Lord if it be thou." What a test to suggest: "Bid me come unto thee on the water!"

What did Peter want with walking the waters? His name might have suggested that like a stone he would go to the bottom. It was an imprudent request: it was the swing of the pendulum in Peter from despair to an injudicious venturing.

Surely, he knew not what he said. Yet we, too, have put our Lord to tests almost as improper. Have we not said, "If you have ever blessed me, give me this and that"? We, too, have had our water-walking, and have ventured where nothing but special grace could uphold us. Lord, what is man?