Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 8:24

"And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep." — Matthew 8:24 (ASV)

This inland lake was subject to sudden squalls and tempests, in which the wind raged so as to actually lift the boat out of the water. This was an unusually bad storm. The little ship seemed lost. The wing of the tempest covered it. The comfort was that Christ was in the vessel, and His presence covered the boat, as surely as the waves did.

Yet the presence of our great Lord will not prevent our being tossed by “a great tempest.”

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, so that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

What! A tempest where Christ is? Yes, it is generally so. If all seems very calm, you may question whether Christ is there, but when he goes into the ship, and his disciples follow him, it is not remarkable that the devil comes after him.

The ship was covered with the waves. That Sea of Galilee lies very deep indeed, and it is surrounded by lofty crags and yawning chasms that act like funnels to the wind, so that to this day it is very dangerous for those who are on it in a boat.

The ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. Here is the weakness of humanity; and here is also the strength of faith.

Jesus went to sleep because that boat was in his Father's hands, and He would take care of it. he was asleep.

Sometimes, the best thing that we can do is to go to bed. You are worrying and troubling yourself, and you can do nothing; go to sleep, brother. It is the climax of faith to be able to shake off all care, and to feel, "If the Lord cares for me, why should I not sleep?"

Remember what Alexander the Great said of his friend Parmenio: "Alexander may sleep, for Parmenio watches," and surely we, who have a far greater friend than Parmenio, can say at any time, "We may sleep, for God watches." he was asleep. To sleep was the best thing that Jesus could do to recruit his bodily energies and to prepare himself for the time when his efforts would be needed for the deliverance of his disciples from danger.

Insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

Weary with his toil, he lay down to rest. There was his humanity serenely confident, and therefore sleeping through the storm; there was the glory of his innocence: he was asleep; and there was also the majesty of his deity, only waiting for the moment when he should arise and still the tumult of the winds and waves.