Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 8:23-27

"And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. And the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" — Matthew 8:23-27 (ASV)

Pseudo-Origen: After performing many great and wonderful things on the land, Christ passes to the sea, so that there also He might show forth His excellent power, presenting Himself before all people as the Lord of both earth and sea. And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him, not being weak but strong and established in the faith. Thus they followed Him not just by treading in His footsteps, but by accompanying Him in holiness of spirit. ¹

St. John Chrysostom: He took His disciples with Him in a boat so that they might learn two lessons: first, not to be overwhelmed in dangers, and second, to think humbly of themselves in honor. So that they would not think too highly of themselves because He kept them with Him while sending the rest away, He allows them to be tossed by the waves. Where miracles were to be shown, He allows the people to be present; where temptations and fears were to be stilled, He takes with Him only the victors of the world, whom He intended to prepare for the struggle. ²

Pseudo-Origen: Therefore, after entering the boat, He caused the sea to rise. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, so that the boat was covered by the waves. This tempest did not arise on its own, but in obedience to the power of Him who commanded it, who brings the winds out of his treasures (Jeremiah 10:13). There arose a great tempest so that a great work might be performed, because the more the waves rushed into the boat, the more the disciples were troubled and sought to be delivered by the wonderful power of the Savior.

St. John Chrysostom: They had seen others partake of Christ's mercies, but since no one feels things done for another person as strongly as what is done for oneself, it was fitting that they should feel Christ's mercies in their own bodies. Therefore, He willed that this tempest should arise so that in their deliverance they might have a more vivid sense of His goodness. This tossing of the sea was a type of their future trials, of which Paul speaks: I would not have you ignorant, brethren, how that we were troubled beyond our strength (2 Corinthians 1:8).

So that there would be time for their fear to arise, the account continues, But he was asleep. For if the storm had arisen while He was awake, they either would not have feared, would not have prayed to Him, or would not have believed that He had the power to still it.

Pseudo-Origen: What a wonderful, stupendous event! He who never slumbers nor sleeps is said to be sleeping. He slept in His body but was awake in His Deity, showing that He bore a truly human, corruptible body which He had taken upon Himself. He slept in His body so that He might cause the Apostles to be watchful, and so that all of us would never sleep in our minds.

The disciples were seized with such great fear, and were so beside themselves, that they rushed to Him. They did not rouse Him respectfully or gently, but violently awakened Him: His disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

St. Jerome: We have a type of this miracle in Jonah, who, while all are in danger, is himself unconcerned, sleeps, and is awakened.

Pseudo-Origen: O you true disciples! You have the Savior with you, and you fear danger? Life itself is among you, and you are afraid of death? They might answer, “We are still children and weak, and therefore we are afraid.” This is why it follows, Jesus says to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” As if He had said, “If you have known me to be mighty on earth, why do you not believe that I am also mighty on the sea? And even though death were threatening you, should you not endure it with constancy?” He who believes a little will be reasoned with; he who does not believe at all will be neglected.

St. John Chrysostom: If anyone should say that going to rouse Jesus was a sign of no small faith, it is rather a sign that they did not have a correct opinion concerning Him. They knew that when awakened He could rebuke the waves, but they did not yet know that He could do it while sleeping. For this reason, He did not perform this wonder in the presence of the multitudes, so that they would not be charged with their little faith. Instead, He takes His disciples apart to correct them, and first He stills the raging of the waters: Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

St. Jerome: From this passage we understand that all creation is conscious of its Creator, for what can be rebuked and commanded is conscious of the mind that commands. I do not mean, as some heretics hold, that the whole creation is animateⁱ—but that by the power of the Maker, things that have no consciousness to us, have it to Him.

Pseudo-Origen: Therefore, He gave a command to the winds and the sea, and a great storm became a great calm. For it is fitting for Him who is great to do great things. Therefore, He who first greatly stirred the depths of the sea now again commands a great calm, so that the disciples, who had been so greatly troubled, might have great joy.

St. John Chrysostom: Observe also that the storm is stilled at once and entirely, and no trace of disturbance remains, which is beyond nature. For when a storm ceases naturally, the water is still accustomed to be agitated for some time longer, but here all is tranquil at once. Thus, what is said of the Father, He spoke, and the stormy wind ceased (Psalm 107:25), this Christ fulfilled in deed. For by His word and command alone He stayed and checked the waters. From His appearance, His sleeping, and His use of a boat, those who were present supposed Him to be only a man, and on this account they were filled with admiration for Him: And the men marveled, saying, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

Glossa Ordinaria: Chrysostom explains it this way: “What manner of man is this?” His sleeping and His appearance showed the man; the sea and the calm pointed to the God. ³

Pseudo-Origen: But who were the men that marveled? You must not think that the Apostles are meant here, for we never find the Lord's disciples mentioned with disrespect; they are always called either “the Disciples” or “the Apostles.” The ones who marveled, then, were those who sailed with Him, the owners of the boat.

St. Jerome: But if any shall contend that it was the disciples who wondered, we will answer that they are rightly spoken of as “the men,” seeing they had not yet learned the power of the Savior.

Pseudo-Origen: This is not a question, “What manner of man is this?” but an affirmation that He is one whom the winds and the sea obey. “What manner of man then is this?” means: how powerful, how mighty, how great! He commands every creature, and they do not transgress His law; only humans disobey and are therefore condemned by His judgment.

Figuratively, we are all embarked in the vessel of the Holy Church, journeying through this stormy world with the Lord. The Lord Himself sleeps a merciful sleep while we suffer, awaiting the repentance of the wicked.

St. Hilary of Poitiers: Or, He sleeps because He is cast asleep in us by our slothfulness. This is done so that we may hope for aid from God when we fear danger, and that our hope, though it comes late, may be confident that it will escape danger by the power of Christ watching within us.

Pseudo-Origen: Let us therefore come to Him with joy, saying with the Prophet, Arise, O Lord, why do you sleep? (Psalm 44:23). And He will command the winds (that is, the demons) who raise the waves (that is, the rulers of the world) to persecute the saints. He will make a great calm in both body and spirit—peace for the Church and stillness for the world.

Rabanus Maurus: Alternatively, the sea is the turmoil of the world. The boat in which Christ is embarked is to be understood as the tree of the cross, by the aid of which the faithful pass through the waves of the world and arrive in their heavenly country as on a safe shore, where Christ goes with His own. This is why He says elsewhere, “He who would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

When Christ was fixed on the cross, a great commotion was raised, as the minds of His disciples were 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, just as here, But he was asleep. His sleep is death. The disciples awaken the Lord when, troubled at His death, they seek His resurrection with earnest prayers, saying, “Save us,” by rising again; “we perish,” by our trouble at Your death. He rises again and rebukes the hardness of their hearts, as we read in other places. He commands the winds, in that He overthrew the power of the Devil; He commanded the sea, in that He thwarted the malice of the Jews; and there was a great calm, because the minds of the disciples were calmed when they beheld His resurrection.

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

1. Hom. in div. vii
2. Hom., xxviii
3. non occ.