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Matthew 8

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

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

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: 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.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

What does Matthew 8:24 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 8:24 depicts a dramatic scene where Jesus and His disciples encounter a severe storm while traveling by boat on the Sea of Galilee.

The verse specifically notes the ferocity of the storm, describing it as a "great tempest in the sea", indicating that it was not just a gentle rain but a violent storm with powerful winds and waves that were large enough to cover the ship.

The disciples were likely afraid for their lives as the storm raged around them.

Notably, despite the tumultuous conditions, Jesus is described as being asleep during this time, suggesting a deep sense of peace and trust in God's protection, and highlighting a stark contrast between His calmness and the chaos of the storm.

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Historical Context

The Sea of Galilee is known for sudden and violent storms, resulting from its geographical location in a basin surrounded by mountains.

The water can quickly become very rough with little warning.

Matthew's Gospel was written for a Jewish audience, and the readers would be familiar with the unpredictability of such storms.

Additionally, several of the disciples were fishermen who had worked on that very sea and knew the dangers it presented.

The account fits within the larger context of Jesus' ministry, showcasing his authority over nature, which is a recurring theme in the Gospels.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, this verse carries several layers of meaning.

The tempest can be seen as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations faced in life.

Jesus' calm demeanor in the midst of the storm reflects the Christian belief that faith in God provides peace, regardless of the situation.

This scene also signifies Jesus' divine authority, as He exhibits control over the natural elements.

The ability to sleep amidst such turmoil is interpreted by some as an expression of Jesus' trust in God the Father and His divine nature being in harmony with creation.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a reminder to maintain faith and trust in God during difficult and seemingly overwhelming circumstances.

It challenges individuals to find a place of peace in their faith, even when their external environment is chaotic.

The depiction of Jesus asleep in the boat could be seen as an encouragement to surrender control to God and to find rest in His care and sovereignty.

Cross-References

Psalm 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
Mark 4:37-41: A parallel account where Jesus calms the storm after being woken up by His disciples.
Luke 8:23-25: Another parallel account emphasizing Jesus' command over the winds and water.
Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Language Study

In the original Greek, "tempest" is translated from the word "seismos", which means an agitation or shaking and can refer to both an earthquake and a storm. This indicates a very violent shaking or commotion.

The Greek word for "asleep" is "katheudon", and it emphasizes that Jesus was in a deep sleep, undisturbed by the surrounding turbulence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, the sea was often seen as a symbol of chaos and the unknown.

Many cultures have myths about gods or heroes who demonstrate their power by controlling the sea or storms, such as Poseidon in Greek mythology or Jesus in the Christian faith.

The idea that a deity can control nature attests to their supreme power and serves as a reassurance to followers that they are under divine protection.

Scientific Perspectives

Science explains that the Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden severe storms, caused by the differences in temperature and pressure between the sea and the surrounding areas.

From a meteorological standpoint, these phenomena are well understood today. But for ancient observers, such events would underscore the sense of awe and fear associated with divine or supernatural power.

Commentaries

Commentators often focus on this passage as a demonstration of Jesus' divinity and mastery over nature. They point out the disciples' lack of faith and Jesus' subsequent rebuke of their fear in the following verses.

Some note the symbolism of the storm and interpret it as representative of the troubles that may arise in life and the solace that faith in Christ can bring.

Others look at the cultural and historical awareness of the original audience, considering how this miracle would have affirmed Jesus' identity as the Messiah to the Jewish readers of Matthew's Gospel.

Matthew 8

Matthew 8

What does Matthew 8:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 8:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?