Matthew 8:23 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 8:23 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

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

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. The disciples follow Jesus into the boat and into the storm — the would-be disciples of verses 19–22 contrasted with the ones who actually get into the boat. Following Jesus wherever he goes means following him into the storm. The boat that crosses the sea is the community of disciples; the storm that threatens the boat is the testing that following Jesus into hostile territory produces. Psalm 107:23–32 describes those who go down to the sea in ships and encounter storms, who cry out to the Lord and are delivered — the pattern that Matthew 8 is enacting.

Church Fathers on Matthew 8:23

Christ having performed many great and wonderful things on the land, passes to the sea, that there also He might shew forth His excellent power, presenting Himself before all men 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 so much treading in His footsteps, as accompanying Him in holiness of spirit.
Pseudo-Origen · · Hom. in div. vii

He took His disciples with Him, and in a boat, that they might learn two lessons; first, not to be confounded in dangers, secondly, to think lowly of themselves in honour. That they should not think great things of themselves because He kept them while He sent the rest away, He suffers them to be tossed by the waves. Where miracles were to be shewn, He suffers the people to be present; where temptations and fears were to be stilled, there He takes with Him only the victors of…
Chrysostom · 4th century · Hom., xxviii

Of this miracle we have a type in Jonah, who while all are in danger is himself unconcerned, sleeps, and is awakened.
Jerome · 4th century

Read all 19 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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