Matthew (Written)

Thursday, 4 December 2025

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And immediately, Jesus, having extended the hand, He seized him, and He says to him, ‘Little-faithed! Into why – you doubted?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Peter saw the tumultuous wind and became afraid. Along with that, he began to sink, calling out to Jesus to save him. It next says, “And immediately, Jesus, having extended the hand, He seized him.”

A new word, epilambanomai, to seize the hand, is seen here. It is derived from epi, upon, and lambanó, to take. Thus, it is to seize upon. Peter is in the process of sinking. Jesus is firmly fixed on the top of the water, and so He reaches down to Peter to rescue him.

The scene is amazing to contemplate. It defies the sense of logic that each of us would normally consider. Despite being completely out of the ordinary, there is no reason to assume that it is impossible. Not understanding how something works does not mean that it doesn’t actually work. With Jesus reaching out to Peter, it next says, “and He says to him, ‘Little-faithed!’”

It is a sentiment He uses elsewhere. In Peter’s case, his faith allowed him to step out of the boat and begin walking, but it didn’t keep him from being distracted in obtaining the goal. One can see that faith in something isn’t the entire scope of the matter. Peter lacked faith in all directions at once. That is seen in the next words, “Into why – you doubted?”

Peter’s faith said, “I see Jesus, I can get to Him.” Hence, he started out on the water. However, once he took his eyes off the Object of his faith, he saw the boisterous wind and lacked faith that he could overcome it.

As noted in the previous commentary, it isn’t that Peter lacked faith. Rather, it became misdirected and overwhelmed by another issue he wasn’t confident he could handle. As such, Jesus says he doubted.

Life application: As can be seen, faith comes in varying degrees, but it also has to overcome many side challenges to be effective. If we were to extend the scenario in which Peter is in, we could add lightning, sharks, a pirate vessel (arrr matey), and other obstacles to his ability to stay afloat.

At what point will Peter’s faith crack? As long as he keeps his eyes on the Object, Jesus, the other challenges would not be able to affect him. But that may be hard to do when a resounding bolt of lightning crashs between the two of them. In an instant, Peter’s faith in his ability to continue without being killed by lightning might falter, and down he would go.

However, maybe the lightning flashes so brilliantly that it highlights Jesus in an exceptional way, actually boosting his faith. However, the pirate ship was able to spot him in the flash and sends off a round from a cannon. Peter sees the giant splash as the pirates adjust their cannon for another shot, and down he goes.

Each thing that distracts us from the goal we are set on attaining has its own faith challenge that we must overcome. Apply that thought to your own life. You want to do a particular thing. You know you are fully competent to do it. And yet, the side issues each bring a challenge that your faith in yourself or your abilities says, “I don’t think I can do that.”

How do we overcome such things? The answer is to keep our eyes on the Object of our faith. If what you are pursuing is sanctioned by the Lord, you have to know that it will come to pass. But if you continuously allow life’s distractions that cause you to lack faith in the challenge they present, you will never attain your goal.

You don’t really need to have all the confidence in the world concerning all things, though. You are finite, and it isn’t possible to adjust to every scenario that will arise in the course of time. Rather, you need to have confidence that Jesus can handle them.

If Peter said, “I can’t handle the sharks, lightning, or pirates, but I know Jesus has said I can come to Him. Therefore, I will make it to Him,” then he would have prevailed. This is why Paul says what he says in Philippians –

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12, 13

Let us have faith that if we are working in accord with the will of the Lord, we will prevail in what we desire to do. If it isn’t, then it will not come to pass. This isn’t a fatalistic attitude. Rather, we are to strive for what we want but know that the Lord may not want it for us. If we don’t strive to obtain the goal, it will certainly never be realized.

Lord God, help us in our faith. It gets challenged from ten thousand angles at a time, and we get distracted from the goal we are trying to attain. Help us to focus on the fact that You are with us in what we do. Because of Jesus, if it is meant to come about, it will. The side issues will never thwart what You have approved. Help us to remember this. Amen.

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And seeing the forcible wind, he feared, and having begun to submerge, he croaked, saying, ‘Lord, You save me!’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Peter came down from the boat and commenced walking to Jesus. Matthew next records, “And seeing the forcible wind, he feared.”

It is the standard error that believers find themselves in to this day. What does it take to see the forcible wind? Follow the sequence of events:

Jesus: “You embolden! I, I am! You fear not!”
Peter: “Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters.”
Jesus: “And He said, “You come!”
Peter: He walked upon the waters to come unto Jesus.
Peter: And seeing the forcible wind.

Jesus is the Object. Peter sees Jesus and petitions Him. Jesus directs Peter to come. Peter comes, looking at Jesus. Peter… takes his eyes off Jesus, “and having begun to submerge, he croaked.”

A new word is seen here, katapontizó, to plunge down, and thus to submerge. It is derived from kata, down against, and the same root as the area known as Pontus found in Acts 2:9 and 1 Peter 1:1. This word will only be seen again in Matthew 18:6.

Peter got distracted from what is most important. Jesus was the target to obtain. In allowing the distractions to take his eyes off the goal, his attention was likewise distracted. With his attention distracted, he was no longer mentally focused on what allowed him to walk on the water in the first place. Because of this, he cried out, “saying, ‘Lord, You save me!’”

Again, it is the standard response believers make in hopes of correcting their own blunders to this day: Believer is focused on Jesus. Believer takes his eyes off of Jesus and gets caught up in an infraction of the law, a particular sin, etc. Believer is now in a bad, bad pickle, finding no way of fixing his own slip-up. And so, believer croaks in his soul and to Jesus, “Help me! Help me, Lord Jesus!”

Life application: One of the most important thoughts for believers recorded in the New Testament is found in the first few words of Hebrews 12:2 –

“Eyeballing unto the ‘the faith Pioneer and Perfecter,’ Jesus” (CG). Scholars repeatedly say that Peter’s error was a lack of faith. And it is true that Jesus will call him ‘little-faithed’ in the next verse. But Peter had faith, even if it was little. That was not the immediate problem. Rather, Peter took his eyes off of the Object of his faith.

The pastor who has been faithfully preaching to his congregation for many years may have amazing faith, but when he meets with a woman for counseling, his eyes may be misdirected from Jesus. At such a time, calamity may be just around the corner. It happened to David, and none of us is above such a lapse of judgment.

Along with Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 3:1 says, “Thence, holy brothers – heavenly calling participants, you scrutinize the Apostle and High Priest, our confession, Jesus!”

We are not just to look in the direction of Jesus, we are to eyeball Him and to scrutinize Him, mentally considering Him at all times. When we fail to do this, we begin to sink into the troubled seas around us. In 1 Chronicles 29, David, a man who understood what it meant to take his eyes off the Lord and to sink into sin, petitioned the Lord for just this type of determination for His flock –

“O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.”

Should we have any less of a heart? If not, then let us pray for such fixed determination. And while we are asking for our own strength, let us remember our fellow believers, those in our church, our pastors and teachers, and anyone else who comes to mind.

May we learn to direct our attention to Jesus, always remembering the sacred words of Scripture, “Eyeballing unto the ‘the faith Pioneer and Perfecter,’ Jesus” (CG). Nothing else will do. All else will lead to a sad set of circumstances that may jeopardize our lives, our relationships, and our witness for the Lord Jesus.

Lord God, we are weak and frail creatures who need to constantly focus our hearts and souls on You. We should always scrutinize Jesus as if looking over the finest gem or most beautiful flower, considering every detail of His majesty. Help us to be focused on Him at all times. In this, we will be in the right frame of mind to handle all challenges we face. Amen.

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:29

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And He said, ‘You come!’ And having descended from the boat, Peter, he walked upon the waters to come unto Jesus” (CG).

In the previous verse, Peter emphatically challenged Jesus that if it was Him, to command Peter also to come to Him on the waters. In response, we read Matthew’s continued words, “And He said, ‘You come!’”

The response is immediate. There was no “Wait, I wasn’t ready,” or “Sorry Peter, I didn’t bring enough miracle juice for two people.” Rather, the command was confident that Peter could and should come out to Him. Therefore, it next says, “And having descended from the boat.”

Imagine being on the waters as the waves slammed against the boat. The meaning is that the boat’s buoyancy allowed for the hull to be partly submerged in the water while the rest remained above the water. It wasn’t that the entire boat just sat on top of the water as if it were sitting on an ice bed.

In other words, the laws of nature were working as they should. The water surrounding the boat was unchanged, and the boat was doing what boats do. And yet, Peter descended from the boat, which was in, not on top of, the water, and was able to stand on the water without sinking.

The change, therefore, was in Peter, not in the water. This is evidenced with the next words, “Peter, he walked upon the waters.”

The words don’t say how long this occurred. They also don’t record the distance, be it ten feet or fifty. Jesus was close enough to be heard, but far enough to necessitate Peter’s effort to walk to Him. The testimony, however, declares that Peter did walk on the water. With that understanding, it next says, “to come unto Jesus.”

There is a slight difference in the texts here. Some say, “he came to Jesus,” others say, “to come to Jesus.” The writers of the Pulpit Commentary, having obviously been in the boat with the disciples, say –

“To go to Jesus; rather, and came to Jesus (Westcott and Hort; cf. margin of Revised Version). The true text states what did, in fact, happen, notwithstanding Peter’s lack of faith (cf. ver. 31).”

Because verse 31 says that Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him, the Pulpit Commentary has deduced that Peter must have made it all the way to Jesus. How they can conclude that this is the “true text” based on that, while dismissing the contents of verse 30, is exceptional. While Peter was distracted with the waves, Jesus could have taken three steps toward him.

Life application: As has been noted in the past, take all commentaries on the Bible with a grain of salt until you think through what is being said. For the Pulpit Commentary to state that the Westcott and Hort text is the true text based on a couple of words that may or may not have been properly thought through is damaging.

Nobody is going to lose his salvation over this. Whether Peter got to Jesus or was still on his way to Jesus isn’t going to change someone’s life or the direction of his life. But for the commentators to adamantly claim that one is the true text immediately dismisses the other text. What if that is the true text? They have now determined that what isn’t God’s word has replaced God’s word!

That is not a sound attitude, nor is it a good place to be when we all must stand before the Lord and give an account for the lives we have lived. If we were not in the boat with the disciples, or flying a drone over the event, filming it while it was taking place, then we should reserve stating adamant words about texts as the Pulpit Commentary has done.

Only when there is no dispute in the text is there a reason to be adamant about what the text says. But even then, we need to be sure about our claims. After two thousand years of people looking over the word, new insights come up all the time, opening our eyes to new parallels, patterns, and points that may have never been considered before.

Lord God, it is beyond our imagination that we could just step onto the local body of water and tread on it as if it were dry land. But Jesus did it, and Peter did for a short span as well. How little our faith must be that we cannot do what You allowed Peter to do without a moment’s hesitation! Strengthen us in our walk of faith, O God. Amen.

Monday, 1 December 2025

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Matthew 14:28

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having answered Him, Peter, he said, ‘Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus called out to the disciples on the boat to be emboldened, for He is! He implored them not to fear. In response to this, the impetuous Peter needs evidence of what his eyes see. Therefore, Matthew records, “And having answered Him, Peter.”

Regardless of how many disciples there were on the boat, it is Peter who needed to be given the proof that would ease his suspicious mind concerning the phantasm who claimed to be Jesus. Therefore, Matthew’s words continue, “he said, ‘Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters.’”

Notice how Peter’s words, though respectfully stated with the word “Lord,” challenge the declaration made by Jesus –

*…Jesus, He spoke to them, saying, “You embolden! I, I am! You fear not!”

*…Peter, he said, “Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters.”

Of these words, the Pulpit Commentary says, “Not ‘bid me walk on the water;’ for he does not want to perform a miracle, but to come to Jesus.” This is entirely incorrect. Peter uses the word keleuó, command, to signify that he desires the same ability that Jesus displays. If this was a sign of “impulsive love” for Jesus, as their commentary later states, the reaction would have been the same as is recorded in John 21:7 –

“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.”

Peter wants proof of what his eyes refuse to believe. This is the reason for the word if, the emphatic challenge, and for the Lord to command him to do as was being done by Him.

Life application: Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 1 Corinthians says –

“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

The Bible sets a contrast between faith and sight, between belief and tangible evidence. Peter even had sight and sound, but it was not enough for him to accept. He wanted a personal sign to confirm to him that Jesus was really the One who had approached them and spoken to them.

What are you looking for to be assured of the faith you profess? Charismatic churches need proof of faith through the speaking of tongues. How can that be a proof of faith? If you have tangible evidence of something, you no longer have faith, but the surety of the experience.

They claim that if you don’t speak in tongues, you don’t have the filling of the Spirit. It is a false, damaging system of expectancy and contrived piety that dismisses the fundamental tenet of Christianity, salvation by grace through faith.

Be careful what you believe. Stick to the Bible, have faith in what it says, and confirm that faith by accepting Jesus’ full, final, finished, and forever work on your behalf. In this, you will be pleasing to God.

Lord God, how good it is to know with all surety that we are saved through the work of Jesus Christ. We don’t need more. Evidence and proof will come when You come for us. Until then, we have the words of Scripture. It is sufficient for our souls. Thank You for the words of surety that You have given to us. Amen.

Sunday, 30 November 2025

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And immediately, Jesus, He spoke to them, saying, ‘You embolden! I, I am! You fear not!’” (CG).

In the previous verse, the disciples in the boat cried out because they thought they were seeing a phantasm as Jesus walked on the water. With that noted, Matthew next says, “And immediately, Jesus, He spoke to them.”

In hearing the voice, there would be an immediate quelling of the anxiety they felt. It would lift the hours of struggling against the waves off of their shoulders. That, and the fright of the apparition, would be immediately forgotten and replaced with a sense of hope, awe, and rejoicing all at the same time. Of His words, Matthew records His emphatic declaration, “saying, ‘You embolden! I, I am! You fear not!’”

Because the New Testament was penned in Greek, it is unknown just what words Jesus spoke. However, it is the same phrase, egó eimi, recorded in John 8:58, “Jesus, He said to them, ‘Amen, amen! I say to you before Abraham became, I, I Am!’” (CG).  In the Greek, it is an emphatic proclamation of existence.

In John 8, it is combined with the words “before Abraham,” and so the intent is understood. Jesus was affirming His existence extended to the time before Abraham existed. While on the Sea of Galilee, even if He was simply affirming that it was He walking to them, they would have to wonder about His nature.

Man does not simply walk on water. This truth would be multiplied when the water was raging all around them. And yet, Jesus, the living, breathing Man they had traveled with, was walking on the water. The thought would have astonished their minds as much as the voice had calmed them.

Life application: In an earlier commentary, Job 9:8 was cited, where it noted that the Lord (Yehovah) walks on the waves of the sea. That could easily be dismissed as a type of poetic proclamation by Job, but the fact that the New Testament gospels agree on the substance of Jesus walking on the water forms a clear and intentional clue that is being handed to us on a silver platter that Jesus is the Lord (Yehovah) of the Old Testament.

As walking on the water is something that is contrary to the natural way things occur for humans, we see that somehow Jesus either suspended the natural laws, or He was able to work with them in a way that we cannot understand.

It is true that there are certain animals that can walk on the water, such as the water strider insect and the basilisk lizard. There are certain birds, like the jacana and grebe, as well as some mammals and spiders, that can walk on water or floating vegetation. These use adaptations like large feet or specialized leg hairs.

However, there is the truth that Jesus is not an insect, lizard, or bird. There would be no floating vegetation in the raging Sea of Galilee to walk on as well. Even if man someday is able to develop a suit that allows him to walk on the water, it doesn’t negate the fact that Jesus did this two thousand years ago without any future technology that may be developed.

If “science is thinking God’s thoughts after Him,” as the 17^th-century astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler said, and if we were to develop such technology, what would that say about Jesus? Obviously, it would be a testament to the fact that Jesus is… anyone? Yes, Jesus is God.

This truth is so plainly on display in the pages of Scripture that its denial is a fundamental denial of the gospel. Man cannot rise from the dead. Jesus rose from the dead. Therefore, Jesus is God. To deny this tenet is to deny the truth of God in Christ. If you are struggling with the deity of Jesus Christ, you need to let your struggles go. What God is looking for is faith.

People of faith are what please Him. Those who have faith in the truth of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us will be saved. Those who continue in their faith, conducting their lives and actions in faith, will be rewarded for the things they do. Be a person of faith.

Lord God Almighty, we accept the truth of Your word. You have proclaimed that Jesus came from You and returned to You. We believe that He is God incarnate who lived the life we could not live, died on a cross for the forgiveness of our sins, was interred in a tomb, and rose again, just as Your word proclaims. We believe! Hallelujah and Amen.