CEV Right Away, Jesus Made His Disciples Get Into a Boat and Start Back Across the Lake

Matthew 14.22-33

CEV Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away.

MSG As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people.

NET Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds.

NIV Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

NLT Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.

NRS Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

BGT Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.

… ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους: Note that this returns to an issue raised in the previous pericope in 14.15. Also note that a similar issue arises in 15.32.

CEV Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.

MSG With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

NET And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

NIV After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

NLT After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

NRS And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

BGT καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος κατ᾿ ἰδίαν προσεύξασθαι. ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης μόνος ἦν ἐκεῖ.

How many times does something happen on τὸ ὄρος in Matthew? ὄρος occurs 16x in Matthew; of these 2x are references to the Mount of Olives; 4x there is a specific reference to τὸ ὄρος (i.e., with the definite article) somewhere in Galilee
Where else does Jesus do something κατ᾿ ἰδίαν in Matthew? Note that Jesus had tried to get away privately in 14.13 before getting involved with the feeding of the crowd. Here, then, in 14.23 he accomplishes what he had earlier tried to do. Note that he also goes up a mountain privately (with Peter, James, and John) as part of the Transfiguration.

KJV But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

CEV By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves.

MSG Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves.

NET Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it.

NIV but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

NLT Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

NRS but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.

BGT τὸ δὲ πλοῖον ἤδη σταδίους πολλοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἀπεῖχεν βασανιζόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν κυμάτων, ἦν γὰρ ἐναντίος ὁ ἄνεμος.

How far was the boat from the land? There is a text critical issue with this verse that is not particularly significant, but the differences do reflect the possible influence of parallel texts in Mark and John. What are those parallels? John 6.19 and Mark 6.47

CEV A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples.

MSG At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water.

NET As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.

NIV During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

NLT About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

NRS And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.

BGT τετάρτῃ δὲ φυλακῇ τῆς νυκτὸς ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς περιπατῶν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν.

τετάρτῃ δὲ φυλακῇ τῆς νυκτὸς: What time in the morning is this? between 3AM and 6AM

CEV When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.

MSG They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror.

NET When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, "It's a ghost!" and cried out with fear.

NIV When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

NLT When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!"

NRS But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.

BGT οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης περιπατοῦντα ἐταράχθησαν λέγοντες ὅτι φάντασμά ἐστιν, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν.

φάντασμα: Check where this word is used in the Bible. What emotions are usually associated with viewing a φάντασμα?
From BDAG: φάντασμα, ατος, τό apparition, esp. ghost: Job 20:8 v.l.; Wsd 17:14; Mt 14:26; Mk 6:49; Lk 24:37 – Fear is regularly a common response. Note that Luke 24.37 is Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to the disciples.
Keep track of the fear / φόβ- cognates throughout this account.
Thinking it’s a ghost, the disciples cry out from fear > v27: Jesus says stop fearing > v30: Peter fears and cries out

CEV At once, Jesus said to them, "Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid."

MSG But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."

NET But immediately Jesus spoke to them: "Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid."

NIV But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

NLT But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here! "

NRS But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

BGT εὐθὺς δὲ ἐλάλησεν [ὁ Ἰησοῦς] αὐτοῖς λέγων· θαρσεῖτε, ἐγώ εἰμι· μὴ φοβεῖσθε.

Note μὴ with present tense imperative > Stop being afraid. Where else does the phrase μὴ φοβεῖσθε appear in Matthew?
10:28; 14:27; 17:7; 28:5; 28:10 > To stop being afraid is a significant theme in Matthew.

CEV Peter replied, "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water."

MSG Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."

NET Peter said to him, "Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water."

NIV "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

NLT Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water."

NRS Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

BGT ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν· κύριε, εἰ σὺ εἶ, κέλευσόν με ἐλθεῖν πρός σε ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα.

Peter addresses Jesus with the vocative of κύριος. Where else is κύριε used in Matthew?
7:21 *2; 7:22 *2; 8:2; 8:6; 8:8; 8:21; 8:25; 9:28; 11:25; 13:27; 14:28; 14:30; 15:22; 15:25; 15:27; 16:22; 17:4; 17:15; 18:21; 20:30; 20:31; 20:33; 21:30; 25:11 *2; 25:20; 25:22; 25:24; 25:37; 25:44; 26:22; 27:63
What generalizations can you make about how this title is used?
It is a term of respect and can even be used as a title for the Lord (God). In other instances, it has the more generic sense of “master.” It does not necessarily imply belief in the person, but it is regularly used in situations where someone is requesting help.
What kind of condition is expressed with εἰ σὺ εἶ and what does it imply? Condition of fact > If you are you (and that does seem to be the case), then…
Where else does the phrase εἰ σὺ εἶ occur in Matthew? 26.63 when the high priest questions Jesus. A similar phrase occurs in 4.3,6 (temptation) and 27.40 (as Jesus is mocked on the cross). In each of these instance the question is posed in terms of Jesus being “Son of God.” Perhaps latent in Peter’s question is this issue, an issue that is explicitly resolved in v.34 below.

CEV "Come on!" Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.

MSG He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.

NET So he said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

NIV "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

NLT "Yes, come," Jesus said.So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

NRS He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.

BGT ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ἐλθέ. καὶ καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου [ὁ] Πέτρος περιεπάτησεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν.

CEV But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

MSG But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"

NET But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

NIV But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

NLT But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.

NRS But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

BGT βλέπων δὲ τὸν ἄνεμον [ἰσχυρὸν] ἐφοβήθη, καὶ ἀρξάμενος καταποντίζεσθαι ἔκραξεν λέγων· κύριε, σῶσόν με.

External support for including or excluding ἰσχυρὸν from the text is mixed. (The best mss. exclude it, but they all are from just the Egyptian text type. A wide variety of good mss. include it.) Internally, an ἰσχυρὸν wind better explains Peter’s fear, though that might also be an argument for why it may have been added. The wind was mentioned in v.24 without the description of being “strong.”
Where is the only other time in Matthew that κύριος and σῴζω occur together? 8.25 > In case you had not yet made the connection, this points you to the relationship between the incident of Jesus stilling the storm in 8.23-27 and this pericope.

CEV Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, "You surely don't have much faith. Why do you doubt?"

MSG Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?"

NET Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

NIV Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

NLT Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"

NRS Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

BGT εὐθέως δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἐπελάβετο αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ὀλιγόπιστε, εἰς τί ἐδίστασας;

Note the title Jesus uses to address Peter: ὀλιγόπιστος. Where else is this term used in Matthew? 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8
Does this term express criticism or sympathy? It is not a flattering term, but Jesus mainly uses it sympathetically or as a way of encouraging to greater faith.
Where else isδιστάζω used in Matthew? 28.17 at the resurrection appearance to the disciples
What is the relationship between faith (πιστ-) and doubt (διστάζω) in Matthew. Matthew does also use forms of απιστ- to indicate complete lack of faith or faithlessness. To doubt is to hesitate or waver in one’s faith, and as such, it is a characteristic of being ὀλιγόπιστος.

CEV When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down.

MSG The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down.

NET When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased.

NIV And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

NLT When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

NRS When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

BGT καὶ ἀναβάντων αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος.

CEV The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, "You really are the Son of God!"

MSG The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"

NET Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

NIV Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

NLT Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.

NRS And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

BGT οἱ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ.

What does the word προσκυνέω mean in this context? προσκυνέω can mean ‘worship’ in a formal sense or it can be more simply a getsure of supplication or submission before a superior. The translations probably are right in using “worship” in this passage. Note how the word is used elsewhere in Matthew 2:2; 2:8; 2:11; 4:9; 4:10; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 18:26; 20:20; 28:9; 28:17.
Where else does the phrase ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς occur in Matthew? The centurion and the other soldiers at the cross say it of Jesus at his death in 27.54.
Is the lack of definite articles inθεοῦ υἱὸς significant? Note the other times “son of God” occurs in Matthew in 4:3; 4:6; 5:9; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 26:63 *2; 27:40; 27:43; 27:54. It does appear that Matthew is somewhat careful with his usage. In 16.16, Peter’s assertion is that Jesus is THE Christ THE Son of THE (one) God. Since the disciples here use the same phrase as the Roman soldiers at the cross, it is likely better to translate with, “Truly you are God’s Son,” leaving open the question of whether Jesus is a Son of God or THE Son of God (as Peter will make clear in 16.16).