Matthew 14:28 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”

BSB

“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”

KJV

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

ASV

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters.

BBE

And Peter, answering, said to him, Lord, if it is you, give me the order to come to you on the water.

Original Greek

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Ἀποκριθεὶς Apokritheis Answering G611 δὲ de now G1161 αὐτῷ autō to Him G846 ὁ ho (the) G3588 Πέτρος Petros Peter G4074 εἶπεν eipen said G2036 κύριε kurie Lord G2962 εἰ ei if G1487 σὺ su You yourself G4771 εἶ ei [it] is G1510 κέλευσόν keleuson do command G2753 με me me G3165 ἐλθεῖν elthein to come G2064 πρός pros to G4314 σε se You G4771 ἐπὶ epi upon G1909 τὰ ta the G3588 ὕδατα hudata waters G5204

The early church

Or; That Peter alone out of all the number of those that were in the vessel has courage to answer, and to pray that the Lord would bid him come to Him upon the waters, figures the frowardness of his will in the Lord's passion, when following after the Lord's steps he endeavoured to attain to despise death. But his fearfulness shows his weakness in his after trial, when through fear of death, he was driven to the necessity of denial. His crying out here is the groaning of his repentance there.

Hilary of Poitiers · d. 367Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

What then saith Peter, everywhere ardent, and ever starting forward before the rest? "Lord, if it be Thou," saith he, "bid me come unto Thee on the water." He said not, "Pray and entreat," but, "bid." Seest thou how great his ardor, how great his faith? Yet surely he is hereby often in danger, by seeking things beyond his measure. For so here too he required an exceedingly great thing, for love only, not for display. For neither did he say, "Bid me walk on the water," but what? "Bid me come unto Thee." For none so loved Jesus. This he did also after the resurrection; he endured not to come with the others, but leapt forward. And not love only, but faith also doth he display. For he not only believed that He was able Himself to walk on the sea, but that He could lead upon it others also; and he longs to be quickly near Him.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Matthew

On every occasion Peter is found to be the one of the most ardent faith. And with the same zeal as ever, so now, while the others are silent, he believes that by the will of his Master he will be able to do that which by nature he cannot do; whence it follows, Peter answered and said unto him, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the water. As much as to say, Do thou command, and straightway it will become solid; and that body which is in itself heavy will become light.

Jerome · d. 420Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(Serm. 76. 5.) This I am not able by myself, but in Thee I am able. Peter confessed what he was in himself, and what he should receive from Him by whose will he believed he should be enabled to do that which no human infirmity was equal to.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 22–33

Those are not Christ's followers who cannot enjoy being alone with God and their own hearts. It is good, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to meet with storms in the way of duty, but he thereby shows himself with the more grace to them and for them. He can take what way he pleases to save his people. But even appearances of deliverance sometimes occasion trouble and perplexity to God's people, from mistakes about Christ. Nothing ought to affright those that have Christ near them, and know he is theirs; not death itself. Peter walked upon the water, not for diversion or to boast of it, but to go to Jesus; and in that he was thus wonderfully borne up. Special supports are promised, and are to be expected, but only in spiritual pursuits; nor can we ever come to Jesus, unless we are upheld by his power. Christ bade Peter come, not only that he might walk upon the water, and so know his Lord's power, but that he might know his own weakness. And the Lord often lets his servants have their choice, to humble and prove them, and to show the greatness of his power and grace. When we look off from Christ, and look at the greatness of opposing difficulties, we shall begin to fall; but when we call to him, he will stretch out his arm, and save us. Christ is the great Saviour; those who would be saved, must come to him, and cry to him, for salvation; we are never brought to this, till we find ourselves sinking: the sense of need drives us to him. He rebuked Peter. Could we but believe more, we should suffer less. The weakness of faith, and the prevailing of our doubts, displease our Lord Jesus, for there is no good reason why Christ's disciples should be of a doubtful mind. Even in a stormy day he is to them a very present help. None but the world's Creator could multiply the loaves, none but its Governor could tread upon the waters of the sea: the disciples yield to the evidence, and confess their faith. They were suitably affected, and worshipped Christ. He that comes to God, must believe; and he that believes in God, will come, He 11:6.

Read Matthew Henry on Matthew 14 →

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Peter