A Sermon of St John Chrysostom on the Gospel Parallel (Matt. 8:23-27)
(Homilies XXVII in Vol X, NPNF(1st))
Matthew Chapter 8, Verse 23 And Matthew Chapter 8, Verse 24
"And when He was entered into a ship, Hi 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."
Now Luke, to free himself from having the order of time required of
Him, saith thus, "And if came to pass on a certain day that He went
into a ship with His disciples;" and Mark in like manner. But this
evangelist not so, but he maintains the order in this place also. For they
did not all of them write all things in this way. And these things I have
mentioned before, let any one from the omission should suppose there was
a discordance.
The multitudes then He sent on, but the disciples He took with Himself:
for the others mention this too. And He took them with Him, not for nought,
nor at hazard, but in order to make them spectators of the miracle that
was to take place. For like aa most excellent trainer, He was anointing
them with a view to both objects; as well to be undismayed in dangers,
a to be modest in honors. Thus, that they might not be high minded, because
having sent away the ret, He retained them, He suffers them to be tossed
with the tempest; at once correcting this, and disciplining them to bear
trials nobly.
For great indeed were the former miracles too, but this contained also
in it a king of discipline, and that no inconsiderable one, and was a sign
akin to that of old. For this cause He takes the disciples only with Himself.
For as, when there was a display of miracles, He suffers the people also
to be present; so when trial and terrors were rising up against Him, then
He takes with Him none but the champions of the whole world, whom He was
to disciple.
And while Matthew merely mentioned that "He was asleep," Luke
saith that it was "on a pillow;" signifying both His freedom from
pride, and to teach us hereby a high degree of austerity.
The tempest therefore being thoroughly excited, and the sea raging,
"They awake Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish" But He rebuked
them before He rebuked the sea. Because as I said, for discipline these
things were permitted, and they were a type of the temptations that were
to overtake them. Yea, for after these things again, He often suffered
them to fall into more grievous tempests of fortune, and bare long with
them. Wherefore Paul also said, "I would not, brethren, have you ignorant.
that we were pressed out of measure beyond strength, insomuch that we despaired
even of life;" and after this again, "Who delivered us from so great
deaths." Signifying therefore hereby, that they ought to be confident,
though the waves rise high. and that He orders all things for good, He
first of all reproves them. For indeed their very alarm was a profitable
occurrence, that the miracle might appear greater, and their remembrance
of the event be rendered lasting. Since when anything strange is about
to happen, there are prepared beforehand many things to cause remembrance,
lest after the miracle hath passed by, men should sink into forgetfulness.
Thus Moses also first is in fear of the serpent. and not merely in fear,
but even with much distress: and then he sees that strange thing come to
pass. So these too, having first looked to perish, were then saved, that
having confessed the danger, they might learn the greatness of the miracle.
Therefore also He sleeps: for had He been awake when it happened, either
they would not have feared, or they would not have besought Him, or they
would not so much as have thought of His being able to do any such thing.
Therefore He sleeps, to give occasion for their timidity. and to make their
perception of what was happening more distinct. For a man looks not with
the same eyes on what happens in the persons of others, as in his own.
Therefore since they had seen all benefitted, while themselves had enjoyed
no benefit, and were supine (for neither were they lame, nor had they any
other such infirmity); and it was meet they should enjoy His benefits by
their own perception: He permits the storm, that by their deliverance they
might attain to a clearer perception of the benefit.
Therefore neither doth He this in the presence of the multitudes, that
they might not be condemned for little faith, but He has them apart, and
corrects them, and before the tempest of the waters He puts an end to the
tempests of their soul, rebuking them, and saying,
"Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith:" instructing them
also, that men's fear is wrought not by the approach of the temptations,
but by the weakness of their mind.
But should any one say, that it was not fearfulness, or little faith,
to come near and awaken Him; I would say this, that that very thing was
an especial sign of their wanting the right opinion concerning Him. That
is, His power to rebuke when awakened they knew, but that He could do so
even sleeping, they knew not as yet.
And why at all marvel that it was so now, when even after many other
miracles their impressions were still rather imperfect? wherefore also
they are often rebuked; as when He saith, "Are ye also yet without understanding?"
Marvel not then, if when the disciples were in such imperfect dispositions,
the multitudes had no exalted imagination of Him. For
"They marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the
sea and the winds obey Him?"
But Christ chode not with them for calling Him a man, but waited to
teach them by His signs, that their supposition was mistaken. But from
what did they think Him a man? First from His appearance, then from His
sleeping, and His making use of a ship. So on this account they were cast
into perplexity, saying, "What manner of man is this?" since while
the sleep and the outward appearance showed man, the sea and the calm declared
Him God.
For because Moses had once done some such thing, in this regard also
doth He signify His own superiority, and that the one works miracles as
a slave, the other as Lord. Thus, He put forth no rod, as Moses did, neither
did He stretch forth His hands to Heaven, nor did He need any prayer, but,
as was meet for a master commanding His handmaid, or a creator His creature,
so did He quiet and curb it by word and command only; and all the surge
was straightway at an end, and not one trace of the disturbance remained.
For this the evangelist declared saying, "And there was a great calm."
And that which had been spoken of the Father as a great thing, this He
showed forth again by His works. And what had been said concerning Him?
"He spake," it saith, "and the stormy wind ceased." So here
likewise, He spake, and "there was a great calm." And for this most
of all did the multitudes marvel at him; who would not have marvelled,
had He done it in such manner as did Moses.
