Matthew 14:27
in Matthew 14But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
KJV
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
⋯
This verse in Matthew 14
Commentary
11 notes on this verseWhereas He says, It is I, without saying who, either they might be able to understand Him speaking through the darkness of night; or they might know that it was He who had spoken to Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, He that is has sent me unto you. (Exod. 3:14.)
This site's exposition
tossed with waves
on Matthew 14:24-27
The ship was tossed with waves, the wind contrary, for hours through the night before Jesus came to them in the fourth watch, between three and six in the morning, walking on the sea. The disciples' cry, it is a spirit, betrays real terror rather than mere surprise, and his answer carries the weight of the divine name itself, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid, ego eimi echoing the LORD's own self-naming to Moses, spoken here over water that will not hold up any ordinary man's feet.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
But Christ coming in the end shall find His Church wearied, and tossed by the spirit of Anti-Christ, and by the troubles of the world. And because by their long experience of Anti-Christ they will be troubled at every novelty of trial, they shall have fear even at the approach of the Lord, suspecting deceitful appearances. But the good Lord banishes their fear, saying, It is I; and by proof of His presence takes away their dread of impending shipwreck.
(Verse 27) Immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Have confidence, I am, do not be afraid. He takes care of what was first in the matter and commands those who fear, saying: Have confidence, do not be afraid. And what follows, I am, does not add who he is, either from a voice they could recognize, who spoke through the darkness of the obscure night, or they repeated that he himself is the one who spoke to Moses: Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: He who is, has sent me to you (Exod. III, 14).
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 50 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
So did Christ at that time also, and did not discover Himself before they cried out. For the more intense their alarm, the more did they welcome His coming. Afterward when they had exclaimed, it is said, "Straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid." This word removed their fear, and caused them to take confidence. For as they knew Him not by sight, because of His marvellous kind of motion, and because of the time, He makes Himself manifest by His voice.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He first strengthens their resolve by saying: It is I Who can do all things; take courage.
And immediately he spoke to them etc. Here the assistance is presented. Because they were in darkness, he gives certainty; and he does three things. First, he reassures with words; second, Peter seeks a sign by deeds; third, it is granted to him. He had …
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But straightway Jesus spake unto them,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
The history contained in these verses is one of singular interest. The miracle here recorded brings out in strong light the character both of Christ and his people. The power and mercy of the Lord Jesus, and the mixture of faith and unbelief in his best disciples, are beautifully illustrated. We learn in the first place, from this miracle what absolute dominion our Saviour has over all created things. We see him “walking on the sea,” as if it was dry land.
The history contained in these verses is one of singular interest. The miracle here recorded brings out in strong light the character both of Christ and his people. The power and mercy of the Lord Jesus, and the mixture of faith and unbelief in his best disciples, are beautifully illustrated. We learn in the first place, from this miracle what absolute dominion our Saviour has over all created things. We see him “walking on the sea,” as if it was dry land. Those angry waves, which tossed the ship of his disciples to and fro, obey the Son of God and become a solid floor under his feet. That liquid surface, which was agitated by the least breath of wind, bears up the feet of our Redeemer like a rock. To our poor, weak minds, the whole event is utterly incomprehensible. The picture of two feet walking on the sea is said by Doddridge to have been the Egyptian emblem of an impossible thing; the man of science will tell us that for material flesh and blood to walk on water is a physical impossibility. Even for us to know that it was done. Enough for us toremember that to him who created the seas at the beginning, it must have been perfectly easy to walk over their waves when he pleased. There is encouragement here for all true Christians. Let them know that there is nothing created which is not under Christ’s control: all things serve him. He may allow his people to be tried for a season, and to be tossed to and fro by storms of trouble; he may be later than they wish in coming to their aid, and not draw near till the “fourth watch of the night:” but never let them forget that winds, and waves and storms are all Christ’s servants. They cannot move without Christ’s permission. “The lord on high is mightier tha the voice of many waters, yea than the mighty waves of the sea.” ( Psalm 93:4 ).
It is I; be not afraid - Nothing but this voice of Christ could, in such circumstances, have given courage and comfort to his disciples: those who are grievously tossed with difficulties and temptations require a similar manifestation of his power and goodness. When he proclaims himself in the soul, all sorrow, and fear, and sin are at an end.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εὐθὺς | euthus | Immediately | G2112 → | 87 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐλάλησεν | elalesen | spoke | G2980 → | 294 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰησοῦς | iesous | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| λέγων· | legon | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| θαρσεῖτε· | tharseite | Take courage! | G2293 → | 7 times |
| ἐγώ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| εἰμι, | eimi | it is, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| φοβεῖσθε.¶ | phobeisthe | do fear. | G5399 → | 95 times |
εὐθὺςImmediately
euthusG2112 →87 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐλάλησενspoke
elalesenG2980 →294 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἸησοῦςJesus
iesousG2424 →908 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
λέγων·saying;
legonG3004 →1325 times
θαρσεῖτε·Take courage!
tharseiteG2293 →7 times
ἐγώI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
εἰμι,it is,
eimiG1510 →2333 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
φοβεῖσθε.¶do fear.
phobeistheG5399 →95 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Isaiah 43:1–2
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Joshua 1:9
Through
John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
it leads to
- John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- 1 John 5:4
because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
- John 14:27
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Matthew
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Hilary of Poitiers, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 50; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.