Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus fed the multitude which included five thousand men plus women and children. Afterward, “Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, bid me come unto you on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;
and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty-one of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus saved Peter and said to him, “O you of little faith” where we read:
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him,
and said unto him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
The verse reads, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and immediately” which means “and straightway, shortly and forthwith” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “stretched forth” which means “extended or stretched out” “his hand” or “Jesus' hand”, “and caught him” which means “and laid hold of, took possession of, overtook and attained Peter”. Matthew shared how Jesus “reached out” His hand and “laid hold of Peter” when he cried out to Him.
The verse goes on to say, “and said unto him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew added the words, “and said” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto him” or “toward Peter”, “O you of little faith” or “O one who is incredulous, lacking confidence and trusting too little”, “why” or “for what reason and cause” “did you doubt” which means “did Peter waver in unbelief”? Matthew shared how Jesus questioned the reason for Peter's “doubt” as He called Him one who trusted too little.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus not only saved Peter, but also knew that he exhibited enough “faith” to “walk on water” in one moment and now was frightened, doubting and filled with unbelief. God loves people, and He desires for them to believe and trust in Him and His Son Jesus. Those who do should be filled with “faith”, keep their eyes upon Jesus and put aside all doubt, otherwise Jesus might say the same unto them, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt”?
Next time we see Matthew shares, “when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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