Matthew 14:33 - Exposition

Matthew only. Then —and (Revised Version, δέ )— they that were in the ship; boat (Revised Version). If there were others than the disciples in the boat, as is probable, these also would be included; but the disciples would naturally take the lead (cf. the notes on Matthew 8:23 , Matthew 8:27 ). Came and. The Revised Version omits these two words, with the manuscripts. They are due to the analogy of Matthew 8:2 ; Matthew 9:18 . Worshipped him ( Matthew 4:9 , note). In Matthew 8:27 we read of wonder; here, of homage. Saying, Of a truth ( ἀληθῶς ); cf. Matthew 5:18 , s.v. "verily." The word seems to imply that the suggestion did not enter their minds now for the first time. Two had, perhaps, heard the words spoken at the baptism ( Matthew 3:17 ), and most of them, if not all, the utterance by the demons in Matthew 8:29 . Yet these utterances in reality far surpassed what they even nosy imagined ( vide infra ) . Thou art the Son of God ( θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ ) . Although the phrase is not of the definite form found in Matthew 26:63 and Matthew 16:16 , where it is used with express reference to the Messiahship of Jesus (cf. for the intermediate form, Matthew 27:40 with 43), yet it is impossible to take it here as merely referring to a moral relation between Jesus and God. In Matthew 27:54 this might be sufficient (Luke has "righteous''); but here there is no question of coming up to a standard of moral uprightness, but rather of manifestation of power, and this is connected with Messiah. His authority over the elements leads to the homage of those who witness its exercise, and forces from them the expression that he is the promised Representative of God on earth ( Psalms 2:7 ; cf. Matthew 2:15 , note). Observe, however, that not even so is it a profession of faith in his absolute Divinity. (Kubel's note on this subject in Matthew 8:29 is very good.)