Mattheüs 14:29

29 En Hij zeide: Kom. En Petrus klom neder van het schip, en wandelde op het water, om tot Jezus te komen.

Mattheüs 14:29 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 14:29

And he said, come
This he said, partly to assure them who he was; for had he denied him, he and the rest might have concluded, it was none of Jesus; and partly to commend his love, and confirm his faith, by giving a further instance of his power, in enabling him to walk upon the water, as he did:

and when Peter was come down out of the ship;
as he immediately did, having orders from Christ; and being by this second speech fully convinced it was he

he walked on the water;
a little way, being supported and enabled by the power of Christ; for this was an extraordinary and miraculous action: for if it was so in Christ, it was much more so in Peter: Christ walked upon the water by his own power, as God; Peter walked upon the water, being held up by the power of Christ. The Jews F23 indeed, call swimming (Mymh ynp le hjyvh) , "walking upon the face of the waters": hence we read of a swimmer's vessel, which is explained to be what men make to learn in it, how (Mymh ynp le) (jwvl) , "to go or walk upon the face of the waters" F24; but then this is not going upon them upright, but prone, or lying along upon the surface of the waters, which was not Peter's case; he did not, as at another time, cast himself into the sea, and swim to Christ; see ( John 21:7 ) but as soon as he came down from the ship, standing upright, he walked upon the waters,

to go to Jesus;
not merely for walking sake, but for the sake of Christ, he dearly loved; that he might be with him, and be still more confirmed of the truth of its being he, and not a spirit.


FOOTNOTES:

F23 R. David Kimchi, Sepher Shorash. rad. (hxv) .
F24 R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel moed, fol. 78. 1.

Mattheüs 14:29 In-Context

27 Maar terstond sprak Jezus hen aan, zeggende: Zijt goedsmoeds, Ik ben het, vreest niet.
28 En Petrus antwoordde Hem, en zeide: Heere! indien Gij het zijt, zo gebied mij tot U te komen op het water.
29 En Hij zeide: Kom. En Petrus klom neder van het schip, en wandelde op het water, om tot Jezus te komen.
30 Maar ziende den sterken wind, werd hij bevreesd, en als hij begon neder te zinken, riep hij, zeggende: Heere, behoud mij!
31 En Jezus, terstond de hand uitstekende, greep hem aan, en zeide tot hem: Gij kleingelovige! waarom hebt gij gewankeld?
The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.