Commentary on the Four Gospel Books
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
G068 Conditions for Following the Lord Jesus
– The Lord Jesus Calms the Storm
Matthew 8:18-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; 9:57-62

Download PDF:
https://od.lk/f/MV8zMzk4MjgyMjRf
https://od.lk/fl/MV8xODI0MzMzNl8

Please share this website with all your friends and family members. Thank you, and God bless.

All the Bible verses quoted in this article are from the King James Version.

Matthew 8:18-27

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Mark 4:35-41

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Luke 8:22-25

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Luke 9:57-62

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

In this lesson, we will learn together about some conditions required to follow the Lord and the miracle the Lord Jesus performed over the wind and the sea.

Matthew 8:18-20

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Luke 9:57-58

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

The Lord Jesus and His disciples were in the city of Capernaum, and the Lord wanted to sail to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. On the way, as the Lord Jesus and His disciples were going from His lodging to the seashore, a man approached Him and said, “Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Matthew records this as “a certain scribe,” while Luke notes it as “a certain man.” Perhaps Matthew knew the man was a scribe, while the person narrating to Luke did not.

Matthew also records that the scribe addressed the Lord Jesus as “Master,” while Luke records, according to the narrator, “Lord.”

Once again, we understand that the Bible may record a person’s words verbatim or record their words as recounted by someone else. Even though some words in the statements might differ, they all refer to the same person, object, or event. Therefore, the Bible does not contradict itself and always accurately records what happened or what was narrated.

The Lord Jesus said to the scribe, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” The scribes, who were those dedicated to manually copying and interpreting the Scriptures, were usually associated with the Pharisaic sect of Judaism. They often came from wealthy backgrounds and were respected by the Israelites. In contrast, those who followed the Lord Jesus or became His disciples were often from poor, uneducated, or less educated backgrounds. The Lord Jesus had no possessions and did not earn money. Since He began His ministry, He and His disciples have lived on the support of a few wealthy women (Luke 8:3) and perhaps on donations from some people among the populace.

“The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests” signifies that foxes and birds each have their own fixed places to live.

“But the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” highlights that the Lord Jesus did not have a fixed place to live. He traveled everywhere to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. He did not own a house. He did not have a personal place to sleep. The life of the Lord and those who followed Him was not one of wealth, convenience, or comfort. Not to mention, there were times of persecution, harassment, and expulsion by those opposed to the Gospel. The Lord Jesus wanted to convey the reality of His life for the scribe to reconsider his decision. We do not know the scribe’s reaction to the Lord’s words, as the Bible does not record it.

Today, those who decide to follow the Lord Jesus also need to understand that they must accept a simple life, often facing difficulties, shortages, and persecution. For the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world (John 18:36). God’s people are not of this world and are hated by the world (John 17:14). Moreover, the student is not above the teacher, nor is the servant above the master (Matthew 10:24).
In reality, living according to the Word of God, means that even if one’s material life is not affluent, having food and clothing is enough for us to be content (1 Timothy 6:8). Because being content with a modest life helps us to abandon greed and the desire to become rich. Only then can we avoid “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9).

We are merely sojourners, travelers passing through this life (Hebrews 11:13). It won’t be long before we leave this life and enter our heavenly home, the Holy City of Jerusalem, in heaven. All the fame, pleasures, wealth, and material comforts of this life do not belong to us. They are merely means given by God for us to use to live for Him while we are still in our present physical bodies. We should not abuse or become enamored with them. All of them will pass away (1 Corinthians 7:31).

One of the conditions for following the Lord is being ready to live simply and endure suffering, just as the Lord did.

Matthew 8:21-22

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luke 9:59-60

59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Matthew records only the words of one of the Lord’s disciples, asking permission to go and bury his father before following the Lord. However, Luke includes the Lord Jesus’ speaking to that disciple and adds the command, “But go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

It is very likely that Matthew recorded just the main point of the event, while Luke provided a more detailed account because the narrator for him was that very disciple.

The Lord’s disciples are those who believe in Him and obey all His teachings. Some of the Lord’s disciples closely followed Him, sometimes numbering up to about 120 people. Among them, the Lord Jesus chose 12 to be apostles; later, He sent an additional 70 to preach the Gospel to the Israelites. Other disciples continued living with their families, only occasionally coming to hear the Lord’s teachings, perhaps when He came to their area or nearby. We can also understand that during such times, they brought food or money to offer to the Lord. The one who asked the Lord for permission to go and bury his father was likely one of these disciples. However, the Lord wanted him to follow closely and devote himself to proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

The request, “Lord, permit me to go and bury my father first,” can be understood in two ways:

• The person has just learned of his father’s passing and asks the Lord for permission to go and bury his father before following Him.

• The person’s father is elderly and frail, nearing death, so he asks the Lord for permission to go and care for his father until his passing and burial before following Him.

The person’s request is reasonable. Caring for and burying one’s parents is an act of filial piety in accordance with God’s commandments. However, in this case, the call to serve the Lord takes precedence over fulfilling the duties of children. Since the remaining time of the Lord Jesus is short, He wants the person to follow closely beside Him immediately to learn and dedicate himself to the ministry of proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

“Let the dead bury their dead” means let those who are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) bury their own dead. The Israelites would easily understand this statement from the Lord because they often referred to those who did not obey God’s commandments as the dead.

The phrase “their own dead” implies that the disciple’s father, whether on the verge of death or already deceased, is also spiritually dead.

We need to understand that the disciple’s situation in the story is unique. Because the time left for the Lord to teach and train him is very short. He needs to immediately follow the Lord. This story does not imply that those called by the Lord are not allowed to take time to care for or attend the burial of their parents. However, God’s people do not prioritize caring for or burying their parents above serving the Lord. Especially not wasting money, time, and effort in caregiving and burial. God’s people prioritize using money, time, and effort for the work of preaching the Kingdom of God.

One of the conditions of following the Lord is to respond promptly to His call, placing other matters as secondary. When necessary, other tasks can be set aside for others to do.

Luke 9:61-62

61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Only Luke records this story. Perhaps Matthew was not nearby to hear about it, and Mark did not hear anyone recount it.

We do not know if “another” person in this story was a disciple of the Lord or one of the crowds following the Lord to listen to His teachings. We believe that the scribe and this person also belonged to the Lord’s disciples but did not always closely follow Him. This person wanted to go back home to bid farewell to family members and perhaps also to arrange household matters. The Lord did not allow it. Perhaps for the same reason as with the person who requested to bury his father, because the remaining time for the Lord to teach and train him was very short.

The one who holds the plow must look straight ahead to ensure the furrow is accurate. If he plows while looking back, whether to admire the skillful furrow or to regret that the furrow is not straight, it will not help the work. The Lord’s answer implies that those who follow Him but do not look forward to moving forward, to serving Him, but instead look back to the past, preoccupied with what belongs to their old life, are not worthy of the Kingdom of God. Because they will not be able to focus on living according to the Word of God and serving Him.

One of the conditions of following the Lord is to no longer be preoccupied with unnecessary aspects of the old way of life.

There are those who are not specifically called to proclaim the Gospel but are eager to act. Some who are called provide legitimate reasons for postponement. Some who are called immediately abandon everything to respond to the call. We need to remember that although every child of God has the duty to proclaim the death of the Lord Jesus until He comes, that is, to preach the Gospel (1 Corinthians 11:26), only those who are specifically called separate themselves for the ministry of preaching the Gospel or teaching the Word of God to God’s people. Because these positions must be entrusted by the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 4:11). If not specifically called to a position, do not step into it on your own initiative. If called, do not delay for any reason, but eagerly respond to the call, striving to fulfill the entrusted duties. Once in the position, do not cling to unnecessary aspects of the old way of life.

Matthew 8:23

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

Mark 4:35-36

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

Luke 8:22

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

After teaching the three individuals as mentioned above, the Lord Jesus, along with some of His disciples, entered a boat. Mark specifies that it was in the evening of the same Sabbath day that the Lord Jesus taught the first parables about the Kingdom of God. Perhaps the sun was nearly setting at that time. Despite the fact that earlier the Lord had dismissed the crowd before returning from the seaside to the house where he stayed (Matthew 13:36), some still followed Him. Perhaps they had waited outside that house, and when the Lord left the house to go back to the seaside, they followed Him again.

Mark also adds a detail that “there were also with Him other little ships.” Perhaps because the number of disciples following the Lord at that time was quite large, one boat could not accommodate them all.

Luke uses the term “launched forth” (G321), a characteristic of someone skilled in writing, using precise language with polished style. And the Holy Spirit allows those He uses to write the Scripture to write freely with their vocabulary, as long as they do so truthfully.

Matthew 8:24-25

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Mark 4:37-38

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Luke 8:23

23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

Matthew records, “there arose a great tempest in the sea.” Mark writes, “there arose a great storm of wind.” Whereas Luke notes, “there came down a storm of wind on the lake.”

We see that Matthew does not specify the cause of the sea’s disturbance. Mark attributes it to a great windstorm that arose. Luke also mentions a windstorm but vividly describes it as “came down on the lake,” providing a precise and evocative depiction. This may have been a swirling windstorm causing strong agitation of the water, creating high waves that crashed onto the boats, causing them to fill with water. If the water was not bailed out of the boats quickly enough, they would sink, resulting in fatal accidents.

Of course, the disciples of the Lord were afraid. But the Lord, lying His head down on a cushion, was sound asleep at the stern of the boat, near the helmsman. Amidst the noise of the wind and waves and perhaps the cries of the disciples bailing water out of the boat, the Lord continued to sleep peacefully until someone woke Him. This shows that the Lord had experienced a very exhausting day.

Matthew recorded the disciples’ plea as follows: “Lord, save us: we perish.” While Mark noted, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Both phrases may represent the words of different disciples.

The situation of the disciples being on the boat with the Lord and encountering a storm, facing the risk of shipwreck and potential loss of life, is similar to how we each journey with the Lord every day and encounter challenges that could harm us. But the important thing is that the Lord is always by our side, and we can call upon Him. The promise of the Lord is that whoever calls on His name will be saved (Romans 10:13). And God does not allow any temptation or trial to be beyond our endurance. He always provides a way out for us, as long as it is not due to our own sinful desires (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must crucify our old sinful nature and put on the new self in Christ after being renewed by the Lord.

Matthew 8:26-27

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Mark 4:39-41

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Luke 8:24-25

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Matthew records that the Lord spoke to the disciples before rebuking the wind and the sea. Mark and Luke record that the Lord rebuked the wind and the sea before speaking to the disciples.

The words of the Lord rebuking the disciples are also recorded differently by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We believe that Matthew recorded the exact words of the Lord: “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” And He spoke to them in this way before rebuking the wind and the sea.

Mark records, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” And Luke writes, “Where is your faith?” Perhaps both of them recorded according to the narrative of the storyteller who recounted the events to them. This includes the recording of the Lord speaking to the disciples after He had spoken to the wind and the sea. The storytellers recounted from memory and according to their understanding, but their narration does not distort the meaning of the words of the Lord or the reality of the events that occurred.

The disciples followed the Lord Jesus and often witnessed Him performing miracles and wonders; they even saw Him calling the dead back to life. Yet, they still feared death in the face of disasters. To have such fear with the Lord by their side is indeed a lack of faith, or no faith at all. In today’s world, the lives of God’s people will increasingly encounter difficulties and dangers due to negative changes in the living environment, natural disasters, diseases, famine, war, and even persecution for their faith. But the Lord continues to accompany His people until the end (Matthew 28:20). Therefore, if God’s people truly have faith in Him, they will not fear in any circumstance, even when facing death without seeing a way out. God’s people understand that the Lord can use death to rescue them from the pain and suffering of the world. The important thing for God’s people to do is to maintain their faith in the Lord and to call upon Him when faced with adversity. Another important thing is for God’s people to present all their actions to the Lord, asking for His grace and protection, so that they may yield good results.

Matthew wrote, “Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Mark recorded, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

The word “Peace,” is the Lord’s rebuke (G2008) to the wind. “Be still” is the Lord’s command (G2036) to the sea.

Luke, in his own style, wrote, “Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.” Luke’s choice of words, “the raging of the water,” instead of simply using the noun “sea” like Matthew and Mark, demonstrates his refined literary style.

The result was “a great calm.” The great calm was the complete cessation of the wind, causing the sea to no longer churn. This was certainly an extraordinary scene for the disciples of the Lord to witness. Just moments before, there were huge waves and fierce winds, and the boat was nearly sinking, but suddenly the sea became as calm as a sheet of paper, after the Lord’s rebuke.

The “exceedingly fear” that the disciples experienced was not fear of the sudden storm but fear of the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Both Matthew and Mark recorded the disciples’ similar question: “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” However, Luke recorded it differently: “What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” Perhaps both versions are the original words of the disciples. Some may have phrased it as Matthew and Mark recorded it, while others may have expressed it as Luke did.

In the original Greek language of the Bible, “What manner of man is this” or “What manner of thing is this” is an idiom used to express surprise when witnessing someone performing something extraordinary or when encountering something extraordinary. The pronoun “οὗτος” (G3778) is used for people, objects, and events; it can be translated as this person, this thing, this event. The pronoun “τίς” (G5101) is also used for people, objects, and events; it can be translated as who or what.

Also in the original Greek language of the Bible, Matthew used the adjective “ποταπός” (G4217), while Mark and Luke used the pronoun “τίς” (G5101) in the usual manner of speech. Both convey a similar meaning, but the adjective “ποταπός” emphasizes the character or quality of a person, thing, or event. Roughly, Matthew’s writing could be translated as: What kind of person is this?

The strong wind and the tempest caused the sea to churn and swell. Both are natural phenomena, beyond the control of humans. Although nowadays, with the advancements in science and technology, humans can create artificial storms or water waves, they certainly cannot dissolve natural storms or water waves formed by nature. Therefore, the disciples of the Lord Jesus were greatly afraid of His authority when they witnessed, after His command, the wind and sea calm in an extraordinary manner. Only the power of God could achieve such a feat. However, the Lord Jesus, in His human incarnation, did not use the power of God Himself, which He had relinquished when He took on human form (Philippians 2:6-8). Instead, He accomplished this by having complete faith in God and by the authority bestowed upon Him by God in the person of the Spirit. It was the Lord Jesus Himself who said:

“…Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20).

And:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12).

Since the Church was established until now, we have not seen any verified records documenting how God’s people, through faith and the power of God, have caused nature to obey. But we believe that every word spoken by the Lord Jesus is true. If God’s people have faith, they can, in the necessary circumstances, command nature to obey. The question to ask is, do any of us have faith in the words of the Lord to command nature when needed?

We conclude this lesson here.

May the Holy Spirit guide us into all the truths of God’s Word (John 16:13). May the Word of God sanctify us (John 17:17). May the Faithful *God of Peace Himself sanctify our spirit, soul, and body entirely, without blame (1 Thessalonians 5:23), at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Beloved Savior. Amen!

Timothy Christian Huynh
Priscilla Christian Huynh
06/08/2024