Matthew 14 25

Matthew 14:25 kjv

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 14:25 nkjv

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 14:25 niv

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

Matthew 14:25 esv

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 14:25 nlt

About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

Matthew 14 verses

Matthew 14 25 Meaning

This verse describes Jesus approaching His disciples during the darkest and most perilous time of the night, demonstrating His divine power by walking on the tumultuous sea. It highlights His supreme authority over creation and His active presence to aid His struggling followers in their hour of dire need.

Matthew 14 25 Context

Matthew chapter 14 begins with the gruesome account of John the Baptist's beheading, deeply impacting Jesus and His disciples. Seeking a secluded place, Jesus is instead met by crowds, leading to the miraculous feeding of over 5,000 people (Mt 14:13-21). Following this, Jesus "made" (compelled) His disciples to enter a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, while He Himself ascended a mountain to pray in solitude (Mt 14:22-23). As evening descended, the disciples found themselves caught in a violent storm, straining against strong headwind and waves throughout the night (Mt 14:24). It is against this backdrop of darkness, human toil, and overwhelming natural forces that Jesus, observing their struggle from a distance, chooses to come to them in an astonishing manner. The "fourth watch" signifies the late, most arduous period of the night, emphasizing the length of their struggle and the precise, dramatic timing of Jesus' intervention.

Matthew 14 25 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, yet crucial. It links Jesus' prior acts of compassion (feeding the 5,000) and spiritual devotion (private prayer) directly to this astonishing display of power and care. It connects the previous divine activity to the unfolding miracle.
• in the fourth watch (τετάρτῃ φυλακῇ - tetartē phylakē):
  • Fourth (τετάρτῃ - tetartē): The ordinal number indicates this specific watch. The Roman system, common in Galilee, divided the night (6 PM - 6 AM) into four watches of three hours each. The fourth watch spanned from 3 AM to 6 AM.
  • Watch (φυλακῇ - phylakē): Refers to a period of "guarding" or a "night watch." This precise timing is significant, highlighting that the disciples had endured hours of struggle against the storm. It represents the darkest, coldest, and most exhausting part of the night, when hope and strength would be at their lowest. This detail underscores the extremity of the disciples' plight and the precise divine timing of intervention.
• of the night (νυκτός - nyktos): Explicitly states the time of this event. Darkness amplified the danger, reduced visibility, and heightened the fear of the disciples, making Jesus' appearance even more startling and miraculous. It contrasts sharply with the divine light of Christ's presence.
• he went (ἀπῆλθεν - apēlthen): This verb, "he departed" or "he went away/forth," conveys deliberate movement and intention. Jesus wasn't accidentally present; He intentionally came to them. It shows divine initiative and pursuit.
• unto them (πρὸς αὐτούς - pros autous): Clearly identifies the specific beneficiaries and recipients of this miraculous intervention: His struggling disciples. It emphasizes Jesus' personal care and focus on their distress, demonstrating His presence in their moment of profound need.
• walking (περιπατῶν - peripatōn): A present participle, indicating a continuous, ongoing action, not a brief appearance or hovering. This action utterly defies natural law and showcases a supreme power over physical elements. It is an active demonstration of sovereignty.
• on the sea (ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν - epi tēn thalassan):
  • on (ἐπὶ - epi): The preposition "on" (or upon) here denotes direct contact with the surface.
  • the sea (θάλασσαν - thalassan): In ancient Near Eastern thought, "the sea" (θάλασσαν) often symbolized chaos, untamed forces, and realms beyond human control or understanding (e.g., Job 9:8, Ps 77:19). For Jesus to walk on the sea, especially during a storm, was an unprecedented display of power, a uniquely divine act, portraying Him as Lord over all creation, conquering disorder and asserting absolute authority over nature itself.

Word Group Analysis:

• "in the fourth watch of the night": This phrase sets the stage for extreme distress. The disciples have battled the storm for many hours. Their physical exhaustion and the profound darkness emphasize human limitation and vulnerability, highlighting the precise and dramatic moment of divine intervention when human hope was nearly depleted. It magnifies the miracle's impact.
• "he went unto them, walking on the sea": This concise statement captures the essence of the miracle and Jesus' divine nature. It conveys intentional divine initiative ("he went unto them") combined with a supernatural demonstration of power ("walking on the sea"). This action not only rescues them from physical danger but profoundly reveals Jesus' identity as God, echoing the Old Testament depictions of God's unique power over the waters. It's an active manifestation of care and deity.

Matthew 14 25 Bonus Section

The detail of the "fourth watch of the night" has practical significance for believers: it is often at our personal "fourth watch"—the point of deepest weariness, darkest struggle, and perceived hopelessness—that Christ draws nearest to reveal His power and comforting presence. This timing underscores Jesus' perfect knowledge of our struggles and His precise, timely intervention. This event also sets the stage for Peter's remarkable, albeit short-lived, act of walking on the water, illustrating both the incredible power available through faith in Christ and the human propensity to falter when doubt takes hold (Mt 14:28-31). The fear of the disciples upon seeing Jesus, mistaking Him for a ghost, further highlights the unprecedented nature of His action and their human limitations in grasping divine power without revelation. This miracle powerfully answers the disciples' earlier question in Matthew 8:27, "Who then is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" — a question now resoundingly answered through His mastery over the very element of the sea.

Matthew 14 25 Commentary

Matthew 14:25 succinctly presents one of the most astonishing miracles of Jesus, profoundly revealing His identity. Having observed His disciples' struggle through a night of intense toil against the stormy sea, Jesus intervenes in the pre-dawn darkness of the fourth watch. His act of walking on the turbulent waters is not merely an extraordinary feat but a direct assertion of divine sovereignty, previously attributed solely to God in Old Testament passages (e.g., Job 9:8, Ps 77:19). This defies all natural laws, portraying Him as Lord over creation itself, bringing order to chaos.

This intervention is born out of deliberate care; Jesus "went unto them" even as they despaired. His appearance at such an hour highlights that His presence is most manifest in our moments of deepest need and utter human helplessness. It reinforces that just as He sends them into a situation, He is ever-present to meet them in the midst of it. The miracle serves as a profound revelation of Christ's unparalleled authority, confirming that He is truly the Son of God, able to command nature and sustain His own amidst any trial.