Matthew 8:26

III. THE TEMPEST STILLED.

26.. ye of little faith.

According to Matthew he characterizes them as of " little faith; " according to Mark he asked, How have ye no faith? according to Luke, Where is your faith? The spirit of the rebuke is the same in all the amounts; very probably neither has preserved Christ's exact words. That he first stilled the tempest, and then addressed his admonition to the disciples seems to me most probable; for during the howling of the storm his admonition could have had but little effect.-- L. Abbott. Next to none, or none in present exercise. Faith they had, for they applied to Christ for relief; but little, for they were afraid, though Christ was in the ship. Faith dispels fear, but only in proportion to its strength.-- D. Brown.

Rebuked the winds and the sea.

This seems to have been almost, so to say, our Lord's formula in working miracles. The fever (Luke 4:39), the frenzy of the demoniac (Mark 9:25), the tempest, are all treated as if they were hostile and rebel forces that needed to be restrained.-- Ellicott. Mark gives the very words of the rebuke: "Peace, be still." Peace, be still. Literally, be dumb, be muzzled, as though the howling wind was. maniac to be gagged and bound.-- Ellicott. It is. solemn,. wonderful moment in the gospel history. We have read this story so often, and read it so carelessly, that this moment in the life of Christ fails to make its due impression. The Lord rises, confronting the storm, speaks as the Master of the elements that are raging about him,--and the result is immediate.-- Dean Howson.

A great calm.

The calm was great from the completeness of the stillness, and great from the contrast with the previous storm, and great as the product of. wonderful power. And with it the terrors of their hearts, the winds and waves within the soul, were composed. So when the fearful sinner resorts to Christ his word of forgiveness allays the storm, and there is. great calm.-- Whedon.