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Matthew 14:22-33

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
    • "Crossing the Waters"
    • "Faith" 
  • Primary comparative texts about Prayer and Piety at Dr Mahlon H Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus (Rutgers University). See esp "Hanina Stills A Storm."
  • Chapter IX, Chapter XII, On Baptism,  Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter LV, On The Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • English text of Augustine's sermons on Matt 14:24-33:
    • "But the Boat Was Now in the Midst of the Sea,"
      • "Yet, Brethren, this exceeding trouble is not in this ship, save only in the absence of the Lord. What! can he who is in the Church, have his Lord absent from him ? When has he his Lord absent from him? When he is overcome by any lust."
    • "Of the Lord Walking Upon the Waves of the Sea, and of Peter Tottering."
      • "Let us, looking at ourselves in this member of the Church, distinguish what is of God, and what of ourselves."
  • Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew, St. Chrysostom (c. 380):
    • Homily L - Matthew 14:23, 24
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "We must sail even through mighty tempests, and Christ will never forsake us, so that we can go wherever he has commanded us to go."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Peter walked upon the water, not for diversion or to boast of it, but to go to Jesus; and in that he was thus wonderfully borne up. Special supports are promised, and are to be expected, but only in spiritual pursuits; nor can we ever come to Jesus, unless we are upheld by his power..."    "...Peter walked upon the water, not for diversion or to boast of it, but to go to Jesus; and in that he was thus wonderfully borne up. Special supports are promised, and are to be expected, but only in spiritual pursuits; nor can we ever come to Jesus, unless we are upheld by his power."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "He was afraid - Though he had been used to the sea, and was a skilful swimmer. But so it frequently is. When grace begins to act, the natural courage and strength are withdrawn."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "But when Christ and "His words" are unpopular, the same instinctive desire to stand well with others begets that temptation to be ashamed of Him which only the expulsive power of a higher affection can effectually counteract."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "The Jews, who used to divide the night into three watches, latterly adopted the Roman division into four watches, as here; so that, at the rate of three hours to each, the fourth watch, reckoning from six The Jews, who used to divide the night into three watches, latterly adopted the Roman division into four watches, as here; so that, at the rate of three hours to each, the fourth watch, reckoning from six P.M., would be three o'clock in the morning."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • "Peter," Frederick Buechner, Buechner Blog.
    • "From fisher of fish to fisher of people to keeper of the keys to shepherd. It was the Rock's final promotion, and from that day forward he never let the head office down again."
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • Commentary, Matthew 14:22-33, Mark G. Vitalis Hoffman, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "So, leave walking on water to Jesus. That ship which is the church is where we want to be, and it can provide the way for us to get to other places, so that disciples of the Son of God can be moving throughout the land!"
  • "Faith Within the Chaos," Matthew L. Skinner, ON Scripture, 2011.
    • "It is the nature of faith -- humble, active faith -- to be willing to throw oneself into a disorderly world and expect to encounter Jesus there."
  • Jesus Walks on Water, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
  • "The Road Less Traveled," David Lose, Dear Working Preacher, 2011.
  • "Too much of American Christianity, I think, has forgotten that, reducing the gospel to one more spiritual self-help recipe, hardly different from what you might hear on Oprah."
  • "Salvation and Fear and Jesus' Ghost," Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • "How can we preach this tired story in a way that people can hear it?"
  • Preaching Matthew 14:22-33, Anna Carter Florence, Lectionary Homiletics sample.
    • "It is not up to us to walk on water. It is up to us to hear the call, and then to believe that it is not a ghost, not the Tempter, not our imaginations playing tricks on us, but really and truly Jesus."
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Matthew 14:22-33, David Ewart, 2011.
  • "Walking on the sea is not an idle, capricious, magic trick. After spending time alone in prayer, Jesus has stepped out onto the back of a chaotic and dangerous spirit to go and be with his friends."
  • "Dipping a Toe into the World of Trust," Neil Chappell, a weird thing, 2011.
    • "We can’t see the bigger picture..."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 8, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "The story recalls images of Yahweh walking over the waters in the Psalms and Job (Ps 77:19; Job 9:8). Most of the nature miracles and a number of others besides have been shaped by Old Testament images."
  • "The Dolphin of Gennesareth," William Loader. Imagining the storm differently.
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "We may want to remind our hearers, they are sitting in the 'nave' of the building -- a word whose origins come from the Latin navis which means 'boat' or 'ship'. The 'ship' we are in was not intended to stay tied up to the dock."
    Commentary, Matthew 14:22-33, Marilyn Salmon, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
  • "Don't Be Afraid," Rev. Todd Weir, bloomingcactus.
    • "Fear comes in many forms, private and public.  It knows no ideological boundaries and none of us are ever completely free of it in making decisions.  Letting go of fear and facing ourselves is as frightening as the thought and stepping out of our safe boats and walking across the water as if it were dry land."
  • "Fishermen Rush In," Daniel Deffenbaugh, Seeds of Shalom, 2008.
    • "So an oft-overlooked truth of discipleship lies in this: Fishermen rush in where ordinary saints fear to tread. This is a miracle that has less to do with a divine suspension of the laws of physics than with a grace-induced interruption of the weaknesses of our human nature."
  • "Miracles and Walking on Water," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
    • "Miracles aren?t necessarily Biblical magic which confounds the mind such as the body levitating or floating in air; or the magic of a shorter leg miraculously stretching out three to four inches.  The focus of miracles isn?t on some magical voodoo or natural laws that have been violated.  Rather, a God given miracle is a series of events and the timing of events in such a way that convince us that God has intervened in our lives."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Dylan's Lectionary Blog, Proper 14. Biblical Scholar Sarah Dylan Breuer looks at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary of the Episcopal Church.
    • "...faith is about doing. A faithful person eventually gets to the point at which s/he can say to God, 'I don't know where you're going, but I know that wherever it is, I'd rather be drowning with you than be crowned by somebody else.'"
  • "Stepping Out," Amy B. Hunter, The Christian Century, 2005.
    • "God does not demand that I step out of airplanes...But, like Peter, I can step forward, even if the ground beneath me is no more substantial than water."
  • Matthew in the Margins, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • Sermon Preparation Thoughts and Questions by Wesley White, 2005.
    • "Look for affirmations -- an affirmation to call folks forward -- an affirmation to recognize a call into uncharted water -- an affirmation of acting on a recognized call, even if it goes against one's understanding of the usual processes of the world."
  • "Trust in Times of Stress," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "When do you find trust in God the most difficult?"
  • "Take Courage! It Is I!" Jerry Goebel, One Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study and activities.
    • "Peace in adversity, strength in trial, inner calm in the midst of an outer storm. We must understand that the Lord gives us his peace to send us out into service and not in out of difficulty. Therein lies the heart of the Gospel; Go out. Go out in service. Go towards the storm and I will give you courage in the chaos."
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 19A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • "Jesus Walks on the Water," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • Reflection on Matthew 14:22-33, Rev. Wanda Copeland. At Environmental Reflections, Lectionary Year A, Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, Environmental Stewardship Commission.
    • "We restrict our faith when we refuse to see that hand of God at work in all around us."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Walking on Water," wikipedia.
  • "Magic, Miracles, and The Gospel," L. Michael White. PBS From Jesus to Christ.
    • "Probably in some ways, and more than any other issue within the development of early Christianity and the gospels tradition, miracles present one of the problematic areas."
  • "Son of God in Roman Imperial Titles and Matthew," Robert L. Mowery, Biblica 2002.
    • "The christological formula qeou= ui(o/j, which appears in the NT only in three Matthean passages (14,33; 27,43.54), exactly parallels the two-word Roman imperial son of god formula found in the titulature of Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, Titus, and Domitian."
  • "Walking on Water," by David Bruce at Hollywood Jesus. A look at "walking on water" images in scripture and in Hollywood movies.
    • "Walking on Water is a symbol of conquering our fears and having power over evil."
  • "Jesus Walked on Ice: FSU scientist floats new idea in attempt to explain miracle," WorldNetDaily.com, 2008.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Adams, Joanna M., "Faith and Fear," Journal for Preachers, 1996. (Sermon)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Button-Harrison, Tim, "Walking on Water: Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 14:22-32," Brethren Life and Thought, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Derrett, J. Duncan M., "Why and How Jesus Walked on the Sea," Novum Testamentum, 1981.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Gaventa, Beverly R., "Doubt and Fear," The Christian Century, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Graves, Mike, "Followed by the Sun: Matthew 14:22-33," Review & Expositor, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • "Homiletical Helps," Concordia Journal, 2011. (Section on this text begins on page 160)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Hunter, Amy B., "Stepping Out," The Christian Century, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Jarvis, Cynthia A., "The Shadow Side," The Christian Century, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Verseput, Donald J., "The Faith of the Reader and the Narrative of Matthew 13:53 - 16:20,"  Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1992.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • Ecological Politics, Wayne Brouwer, SermonStudio.
  • "How Will You Know If It's Jesus?" Bishop William H. Willimon, Day 1, 2005.
  • "Fear and Chaos on the Sea," 12 Pentecost - 7 August 2005, Luke Bouman, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "Walking on Water," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Sermons from Seattle.
  • "What the Disciples Witnessed," the Rev. Ramona Soto Rank, Day 1, 2002.
  • "And Then Jesus Came..." the Rev. Dr. Robert Sims, Day 1, 1996.
  • "If You Want to Walk on Water...You Gotta Get out of the Boat," John Jewell, 1999.
  • Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily
    • Ordinary 19, 2011
    • Ordinary 19, 2005
    • Ordinary 19, 2002
    • Ordinary 19, 1999
    • Ordinary 19, 1996
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Proper 14, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2011.
  • "Children's Literature: A Resource for Ministry," August 7, 2011, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Matthew 14:22-33 and Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman and Jacky Davis..
  • Griselda's Turbulent Life, Janice Scott, The Village Shepherd.
  • "Jesus Walks on Water," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Peter Walks on Water," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "Jesus Walks on the Water," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
  • "Peter Walking on Water," Reader's Theater, Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, 2012.
  • "Conversation at an Inn," Sandy Boyce, pilgrimwr.uniting church.org.au, 2011.
  • "Capernaum St. 9 - Walking on Water," Jane and Mark Lewis, Potted Jam.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Matthew 14:31, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Clip Art Images: Matthew 14:22-33, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Matthew 14:22-33, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Matthew 14:22-33, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
  • Footprints in the..., After Eden Cartoons, Dan Lietha, Answers in Genesis.
• Hymns and Music:
  • “In Cana at a Wedding Feast,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, 1999.  This hymn celebrates Jesus' miracles (water into wine, feeding thousands, calming the storm and healing the blind) are celebrated as signs of God's love in the world then and now.  Tune:  ELLACOMBE 8.6.8.6 D (“I Sing the Mighty Power of God”).
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Matthew 13:23, 27, 29, 31. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • "We Listen," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Eternal Father, Strong to Save
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Storm on the Sea of Galilee/Walking on Water
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Hollywood Jesus visual essay, "Walking on Water."
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew

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