Matthew 14:32-33

Matthew 14:32-33

[32] And  when they  into  the ship,  the wind  ceased.  [33] Then  they that were in  the ship  and worshipped  him,  saying,  Of a truth  the Son  of God. 

What does Matthew 14:32-33 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The stilling of the wind is not the climax of the story. The disciples" worship of Jesus is. This is the first time they addressed Jesus with His full title ( Matthew 16:16; Matthew 26:63; Matthew 27:40; Matthew 27:43; Matthew 27:54; cf. Matthew 3:17; Matthew 4:3; Matthew 4:6). This was a new high for the disciples in their appreciation of Jesus" person.
"Retrospectively, the disciples, in making this confession, are giving answer to the earlier question they had raised in an equally perilous situation at sea: "What sort of man is this, that even wind and sea obey him?" ( Matthew 8:27)." [1]
In view of their later lapses, the disciples evidently understood this title in the Messianic sense, but their understanding was still not very mature (cf. Mark 6:52). Perhaps, too, their confession here arose from the drama of the moment, whereas later they may have forgotten what they had spoken so truly about Jesus.
"Several important lessons can be learned from this account. (a) Courage comes from knowing that Jesus is present. (b) The answer to fear is faith, and faith is best placed in the One who is identified as the "I Am." (c) Doubt is an evidence of a divided mind. (d) Confessing Jesus" divine sonship is evidence of faith." [2]