Audio Download

Matthew 14:22–36 Peter Walks on the Water

[Study Aired July 7, 2025]

In today’s study, we shall look at the spiritual implication of the Lord and Peter walking on the waters of the sea. We shall also come to understand the spiritual meaning of the people of Gennesaret getting healed as they touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.  

Jesus Walks on the Water

Mat 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 

The word “straightaway” in verse 22 is to make us aware that it was immediately after the feeding of the five thousand that Jesus constrained His disciples to go to the other side where Jesus followed later. It shows us how the Lord worked as hard as a bull in fulfilling His ministry here on earth. Spiritually, this implies the zeal of the Lord to serve God and His elect. 

Joh 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 

According to Strong’s Dictionary, the word “constrained” can mean to compel by force. Therefore, the Lord constraining the disciples to get into a ship means that the Lord forced the disciples to get into the ship. This is to show us that we do not have free will as taught in the churches of this world. Yes, we do have a will, but our will is not free – it is caused. That is to say that it is the Lord who controls our will and all our actions. We therefore do not make decisions independent of the Lord. Even the sins we commit are caused by the Lord.

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 

Here in verse 1, the Lord constrained the disciples to get into a ship. A ship or boat is what causes us to journey through the sea without drowning. We know that the sea represents the flesh of humanity. This suggests that to an elect, the Lord drags us in this age to start this journey of overcoming the flesh as He comes to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. All the multitude were sent away by the Lord to their various places on foot. As we have indicated in our studies of the Book of Matthew, the multitude represents our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who are not given to become overcomers of the flesh, of which we were part at a certain stage of our walk. They are therefore not constrained by the Lord to overcome the flesh. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Our lives as an elect here on earth can therefore be likened to travelling in a boat over the sea, that is, overcoming the flesh, just as Jesus overcame the flesh in His life here on earth.

Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 

In the Book of Mark, we learn that the other side referred to in verse 22 is Bethsaida. 

Mar 6:45  Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away. (GW)

The name “Bethsaida” means house of fishing or simply, fishing. As we know, when Jesus called Peter and Andrew, he told them that they shall be fishers of men. We are called to fish for men, but before we can do this, we have to go to the other side. To get to the other side means we must overcome the flesh in this age in order become saviors of the world or fishers of men.   

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

The boat is where the Lord’s disciples were gathered in the midst of the sea, and it is what keeps us afloat on the sea. Our gathering or assembly is what helps us to become overcomers through what every joint supplies.

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

This mystery of how the Lord constrains us to get into a ship or boat as we overcome the pulls of the flesh is what Solomon mentioned as follows:

Pro 30:19  The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

The way of a man with a maid shows us the mystery of the Lord’s unflinching love for His elect.       

Mat 14:23  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 

This verse shows us that in spite of the ministry that the Lord has given to us, we must pay attention to our personal growth in Christ as we see Jesus sending away the disciples and the multitude so He can pray. Any relationship without effective communication is bound to have problems. Our relationship with Christ must be nurtured to grow through personal prayers and the study of His words. 

The mention of the fact that Jesus was alone when evening came is to show us that this walk is a lonely one. Lonely in the sense that we are going contrary to the wind or the standards of this world, and therefore not many people will agree with us regarding what the Lord is showing to us. In Paul’s letters, we can see that he was lonely as we see him telling Timothy to come to him as the whole of Asia had departed from him.

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 
2Ti 1:16  The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 
2Ti 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.    

2Ti 4:9  Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 
2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 
2Ti 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry

Mat 14:24  But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 

As the Lord constrains us to start this journey of overcoming the flesh in this life, He raises storms in our lives to bring us to our safe haven – to become overcomers as the flesh is destroyed through the Lord’s judgment. 

Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 

The wind being contrary in verse 24 implies that our walk with Christ in this life is in opposition to the standards of this world. As the Lord indicated in His words, going against the standards of this world means being renewed in our minds. The boat being thrown around by the waves because it was going against the wind indicates that it is because the Lord wants us to go against the standards of this world that is why He raises a storm in our lives or judges us. 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.    

Mat 14:25  And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 

A little while before morning, the Lord Jesus Christ came to His disciples by walking on the sea.  The dawning of the morning is when the day star, which is Christ, begins to rise in our hearts. That is the beginning of our  understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

To walk on the sea means to overcome the pulls of the flesh in our walk with Christ. Jesus going to His disciples as He walked on water is to show us, His elect, that as our understanding is enlightened, we are given to know that we can also overcome the pulls of the flesh in this life through Christ. It is also to show us that because He has overcome, we, too, shall overcome.

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

Mat 14:26  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 
Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 

Why were the disciples troubled? It was because since creation, no human being had been able to walk on the sea. Therefore, it must have been a spirit. Indeed, they were not far from the truth in the sense that it is those who walk in the spirit who do not fulfill the desires of the flesh or walk on the water of the sea. 

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

It is also important to note that Jesus coming to the disciples walking on the water during the storm is to show us that the fiery trials we go through are to strengthen us to walk on the water, that is, to overcome the flesh. When Christ comes to us while we are undergoing fiery trials or storms, we do not immediately recognize His presence. That is to say that we do not appreciate that what we are going through is the Lord establishing His kingdom within us. The Lord in His mercy, however, reassures us of His presence to let us know that we are on course and that we should not be afraid. 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  

Mat 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 
Mat 14:29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 

The verses above show us that the only way we are assured of the presence of the Lord in our lives is when we are able to walk on the water just like Peter did. As we have indicated, walking on the water of the sea is overcoming the pulls of the flesh in our lives. That is the same as walking in the spirit and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh. 

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 

Mat 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 
Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 

When our focus is turned from Christ to our circumstance, we start to yield to the desires of the flesh, and therefore, we become afraid just like Peter. It is instructive to note that Adam yielded to the woman (Eve), to eat of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden. As a result, he became afraid when Jesus came into the garden looking for them. This scenario is the same as what Peter went through.

Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 
Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 

What happened to Peter is what we have experienced or experiencing in our walk with Christ. This is what Paul said about the Galatian church which applies to us:

Gal 5:7  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 
Gal 5:8  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 

Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 
Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 
Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 
Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 

Indeed, Peter did run well while he was walking on the water focusing on Jesus. It was when he turned his focus to the boisterous wind that he became afraid. The boisterous wind in this case can represent false doctrines which, when we imbibe, it takes us away from Christ and we begin to sink in the sea of flesh. In other words, we are overcome by the flesh. 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

In verse 30 and 31, the Lord stretched forth His hand to rescue Peter, when he cried to Jesus to save him. These verses assure us that the Lord will not relent in saving us. In other words, He who has began a good work in us will not leave us alone, but will come to us to see to its completion. 

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Jesus addressing Peter as having little faith is to reveal to us that it is through faith that we can overcome the pulls of the flesh or walk on the water. Our walk with Christ is a walk of faith, and when we compromise our faith, we yield to the desires of the flesh.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  

Heb 11:32  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 
Heb 11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 
Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 

Mat 14:32  And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 
Mat 14:33  Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 

As indicated previously, the ship is where the disciples had gathered and therefore, the ship in this case signifies the assembly of the Lord’s elect. Peter leaving the ship to initially walk on the water means that when we neglect our fellowship with our brothers and sisters, we initially think we are all right because we think our Lord Jesus has called us to a higher calling of walking on the water. However, this walking on the water or overcoming the flesh, will not last as long as we neglect the fellowship of the Lord’s elect. The boisterous wind of false doctrines will eventually sink us in the depth of the sea of flesh. The fact that Peter asked the Lord if he could come to him is to show us that even our failures are the work of the Lord, to bring us to our safe haven. 

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 

It is insightful to note that when Jesus rescued Peter and brought him to the ship where the disciples were, the wind ceased. The ceasing of the wind  implies that it is in our gathering that the hail of the truth of the Lord’s words, destroy all the false doctrines or lies of the enemy. 

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 

That is why we are admonished by the Lord not to neglect our assembling together as we see the day approaching. The day approaching in its present application means the coming of Christ into our boat to bring us to our safe haven.

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Again, we are made aware in verse 33 that they who were in the ship came and worshiped the Lord. It is in our assembly that we worship the Lord in truth and in spirit. The disciples saying that Jesus is truly the son of God, is to show us that it is in the fellowship of the Lord’s elect that we come to know who Christ really is – the son of God. Knowing Him as the son of God means that we come to appreciate the fact that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature and that it is through Him that everything consists or is sustained, and that it pleases the Father that in Jesus should dwell all fulness.  

Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 
Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 
Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

Mat 14:34  And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 
Mat 14:35  And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 
Mat 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. 

The disciples finally came to the land of Gennesaret, which means a harp. This brings to mind Revelation chapter 14:1-2, which talks about the Lord’s elect as harpers with their harps praising the Lord. That scenario depicts the victory of the Lord’s elect after their journey through the raging waters of the sea of flesh in this life, which accords with the study. 

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 

In verse 35 and 36, people from all the country round about that area brought all who were diseased, and they were healed as they touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. What does the hem or border of Jesus’ garment signify? We know that garments represents righteousness and therefore the people wanting to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment show us how the Lord will humble humanity  to seek after His righteousness in the lake of fire age where they will be made perfectly whole. 

This will be done in the presence of the Lord’s elect represented here as the Lord’s disciples, just as Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego were in the fire with the Lord and were not burnt. 

Dan 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 

May the Lord continue to constrain us in the boat so that we can reach the other side through His mercy. Amen!!