Matthew 14:28-30
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Peter's bold request isn't just about walking on water; he asks to be commanded to come. This reveals a crucial distinction: he doesn't want to perform a miracle himself, but to obey Christ's authority, trusting that Jesus' command, not his own ability, will make the impossible possible.
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As the disciples' boat struggles against a fierce wind on the stormy sea, Jesus appears to them, walking on the water. Terrified, they mistake him for a ghost, but Jesus reassures them it is He. Peter, ever impetuous and eager, asks Jesus to command him to walk on the water too.
Peter sees Jesus walking on water and doesn't just marvel—he asks for an invitation. What drove this seemingly rash request?
When Jesus appears in a way that defies natural understanding, it’s natural to question if it’s really Him. The disciples first cry out in terror, thinking it’s a ghost. But Peter, hearing Jesus’ voice, responds with a bold condition: 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.'
Not About Showing Off
This wasn't Peter's attempt to perform a miracle himself or to show off. His desire was to reach Jesus. As one commentator put it, 'He does not want to perform a miracle, but to come to Jesus.' His request, though perhaps impulsive, sprang from deep affection and a yearning to be closer to his Lord. He trusted that if Jesus commanded him, he would be enabled to do it.
The Power of the Command
Peter’s crucial phrase is 'command me.' He wouldn't step out on his own. He needed Jesus' direct instruction and authority. This shows a dependence on Jesus' word, even if the faith wasn't yet fully mature. It highlights that our spiritual journey often starts with responding to God’s specific call and command, not by our own self-initiated efforts.
Peter steps out and walks on water – an incredible feat! But the moment fear creeps in, the solid ground disappears. What does this tell us about faith?
Peter’s experience is a powerful, albeit harsh, lesson on the nature of faith.
Stepping Out
When Jesus says, 'Come,' Peter obeys. He steps out of the boat, and incredibly, the water holds him. This is a vivid illustration of faith in action. As long as Peter’s focus was on Jesus and His command, he could do the impossible.
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The Danger of Distraction
However, the text notes that Peter 'saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid.' His gaze shifted from Jesus to the storm. The moment his focus moved from the source of his ability to the source of his fear, his faith faltered. The solid ground beneath him began to give way, and he started to sink.
Little Faith, Big Consequences
Jesus later calls him 'O man of little faith.' This doesn't mean Peter had no faith at all – he was walking on water! But his faith was little because it was easily shaken by external circumstances. It reveals that faith isn't just about believing in God's power, but about trusting that power, especially when circumstances seem overwhelming. Our spiritual footing depends on where we fix our eyes.
Understand the original words
kyrios · Greek Noun
A title of respect, authority, and divine lordship, often used for Jesus as acknowledging His sovereignty and mastership over the speaker.
keleuō · Greek Verb
To cause someone to move toward another, indicating authoritative instruction that provides the basis for the recipient's action.
sōzō · Greek Verb
To deliver or rescue from peril, harm, or destruction; in a spiritual sense, it refers to God's act of saving humanity from sin and death.
Peter's impulsive request and subsequent sinking highlight the tension between his ardent love for Jesus and his wavering faith, a struggle many believers experience when facing overwhelming circumstances.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus begins teaching, healing, and calling disciples, gathering a following across Galilee.
c. AD 28
Jesus feeds the five thousand
Jesus miraculously feeds over 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish. This event immediately precedes the one described in Matthew 14.
Night following the feeding— this verse
Disciples sent across the Sea of Galilee
Jesus compels his disciples to get into a boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he dismisses the crowd and goes to pray.
During the night
Jesus walks on the water
Jesus walks on the stormy Sea of Galilee towards his disciples' boat. The disciples, seeing him, are terrified, thinking he is a ghost.
During the night
Peter walks on water
Peter, emboldened, asks Jesus to command him to come across the water. Jesus agrees, and Peter walks towards him until fear causes him to sink.
Morning
Jesus calms the storm
Jesus gets into the boat with his disciples, and the wind immediately stops. The disciples worship him, recognizing him as the Son of God.
This passage shows Peter's characteristic eagerness and love for Jesus, similar to his desire to walk on water, as he immediately jumps into the sea to get to Jesus.
1 Kings 19:11-13Here, Elijah seeks God not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a 'still small voice,' highlighting how God's presence isn't always in the dramatic but can be found in quieter confirmations, much like Peter seeking a direct command from Jesus.
Exodus 14:15Just as God told Moses to 'advance,' not to 'stand still' in the face of the Red Sea, Jesus gives Peter a command ('Come!') to move forward, demonstrating faith requires action based on God's word.
2 Corinthians 5:7This verse reminds us to 'walk by faith, not by sight,' which is the core lesson Peter learned as he stepped out of the boat, relying on Jesus' word rather than his natural ability or the stormy conditions.
Mark 4:35-41This parallel account shows the disciples' fear and astonishment when Jesus calms the storm, mirroring the disciples' initial terror at seeing Jesus on the water and highlighting their struggle to recognize His divine power even when it's before them.
calvinMatthew 14:22-33: "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."
- And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to embark, and to go before him to the opposite bank, till he had sent away the multitudes. 23. And when he had sent away the multitudes, he went up into a mountain alone to pray; and when the evening came, he was there alone. 24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tosse…
barnesMatthew 14:28: "And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."
And Peter answered ... - Here is an instance of the characteristic ardor and rashness of Peter. He had less real faith than he supposed, and more ardor than his faith would justify. He was rash, headlong, incautious, really attached to Jesus, but still easily daunted and prone to fall. He was afraid, therefore, when in danger, and, sinking, cried again for help. Thus he was suffered to lea…
Peter's bold request isn't just about walking on water; he asks to be commanded to come. This reveals a crucial distinction: he doesn't want to perform a miracle himself, but to obey Christ's authority, trusting that Jesus' command, not his own ability, will make the impossible possible.
As the disciples' boat struggles against a fierce wind on the stormy sea, Jesus appears to them, walking on the water. Terrified, they mistake him for a ghost, but Jesus reassures them it is He. Peter, ever impetuous and eager, asks Jesus to command him to walk on the water too.
As the disciples' boat struggles against a fierce wind on the stormy sea, Jesus appears to them, walking on the water. Terrified, they mistake him for a ghost, but Jesus reassures them it is He. Peter, ever impetuous and eager, asks Jesus to command him to walk on the water too.
"And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink h…" — Peter's bold request isn't just about walking on water; he asks to be commanded to come. This reveals a crucial distinction: he doesn't want to perform a miracle himself, but to obey Christ's autho…
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Last reviewed October 2026
