Matthew 14:22

Straightway. [Jesus Walks on the Lake, Matt. 14:22-36=Mark 6:45-56=John 6:15-24. Major comment: Matthew and John. See Closing Galilean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord; on miracles pp. 208-213.] Gr. eutheds, “immediately.” This incident occurred on the same day as the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, as the various gospel writers make plain. These events probably took place toward the end of March or early in April, A.D. 30.

Constrained. Gr. anagkazo, “to compel,” or “to constrain” (see on Luke 14:23). This was the first time Jesus had found it necessary to speak to His disciples with such authority and force (DA 378). The words eutheos, “immediately,” and anagkazo, “to compel,” imply both haste and urgency on the part of Jesus, and hesitation and reluctance on the part of the disciples.

The reason for this reluctance is made clear in John 6:15 (see DA 377, 378; see on Mark 6:42). Convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah, or Deliverer of Israel, the multitude were bent on crowning Him king on the spot. Perceiving the sentiment of the multitude, the disciples took the initiative and were on the point of proclaiming Him king of Israel. Judas was the first one of the Twelve to sense the significance of the popular sentiment, and it was he who initiated the project to make Christ king (DA 718). So rash a course of action would have prematurely brought Christ’s earthly mission to a close. Prompt and decisive action on the part of Jesus was necessary in order to quell the popular sentiment of the people and to control His own disciples.

Go before him. The group Jesus directed to precede Him to the other side of the lake included His disciples and certain others (see DA 382).

The other side. Jesus, His disciples, and the great throng of people were now on the northeastern shore of the Lake of Galilee, a short distance east of the city of Bethsaida Julias (see on ch. 11:21). “The other side” would be the vicinity from which they had come that morning. Accordingly the disciples set out for Capernaum (see John 6:17). It is not entirely clear why Mark states that they were going “unto Bethsaida” (ch. 6:45) unless he means that they were to set out in that direction on their way to Capernaum. They were but a short distance east of Bethsaida and would of necessity pass directly by it on their return voyage to Capernaum. There is no evidence whatever of another “Bethsaida” on the western shore of the lake, as some commentators formerly thought. Actually, the wind (see Matt. 14:24) drove them from their intended destination (DA 380, 381) rather than toward it.