Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Here are some quotes from Calvin’s Commentary on these verses:

And let us learn hence that, whenever any adverse occurrence takes place, the Lord tries our faith. If the distresses grow to such a height as almost to overwhelm us, let us believe that God does it with the same design of exercising our patience, or of bringing to light in this way our hidden weakness; as we see that, when the apostles were covered by the billows, their weakness, which formerly lay concealed, was discovered.

Lord, save us    A pious prayer one would think: for what else had they to do when they were lost than to implore safety from Christ?  But as Christ charges them with unbelief, we must inquire in what respect they sinned.  Certainly, I have no doubt that they attached too much importance to the bodily presence of their Master: for, according to Mark, they do not merely pray, but expostulate with him, Master, hast thou no care that we perish?  Luke describes also confusion and trembling: Master, Master, we perish.  They ought to have believed that the Divinity of Christ was not oppressed by carnal sleep, and to his Divinity they ought to have had recourse.  But they do nothing till they are urged by extreme danger; and then they are overwhelmed with such unreasonable fear that they do not think they will be safe till Christ is awakened.  This is the reason why he accuses them of unbelief for their entreaty that he would assist them was rather a proof of their faith, if, in confident reliance on his divine power, they had calmly, and without so much alarm, expected the assistance which they asked.

And here we obtain an answer to a question which might be put, and which arises out of his reproof.  Is every kind of fear sinful and contrary to faith?  First, he does not blame them simply because they fear, but because they are timid Mark adds the word οὕτω — Why are you so timid?  and by this term indicates that their alarm goes beyond proper bounds.  Besides, he contrasts faith with their fear, and thus shows that he is speaking about immoderate dread, the tendency of which is not to exercise their faith, but to banish it from their minds.  It is not every kind of fear that is opposed to faith.  This is evident from the consideration that, if we fear nothing, an indolent and carnal security steals upon us; and thus faith languishes, the desire to pray becomes sluggish, and the remembrance of God is at length extinguished.  Besides, those who are not affected by a sense of calamities, so as to fear, are rather insensible than firm.

Thus we see that fear, which awakens faith, is not in itself faulty till it go beyond bounds.  Its excess lies in disturbing or weakening the composure of faith, which ought to rest on the word of God.  But as it never happens that believers exercise such restraint on themselves as to keep their faith from being injured, their fear is almost always attended by sin.  Yet we ought to be aware that it is not every kind of fear which indicates a want of faith, but only that dread which disturbs the peace of the conscience in such a manner that it does not rest on the promise of God.

He rebuked the winds Mark relates also the words of Christ, by which, addressing the sea, he enjoins silence, (σιώπα,) that is, stillness not that the lake had any perception, but to show that the power of his voice reached the elements, which were devoid of feeling. And not only the sea and the winds, which are without feeling, but wicked men also, with all their obstinacy, obey the commands of God.  For when God is pleased to allay the tumults of war, he does not always soften the fierce minds of men, and mould them to obedience, but even while their rage continues, makes the arms to drop from their hands: And thus is fulfilled that declaration,  He maketh wars to cease to the ends of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in pieces, and burneth the chariots in the fire, (Psalm 46:10.)

Here is the link to the full Commentary by Calvin on these verses –

So, what does the conclusion of this Scripture for today tell us?  “He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.  The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  Matthew 8:26-27.

In this conclusion, notice after Christ’s effective reprimand that the disciples focused on what Christ was doing and His attributes.  “The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  Matthew 8:27.