The Israelites, in early times, divided the night into three "watches," with men taking turns standing guard over the camp: the beginning watch, middle watch and morning watch. Later they adopted the Roman method of four watches; when Jesus walks on the water to the disciples' ship, it is identified by both Matthew and Mark as the "fourth watch." Like other measurements of time, watches denote spiritual states. Since they occur during the night, and night-time represents states when we are less receptive to the Lord, watches represent times of spiritual challenge -- but indicate that the Lord, like the watchmen, is ever vigilant, keeping watch over us.

In Matthew 14:25, this signifies the first state of the church, for it is at daybreak, when people in good begin to act from the light of truth. (Apocalypse Explained 514[21])