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Matthew

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Matthew 14

1At that season Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, 2and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him.

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Commentary · verses 1-2

Herod heard of the fame of Jesus and he thought Jesus was the reincarnated John the Baptist. Verses 3-13 were told in flashback.

3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

Commentary · verses 3-4

John was placed in prison because of his beliefs. John the Baptist was a martyr.

5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Commentary · verse 5

Herod feared people who considered John to be a prophet.

6But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod.

7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask.

8And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

9And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given; 10and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

6But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

Commentary · verses 6-10

Herod must have had John on his mind because of how he executed John. Herod was sorry (guilt) for what he did to John. Herod had more care towards fulfilling an oath than doing what was right.

11And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

12And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

13Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him on foot from the cities.

14And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

11And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

12And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Commentary · verses 11-14

Jesus heard of John's death and left on a ship to get time alone, but many people followed Jesus on foot. Jesus saw the people and had compassion on them and He healed their sick.

15And when even was come, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.

15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

Commentary · verse 15

The multitude could have left and got food.

16But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat.

17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18And he said, Bring them hither to me.

19And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.

20And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

21And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

16But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18He said, Bring them hither to me.

19And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Commentary · verses 16-21

Jesus said the people did not need to go away. Five thousand were fed that day with just five loaves and two fish through giving. The Disciples gave the food to Jesus. Jesus gave thanks to God. Jesus gave the food to the Disciples. The Disciples gave the food to the people. Notice, this was supernatural. This miracle involved a lot of natural acts (breaking bread, eating, handing the bread to others, etc.). The effect was more natural bread which is the definition of supernatural. This was not an unnatural event, which would have been something like Jesus suddenly making everyone full without having to touch the bread.

22And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away.

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

22And 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.

23And 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.

Commentary · verses 22-23

Jesus sent the Disciples away. Then, Jesus sent the multitudes away. Finally, Jesus went up to a mountain alone to pray, which was what He was trying to do when He heard about John's death. Jesus facilitated the purpose and progress of others before He went alone to pray.

24But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary.

25And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea.

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

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

Commentary · verses 24-25

Jesus walked on water in response to a need: trying to get to His Disciples. This was supernatural because it still involved a natural act: walking. The fourth watch was between 3 AM and 6 AM.

26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.

27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Commentary · verses 26-27

Was this an example of spiritual warfare? Jesus made a statement where the object of the "healing" was the subject.

28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters.

29And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus.

28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Commentary · verses 28-29

Peter wanted to walk on water too and he appeared to understand the miracle had to be in response to a need because he asked Jesus to tell him to come to Him. Jesus told him to come. Peter walked on the water, as long as his focus was to come to Jesus.

30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.

31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Commentary · verses 30-31

Here was the proof that these miracles were done in response to a need. Peter was able to walk on water until he started to focus on his physical surroundings and stopped focusing on the reason he was walking: to get to Jesus. When this happened, he immediately began to sink. Jesus immediately grabbed Peter and asked him why he doubted.

32And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased.

33And they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Commentary · verses 32-33

The Disciples worshipped Jesus as the Son of God. This included Judas.

34And when they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret.

35And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about, and brought unto him all that were sick; 36and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment: and as many as touched were made whole.

34And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35And 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;

36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Commentary · verses 34-36

Many people were healed by only touching Jesus' hem. Matthew 9:20 showed that this was a confession that Jesus was the Son of God.

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