Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 14

Introduction

1  Herod's opinion of Christ.
3  Wherefore John Baptist was beheaded.
13  Jesus departs into a desert place,
15  where he feeds five thousand men with five loves and two fishes.
22  He walks on the sea to his disciples;
34  and landing at Gennesaret, heals the sick by the touch of the hem of his garment.

Verse 1

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
Herod
This was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, by Malthace, and tetrarch of Galilee and Peræa, which produced a revenue of 200 talents a year. He married the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia, whom he divorced in order to marry Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, who was still living. Aretas, to revenge the affront which Herod had offered his daughter, declared war against him, and vanquished him after an obstinate engagement. This defeat, Josephus assures us, the Jews considered as a punishment for the death of John the Baptist. Having gone to Rome to solicit the title of king, he was accused by Agrippa of carrying on a correspondence with Artabanus king of Parthia, against the Romans, and was banished by the emperor Caius to Lyons, and thence to Spain, where he and Herodias died in exile.
Mark 6:14-16, 8:15, Luke 9:7-9, 13:31,32, 23:8-12,15, Acts 4:27
Tetrarch
Luke 3:1

Verses 1-12

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
Herod
This was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, by Malthace, and tetrarch of Galilee and Peræa, which produced a revenue of 200 talents a year. He married the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia, whom he divorced in order to marry Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, who was still living. Aretas, to revenge the affront which Herod had offered his daughter, declared war against him, and vanquished him after an obstinate engagement. This defeat, Josephus assures us, the Jews considered as a punishment for the death of John the Baptist. Having gone to Rome to solicit the title of king, he was accused by Agrippa of carrying on a correspondence with Artabanus king of Parthia, against the Romans, and was banished by the emperor Caius to Lyons, and thence to Spain, where he and Herodias died in exile.
Mark 6:14-16, 8:15, Luke 9:7-9, 13:31,32, 23:8-12,15, Acts 4:27
Tetrarch
Luke 3:1

Verse 2

And 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.
This
11:11, 16:14, Mark 8:28, John 10:41
do shew forth themselves in him
or, are wrought by him.

Verse 3

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
Herod
4:12, Mark 6:17, Luke 3:19,20, John 3:23,24
Herodias'
This infamous woman was the daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice, and granddaughter of Herod the Great.
his
Luke 13:1
Philip's
Herod Philip, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne.

Verse 4

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
Leviticus 18:16, 20:21, Deuteronomy 25:5,6, 2 Samuel 12:7, 1 Kings 21:19, 2 Chronicles 26:18,19, Proverbs 28:1, Isaiah 8:20, Mark 6:18, Acts 24:24,25

Verse 5

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
when
Mark 6:19,20, 14:1,2, Acts 4:21, 5:26
because
21:26,32, Mark 11:30-32, Luke 20:6

Verse 6

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
birth-day
Genesis 40:20, Esther 1:2-9, 2:18, Daniel 5:1-4, Hosea 1:5,6, Mark 6:21-23
the daughter
22:24
danced
Esther 1:10-12
before them
Gr. in the midst.

Verse 7

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
Esther 5:3,6, 7:2

Verse 8

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
being
2 Chronicles 22:2,3, Mark 6:24
Give
1 Kings 18:4,13, 19:2, 2 Kings 11:1, Proverbs 1:16, 29:10
a charger
Numbers 7:13,19,84,85, Ezra 1:9

Verse 9

And 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.
the king
1, Mark 6:14
sorry
5, 27:17-26, Daniel 6:14-16, Mark 6:20,26, Luke 13:32, John 19:12-16, Acts 24:23-27, 25:3-9
the oath's
Numbers 30:5-8, Judges 11:30,31,39, 21:1,7-23, 1 Samuel 14:24,28,39-45, 25:22, 1 Samuel 25:32-34, 28:10, 2 Kings 6:31-33, Ecclesiastes 5:2

Verse 10

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
and beheaded
17:12, 21:35,36, 22:3-6, 23:34-36, 2 Chronicles 36:16, Jeremiah 2:30, Mark 6:27-29, Mark 9:13, Luke 9:9, Revelation 11:7
the prison
Josephus informs us that John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded by Herod in the strong castle of Machaerus, which he describes as situated about 60 stadia east of Jordan, not far from where the river discharges itself into the Dead Sea.

Verse 11

And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
and given
Genesis 49:7, Proverbs 27:4, 29:10, Jeremiah 22:17, Ezekiel 16:3,4, 19:2,3, 35:6, Revelation 16:6, Revelation 17:6

Verse 12

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
took
27:58-61, Acts 8:2

Verse 13

When 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.
1,2, 10:23, 12:15, Mark 6:30-33, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15

Verses 13-21

When 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.
1,2, 10:23, 12:15, Mark 6:30-33, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15

Verse 14

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
and was
9:36, 15:32-39, Mark 6:34, 8:1,2, 9:22, Luke 7:13, 19:41, John 11:33-35, Hebrews 2:17, 4:15, 5:2

Verse 15

And 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.
his
Mark 6:35,36, Luke 9:12
send
15:23, Mark 8:3

Verse 16

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
they
2 Kings 4:42-44, Job 31:16,17, Proverbs 11:24, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Luke 3:11, John 13:29, 2 Corinthians 8:2,3, 9:7,8

Verse 17

And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
15:33,34, Numbers 11:21-23, Psalms 78:19,20, Mark 6:37,38, 8:4,5, Luke 9:13, John 6:5-9

Verse 19

And 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.
he commanded
15:35, Mark 6:39, 8:6, Luke 9:14, John 6:10
looking
Mark 6:41, 7:34, Luke 9:16, John 11:41
he blessed
15:36, 26:26,27, 1 Samuel 9:13, Mark 8:6, 14:22,23, Luke 22:19, 24:30, John 6:11,23, Acts 27:35, Romans 14:6, 1 Corinthians 10:16,31, 11:24, Colossians 3:17, 1 Timothy 4:4,5

Verse 20

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
were
5:6, 15:33, Exodus 16:8,12, Leviticus 26:26, 1 Kings 17:12-16, 2 Kings 4:43,44, Proverbs 13:25, Ezekiel 4:14-16, Haggai 1:6, Luke 1:53, 9:17, John 6:7,11
and they took
15:37,38, 16:8-10, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Mark 6:42-44, 8:8,9,16-21, John 6:12-14

Verse 21

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
about
John 6:10, Acts 4:4,34, 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, Philippians 4:19

Verse 22

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.
Jesus
Mark 6:45
while
13:36, 15:39

Verses 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.
Jesus
Mark 6:45
while
13:36, 15:39

Verse 23

And 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.
he went
6:6, 26:36, Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, Acts 6:4
he was
John 6:15-17

Verse 24

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
tossed
8:24, Isaiah 54:11, Mark 6:48, John 6:18

Verse 25

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
the fourth watch
The Jews at this time divided the night into four watches; the first was from six o'clock in the evening till nine, the second from nine to twelve, the third from twelve till three, and the fourth from three till six; so that it probably began to be daylight before our Lord came to his disciples.
24:43, Luke 12:38
walking
This suspension of the laws of gravitation was a proper manifestation of omnipotence.
Job 9:8, Psalms 93:3,4, 104:3, Mark 6:48, John 6:19, Revelation 10:2,5,8

Verse 26

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
they were
1 Samuel 28:12-14, Job 4:14-16, Daniel 10:6-12, Mark 6:49,50, Luke 1:11,12, Luke 24:5,45, Acts 12:15, Revelation 1:17

Verse 27

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Be
9:2, John 16:33, Acts 23:11
it
Isaiah 41:4,10,14, 51:12, Luke 24:38,39, John 6:20, 14:1-3, Revelation 1:17,18

Verse 28

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
bid
19:27, 26:33-35, Mark 14:31, Luke 22:31-34,49,50, John 6:68, 13:36-38, Romans 12:3

Verse 29

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
he walked
17:20, 21:21, Mark 9:23, 11:22,23, Luke 17:6, Acts 3:16, Romans 4:19, Philippians 4:13

Verse 30

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
when
26:69-75, 2 Kings 6:15, Mark 14:38,66-72, Luke 22:54-61, John 18:25-27, 2 Timothy 4:16,17
boisterous
or, strong. Lord.
8:24,25, Psalms 3:7, 69:1,2, 107:27-30, 116:3,4, Lamentations 3:54-57, Jonah 2:2-7, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Verse 31

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
stretched
Psalms 138:7, Isaiah 63:12, Mark 1:31,41, 5:41, Acts 4:30
and caught
Genesis 22:14, Deuteronomy 32:36, Mark 16:7, Luke 22:31,32, 24:34, 1 Peter 1:5
O thou
8:26, 16:8, 17:20, Mark 11:23, Romans 4:18-20, 1 Timothy 2:8, James 1:6-8

Verse 32

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
come
Psalms 107:29,30, Mark 4:41, 6:51, John 6:21

Verse 33

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
worshipped
15:25, 28:9,17, Luke 24:52
Of
16:16, 17:5, 26:63, 27:43,54, Psalms 2:7, Daniel 3:25, Mark 1:1, 14:61, 15:39, Luke 4:41, 8:28, John 1:49, 6:69, 9:35-38, 11:27, 17:1, 19:7, Acts 8:37, Romans 1:4

Verse 34

And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
when
Mark 6:53-56
the land of Gennesaret
Gennesaret was a fertile district, in which were situated the cities of Tiberias and Capernaum, extending along the western shore of the lake to which it gave name, about 30 stadia, or nearly four miles, in length, and twenty stadia, or two miles and a half, in breadth, according to Josephus.
Luke 5:1

Verses 34-36

And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
when
Mark 6:53-56
the land of Gennesaret
Gennesaret was a fertile district, in which were situated the cities of Tiberias and Capernaum, extending along the western shore of the lake to which it gave name, about 30 stadia, or nearly four miles, in length, and twenty stadia, or two miles and a half, in breadth, according to Josephus.
Luke 5:1

Verse 35

And 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;
4:24,25, Mark 1:28-34, 2:1-12, 3:8-10, 6:55

Verse 36

And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
only
9:20,21, Mark 3:10, Luke 6:19, Acts 19:11,12
hem
23:5, Exodus 28:33-43, Numbers 15:38,39
perfectly
John 6:37, 7:23, Acts 3:16, 4:9,10,14-16

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