14:2 and said unto his servants, This is
John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and
therefore do these powers work in him1.
He is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him.
John had wrought no miracle while living (Matthew
10:41), but there was a prevalent idea among the ancients that departed
spirits were endowed with superhuman powers, and Herod therefore supposed
that the risen John had brought these powers with him from the spirit world.
14:3For Herod had
laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison1
for the sake of Herodias2, his
brother Philip's wife.
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison.
Matthew, by introducing what follows with the word "for", gives us
the reason why Herod clung to this singular opinion of Jesus, Matthew
14:1,2. He did so because this opinion was begotten in the morbid
musings of a conscience stained with the blood of John.
Herodias. See Mark
6:17.
14:4 For John said unto him, It
is not lawful for thee to have her1.
It is not lawful for thee to have her. See Mark
6:18.
14:5 And when he would have put him to
death, he feared the multitude1,
because they counted him as a prophet.
He feared the multitude. See Mark
6:20.
14:6But when
Herod's birthday came1, the
daughter of Herodias danced in the midst2, and pleased
Herod.
But when Herod's birthday came. See Mark
6:21.
The daughter of Herodias danced in the midst. See Mark
6:22.
14:7Whereupon he
promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask1.
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should
ask. See Mark
6:23.
14:8And she,
being put forward by her mother1, saith, Give
me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist2.
And she, being put forward by her mother. See Mark
6:24.
Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. See Mark
6:25.
14:9 And the king
was grieved1; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them
that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given;
The king was grieved. See Mark
6:26.
14:11 And his head was brought on a
platter, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to
her mother1.
And she brought it to her mother. See Mark
6:28.
14:12And his
disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him1;
and they went and told Jesus.
And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him. See
Mark
6:29.
14:13Now when
Jesus heard [it]1, 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 cities2.
FIRST WITHDRAWAL FROM HEROD'S TERRITORY AND RETURN. (Spring, A.D. 29.) A.
RETURN OF THE TWELVE AND RETIREMENT TO THE EAST SHORE OF GALILEE. Matthew
14:13; Mark
6:30-32; Luke
9:10; John
6:1 Now when Jesus heard [it]. Heard about John's death. The excitement
caused by this event, and the efforts to use Jesus as a leader in revolt,
see Mark
6:29, constituted another reason why Jesus should withdraw from the
multitude.
14:15And when
even was come1, 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.
And when even was come. See Mark
6:35.
Send the multitudes away, that they may . . . buy themselves food.
See Mark
6:36.
14:17 And they say unto him, We
have here but five loaves, and two fishes1.
We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. See Mark
6:38.
14:19And he
commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass1; and he
took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking
up to heaven, he blessed2, and brake and gave the loaves
to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. See Mark
6:39.
And looking up to heaven, he blessed. See Mark
6:41.
14:20 And they all ate, and were filled: and
they took up that which remained1 over of the broken
pieces, twelve baskets full.
And they took up that which remained. See John
6:12.
14:21And they
that did eat were about five thousand men1, besides women
and children.
And they that did eat were about five thousand men. See Mark
6:44.
14:22 And 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 away1.
FIRST WITHDRAWAL FROM HEROD'S TERRITORY AND RETURN. (Spring, A.D. 29.) C. THE
TWELVE TRY TO ROW BACK. JESUS WALKS UPON THE WATER. Matthew
14:22-36; Mark
6:45-56; John
6:15-21 Till he should send the multitudes away. See Mark
6:45.
14:23 And after he had sent the multitudes
away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray1:
and when even was come, he was there alone.
He went up into the mountain apart to pray. See Mark
6:46.
14:24 But the
boat was now in the midst of the sea1, distressed by the
waves; for the wind was contrary2.
The boat was now in the midst of the sea. See Mark
6:47.
For the wind was contrary. See Mark
6:48.
14:25And in the
fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea1.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon
the sea. See Mark
6:48.
14:26 And when the disciples saw him
walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried
out for fear.
They were troubled, . . . and they cried out for fear. See Mark
6:49.
14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto
them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I1;
be not afraid2.
Be of good cheer; it is I. See Mark
6:50.
Be not afraid. See Luke
1:30.
14:28And Peter
answered him and said1, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come
unto the upon the waters.
Matthew
14:28,29 And Peter answered him and said, etc. This scene comports with the
character of Peter, who had always a rash willingness to go into danger, and
a lack of steadfastness to hold out through it.
14:30But when he
saw the wind, he was afraid1; and beginning to sink, he
cried out, saying, Lord, save me.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. So long as the attention
of Peter was fixed upon the Lord's command he succeeded in his venture; but
so soon as he let the power of the tempest distract his thoughts, his faith
failed, and he began to sink.
14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched
forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O
thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt1?
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Fear is a
source of doubt and an enemy of faith. Those who would achieve the victories
of faith must overcome their fears.
14:34 And when they had crossed over, they
came to the land, unto Gennesaret1.
Gennesaret. See Mark
6:53.
Matthew 14 Bible Commentary
McGarvey and Pendleton
Herod. See Mark 6:14.
14:2 and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him1.
He is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him. John had wrought no miracle while living (Matthew 10:41), but there was a prevalent idea among the ancients that departed spirits were endowed with superhuman powers, and Herod therefore supposed that the risen John had brought these powers with him from the spirit world.
14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison1 for the sake of Herodias2, his brother Philip's wife.
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison. Matthew, by introducing what follows with the word "for", gives us the reason why Herod clung to this singular opinion of Jesus, Matthew 14:1,2. He did so because this opinion was begotten in the morbid musings of a conscience stained with the blood of John.
Herodias. See Mark 6:17.
14:4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her1.
It is not lawful for thee to have her. See Mark 6:18.
14:5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude1, because they counted him as a prophet.
He feared the multitude. See Mark 6:20.
14:6 But when Herod's birthday came1, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst2, and pleased Herod.
But when Herod's birthday came. See Mark 6:21.
The daughter of Herodias danced in the midst. See Mark 6:22.
14:7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask1.
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. See Mark 6:23.
14:8 And she, being put forward by her mother1, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist2.
And she, being put forward by her mother. See Mark 6:24.
Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. See Mark 6:25.
14:9 And the king was grieved1; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given;
The king was grieved. See Mark 6:26.
14:11 And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother1.
And she brought it to her mother. See Mark 6:28.
14:12 And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him1; and they went and told Jesus.
And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him. See Mark 6:29.
14:13 Now when Jesus heard [it]1, 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 cities2. FIRST WITHDRAWAL FROM HEROD'S TERRITORY AND RETURN. (Spring, A.D. 29.) A. RETURN OF THE TWELVE AND RETIREMENT TO THE EAST SHORE OF GALILEE. Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:30-32; Luke 9:10; John 6:1
Now when Jesus heard [it]. Heard about John's death. The excitement caused by this event, and the efforts to use Jesus as a leader in revolt, see Mark 6:29, constituted another reason why Jesus should withdraw from the multitude.
B. FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:33-44; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:2-14
And when the multitudes heard [thereof,] they followed him on foot from the cities. See Mark 6:33.
14:15 And when even was come1, 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.
And when even was come. See Mark 6:35.
Send the multitudes away, that they may . . . buy themselves food. See Mark 6:36.
14:17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes1.
We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. See Mark 6:38.
14:19 And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass1; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed2, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. See Mark 6:39.
And looking up to heaven, he blessed. See Mark 6:41.
14:20 And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained1 over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
And they took up that which remained. See John 6:12.
14:21 And they that did eat were about five thousand men1, besides women and children.
And they that did eat were about five thousand men. See Mark 6:44.
14:22 And 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 away1. FIRST WITHDRAWAL FROM HEROD'S TERRITORY AND RETURN. (Spring, A.D. 29.) C. THE TWELVE TRY TO ROW BACK. JESUS WALKS UPON THE WATER. Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:15-21
Till he should send the multitudes away. See Mark 6:45.
14:23 And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray1: and when even was come, he was there alone.
He went up into the mountain apart to pray. See Mark 6:46.
14:24 But the boat was now in the midst of the sea1, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary2.
The boat was now in the midst of the sea. See Mark 6:47.
For the wind was contrary. See Mark 6:48.
14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea1.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. See Mark 6:48.
14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.
They were troubled, . . . and they cried out for fear. See Mark 6:49.
14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I1; be not afraid2.
Be of good cheer; it is I. See Mark 6:50.
Be not afraid. See Luke 1:30.
14:28 And Peter answered him and said1, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto the upon the waters. Matthew 14:28,29
And Peter answered him and said, etc. This scene comports with the character of Peter, who had always a rash willingness to go into danger, and a lack of steadfastness to hold out through it.
14:30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid1; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. So long as the attention of Peter was fixed upon the Lord's command he succeeded in his venture; but so soon as he let the power of the tempest distract his thoughts, his faith failed, and he began to sink.
14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt1?
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Fear is a source of doubt and an enemy of faith. Those who would achieve the victories of faith must overcome their fears.
14:34 And when they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret1.
Gennesaret. See Mark 6:53.