HEROD THE TETRARCH (Hηρωιδης τετρααρχης). Herod Antipas ruler of Galilee and Perea, one-fourth of the dominion of Herod the Great.THE REPORT CONCERNING JESUS (την ακουην Ιησου). See on Matthew 4:24. Cognate accusative, heard the hearing (rumour), objective genitive. It is rather surprising that... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SERVANTS (τοις παισιν αυτου). Literally "boys," but here the courtiers, not the menials of the palace.WORK IN HIM (ενεργουσιν). Cf. our "energize." "The powers of the invisible world, vast and vague in the king's imagination" (Bruce). John wrought no miracles, but one _redivivus_ might be u... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SAKE OF HERODIAS (δια Hηρωιδιαδα). The death of John had taken place some time before. The Greek aorists here (εδησεν, απεθετο) are not used for past perfects. The Greek aorist simply narrates the event without drawing distinctions in past time. This Herodias was the unlawful wife of Herod... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN SAID UNTO HIM (ελεγεν γαρ Ιωανης αυτω). Possibly the Pharisees may have put Herod up to inveigling John to Machaerus on one of his visits there to express an opinion concerning his marriage to Herodias (Broadus) and the imperfect tense (ελεγεν) probably means that John said it repeatedly... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HEROD'S BIRTHDAY CAME (γενεσιοις γενομενοις του Hηρωιδου). Locative of time (cf. Mark 6:21) without the genitive absolute. The earlier Greeks used the word γενεσια for funeral commemorations (birthdays of the dead), γενεθλια being the word for birthday celebrations of living persons. But tha... [ Continue Reading ]
PROMISED WITH AN OATH (μετα ορκου ωμολογησεν). Literally, "confessed with an oath." For this verb in the sense of promise, see Acts 7:17. Note middle voice of αιτησητα (ask for herself). Cf. Esther 5:3; Esther 7:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT FORWARD (προβιβασθεισα). See Acts 19:33 for a similar verb (προβαλοντων), "pushing forward." Here (Acts) the Textus Receptus uses προβιβαζω. "It should require a good deal of 'educating' to bring a young girl to make such a grim request" (Bruce).HERE (ωδε). On the spot. Here and now.IN A CH... [ Continue Reading ]
GRIEVED (λυπηθεις). Not to hurt, for in verse Matthew 14:5 we read that he wanted (θελων) to put him to death (αποκτεινα). Herod, however, shrank from so dastardly a deed as this public display of brutality and bloodthirstiness. Men who do wrong always have some flimsy excuses for their sins. A m... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHEADED JOHN (απεκεφαλισεν Ιωανην). That is, he had John beheaded, a causative active tense of a late verb αποκεφαλιζω. Took his head off.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE BROUGHT IT TO HER MOTHER (ηνεγκεν τη μητρ αυτης). A gruesome picture as Herodias with fiendish delight witnesses the triumph of her implacable hatred of John for daring to reprove her for her marriage with Herod Antipas. A woman scorned is a veritable demon, a literal she-devil when she wills... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WENT AND TOLD JESUS (κα ελθοντες απηγγειλαν τω Ιησου). As was meet after they had given his body decent burial. It was a shock to the Master who alone knew how great John really was. The fate of John was a prophecy of what was before Jesus. According to Matthew 14:13 the news of the fate... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A BOAT (εν πλοιω) "on foot" (πεζη, some MSS. πεζω). Contrast between the lake and the land route.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR SICK (τους αρρωστους αυτων). "Without strength" (ρωννυμ and α privative). Εσπλαγχνισθη is a deponent passive. The verb gives the oriental idea of the bowels (σπλαγχνα) as the seat of compassion.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN EVEN WAS COME (οψιας γενομενης). Genitive absolute. Not sunset about 6 P.M. as in Matthew 8:16 and as in Matthew 14:23, but the first of the two "evenings" beginning at 3 P.M.THE PLACE IS DESERT (ερημος εστιν ο τοπος). Not a desolate region, simply lonely, comparatively uninhabited with no... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE YE THEM TO EAT (δοτε αυτοις υμεις φαγειν). The emphasis is on υμεις in contrast (note position) with their "send away" (απολυσον). It is the urgent aorist of instant action (δοτε). It was an astounding command. The disciples were to learn that "no situation appears to Him desperate, no crisi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAY UNTO HIM (ο δε λεγουσιν αυτω). The disciples, like us today, are quick with reasons for their inability to perform the task imposed by Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID (ο δε ειπεν). Here is the contrast between the helpless doubt of the disciples and the confident courage of Jesus. He used "_the_ five loaves and two fishes" which they had mentioned as a reason for doing nothing. "Bring them hither unto me." They had overlooked the power of Jesus in... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SIT DOWN ON THE GRASS (ανακλιθηνα επ του χορτου). "Recline," of course, the word means, first aorist passive infinitive. A beautiful picture in the afternoon sun on the grass on the mountain side that sloped westward. The orderly arrangement (Mark) made it easy to count them and to feed them. J... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE FILLED (εχορτασθησαν). Effective aorist passive indicative of χορταζω. See Matthew 5:6. From the substantive χορτος grass. Cattle were filled with grass and people usually with other food. They all were satisfied.BROKEN PIECES (των κλασματων). Not the scraps upon the ground, but the pieces... [ Continue Reading ]
BESIDE WOMEN AND CHILDREN (χωρις γυναικων κα παιδιων). Perhaps on this occasion there were not so many as usual because of the rush of the crowd around the head of the lake. Matthew adds this item and does not mean that the women and children were not fed, but simply that "the eaters" (ο εσθιοντε... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSTRAINED (ηναγκασεν). Literally, "compelled" or "forced." See this word also in Luke 14:23. The explanation for this strong word in Mark 6:45 and Matthew 14:22 is given in John 6:15. It is the excited purpose of the crowd to take Jesus by force and to make him national king. This would be polit... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE MOUNTAIN (εις το ορος). After the dismissal of the crowd Jesus went up alone into the mountain on the eastern side of the lake to pray as he often did go to the mountains to pray. If ever he needed the Father's sympathy, it was now. The masses were wild with enthusiasm and the disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
DISTRESSED (βασανιζομενον). Like a man with demons (Matthew 8:29). One can see, as Jesus did (Mark 6:48), the boat bobbing up and down in the choppy sea.... [ Continue Reading ]
WALKING UPON THE SEA (περιπατων επ την θαλασσαν). Another nature miracle. Some scholars actually explain it all away by urging that Jesus was only walking along the beach and not on the water, an impossible theory unless Matthew's account is legendary. Matthew uses the accusative (extension) with... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE TROUBLED (εταραχθησαν). Much stronger than that. They were literally "terrified" as they saw Jesus walking on the sea.AN APPARITION (φαντασμα), or "ghost," or "spectre" from φανταζω and that from φαινω. They cried out "from fear" (απο του φοβου) as any one would have done. "A little t... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE WATERS (επ τα υδατα). The impulsiveness of Peter appears as usual. Matthew alone gives this Peter episode.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THE WIND (βλεπων τον ανεμον). Cf. Exodus 20:18 and Revelation 1:12 "to see the voice" (την φωνην). "It is one thing to see a storm from the deck of a stout ship, another to see it in the midst of the waves" (Bruce). Peter was actually beginning to sink (καταποντιζεσθα) to plunge down into... [ Continue Reading ]
DIDST THOU DOUBT? (εδιστασασ?). Only here and Matthew 28:17 in the N.T. From δισταζω and that from δις (twice). Pulled two ways. Peter's trust in the power of Christ gave way to his dread of the wind and waves. Jesus had to take hold of Peter (επελαβετο, middle voice) and pull him up while still... [ Continue Reading ]
CEASED (εκοπασεν). From κοπος, toil. The wind grew weary or tired, exhausted itself in the presence of its Master (cf. Mark 4:39). Not a mere coincidence that the wind ceased now.... [ Continue Reading ]
WORSHIPPED HIM (προσεκυνησαν αυτω). And Jesus accepted it. They were growing in appreciation of the person and power of Christ from the attitude in Matthew 8:27. They will soon be ready for the confession of Matthew 16:16. Already they can say: "Truly God's Son thou art." The absence of the artic... [ Continue Reading ]
GENNESARET (Γεννησαρετ). A rich plain four miles long and two broad. The first visit of Jesus apparently with the usual excitement at the cures. People were eager to touch the hem of Christ's mantle like the woman in Matthew 9:20. Jesus honoured their superstitious faith and "as many as touched w... [ Continue Reading ]