CHRONOLOGY. The chapter opens with an indefinite mark of time (‘at that season,' Matthew 14:1); but Luke 9:10 shows that it was upon the return of the Twelve. Hence chaps, Matthew 9:35-38; Matthew 9:10, find their place between chaps, 13 and 14. The order of this chapter is chronological. The feedin... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:1. AT THAT SEASON. Quite indefinite (see above). HEROD THE TETRARCH. Herod Antipas (a son of Herod the Great) now ruler in Galilee; a light-minded, prodigal, and luxurious prince, superstitious and cunning (Mark 8:15; Luke 13:32). He was at Jerusalem when our Lord suffered, and showed u... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:2. THIS IS JOHN THE BAPTIST. Comp. Luke 9:7-9. This does not imply a belief in the transmigration of souls, nor prove that Herod was a Sadducee (although some infer this from Mark 8:15); it is the perplexed and terrified utterance of a guilty conscience. THEREFORE, etc. John had wrought... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:3. FOR HEROD HAD LAID HOLD ON JOHN. etc. This imprisonment took place not long after our Lord began His ministry (comp. chap. Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; John 3:24). FOR THE SAKE OF HERODIAS, HIS BROTHER PHILIP'S WIFE. Herodias, the daughter of Aristobulus (the half-brother of Herod Antipas... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:4. FOR JOHN SAID; not once but habitually, as the original hints. John was a bold preacher of righteousness and repentance, not ‘a reed shaken by the wind' (chap. Matthew 11:7). His fidelity led to his imprisonment. IT IS NOT LAWFUL. The act of Herod was a crime against his brother, aga... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:5. AND WHEN HE WOULD HAVE PUT HIM TO DEATH. At the instigation of Herodias (Mark 6:19-20). HE FEARED THE MULTITUDE, etc. The character of John also restrained him; but the political motive was needed to overbear the influence of Herodias.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:6. HEROD'S BIRTHDAY. Probably the anniversary of his accession to power. The nobility of Galilee were at the feast (Mark 6:21). The dancing seems to have taken place late in the entertainment, when all were more or less intoxicated THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS. ‘Salome,' the daughter of Her... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:7. The promise and oath of Herod show his gratification, which Herodias had anticipated. Mark adds: ‘unto the half of my kingdom.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:8. BEING LET ON BY HER MOTHER. Instigated rather than instructed. She went out and consulted her mother, but the mother's purpose had already been formed, and her answer (Mark 6:24) shows great vindictiveness and determination, as does the demand, not for the death, but for the head of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:9. And THE KING WAS GRIEVED. ‘Grieved' rather than ‘sorry.' Disturbed rather than penitent. The emotion was in keeping with his character and feelings toward John but was of no avail; compliance with the murderous request was the more criminal because he was ‘grieved.' Herod is called ‘th... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:10. AND HE SENT, etc. If the feast took place in Machaerus, the head was brought in before the feast closed. Some however infer from Mark's account that the messengers went some distance, and hence that the feast was given in a royal palace at Livias (not far from Machaerus), while others... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:11. SHE BROUGHT IT TO HER MOTHER. ‘A Jezebel was not wanting in the history of the second Elijah.' The vindictive adulteress was served by the immodest dancer; the sixth and seventh commandment stand next each other.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:12. TOOK UP THE CORPSE AND BURIED HIM, is a literal rendering. And, they went, probably John's disciples. AND TOLD JESUS _._ They would naturally go to Him, if properly affected by the interview recorded in chap. 11. Others kept aloof and formed a new sect... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:13. NOW WHEN JESUS HEARD IT. This was not the only cause of the retirement (see Mark 6:31). The Twelve had returned and the multitudes gave Him and them no rest. Besides this gathering of multitudes would make Herod more suspicious. INTO A DESERT PLACE APART. Not a ‘desert ‘in the modem... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:14. HAD COMPASSION ON THEM. All had followed Him so far and were in a state of spiritual destitution; many of them were sick. His compassion manifested itself in healing their sick, and in giving them instruction (Mark 6:34). The approach of the Passover season (John 6:4), accounts for th... [ Continue Reading ]
The feeding of the Five Thousand is the only miracle mentioned by all four Evangelists, and the first occurrence fully narrated by them all. It also furnishes a definite chronological point for a harmony of the Gospels. It is in many respects the most incomprehensible of all the miracles. Various su... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:15. EVENING. The _first_ evening, _i.e.,_ from three to six P.M. (ninth to twelfth hour of the day); Matthew 14:23 refers to the _second_ evening, which began at six P.M. (the first watch of the night). THE TIME, lit., ‘hour,' IS ALREADY PAST. Either the time of day is late, or the time... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:16. GIVE YE THEM TO EAT. Obedience seemed impossible, but they did obey through Christ's power providing the means for them. Duty is measured by Christ's command, not by our resources.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:17. WE HAVE HERE. Andrew said this; a lad who was present had this small store of food (John 6:8-9). The disciples, though full of perplexity and doubt, tried to _obey_, and sought food for the multitude. The loaves and fishes thus obtained, of which they said ‘What are they among so many... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:18. BRING ME THEM HITHER. The store, so scanty, is first given to Christ; thus it becomes valuable and sufficient.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:19. TO RECLINE ON THE GRASS. ‘Now there was much grass on the place,' John 6:10. At that season it would be luxuriant, forming an easy and convenient resting-place. They reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties (Mark 6:40; Luke 9:14); thus confusion was avoided and the distribution made... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:20. AND WERE FILLED. Philip had said that 200 pennyworth of bread would only give each a little, but now all had received enough. OF THE BROKEN PIECES. The pieces they distributed, pieces, not the refuse. TWELVE BASKETS FULL. ‘Baskets' such as travellers carried with them. They may hav... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:21. FIVE THOUSAND MEN. All the Evangelists mention the number of men. Matthew alone adds: BESIDES WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The latter classes were probably not numerous, and would be fed apart from the men. On the effect of the miracle, see John 6:14-15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:22. Constrained the disciples. See above. To go before him to the other side. Mark: ‘to Bethsaida;' John: ‘toward Capernaum.' Some understand by Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Philip, supposed to be on the western side of the lake; Capernaum being the ultimate point to be reached; it w... [ Continue Reading ]
CONNECTION. Immediately after the miraculous feeding, the people wished to proclaim Jesus a king and were ready to take violent steps for that purpose (John 6:14-15). The disciples were probably ready to join the people in an enterprise, which would fulfil their remaining carnal expectations regardi... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:23. HE WENT UP INTO THE MOUNTAIN APART TO PRAY. The attempt to make Him a king was a temptation to be met by prayer. EVENING. Here the second evening. Comp. Matthew 14:15. HE WAS THERE ALONE. Alone with His Father. Prayer succeeded and preceded His labors for men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:24. BUT THE BOAT WAS ALREADY IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA. When Jesus came to them, they were ‘about twenty-five or thirty furlongs' from shore (John 6:19), _i.e.,_ about the middle of the lake. When Jesus came to them; they were ‘about twenty-five or thirty furlongs' from shore (John 6:19), _... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:25. IN THE FOURTH WATCH OF THE NIGHT. Between three and six o'clock in the morning. Their danger had lasted nearly all night. Deliverance is often long delayed, but while the Master prayed, the disciples could not be lost. HE CAME UNTO THEM. Mark adds: ‘and would have passed by them,' _... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:26. IT IN AN APPARITION _._ An unreal appearance of a real person. The word is not that usually rendered, ‘spirit' THEY CRIED OUT FOR FEAR _._ Matthew is an honest witness to tell of this superstitious fear. As he here discriminates between ‘an apparition' and a real bodily appearance o... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:27. IT IS I. An assurance, through a living voice, of His bodily presence. BE NOT AFRAID _._ The presence of Christ always brings with it this cheering injunction.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:28. AND PETER ANSWERED. The silence of the other Evangelists is remarkable, but casts no doubt upon the truthfulness of Matthew's account. The occurrence is strikingly in accordance with Peter's impulsive character, ‘almost a rehearsal' of the subsequent denial. IF IT BE THOU. Not the l... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:29. AND HE LAID, COME. More of a permission than a command, as the result proved. HE WALKED UPON THE WATERS. Not necessarily very far; and yet so long as he thus walked, it was through supernatural aid from Christ. The power was obtained and conditioned by _faith_ in Christ's power. So... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:30. BUT WHEN HE SAW THE WIND. ‘Boisterous,' or ‘strong,' is omitted by the best authorities. He was going against the wind. This favors the theory of their course, advanced in the notes on Matthew 14:24. The other view would imply that Jesus had walked past them and turned towards them. S... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:31. O THOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHEREFORE DIDST THOU DOUBT? Chrysostom: we need not fear the tempest, but only the weakness of our faith. Hence Christ does not calm the storm, but takes Peter by the hand. Trench: ‘Peter is here the image of all the faithful of all ages, in the seasons of thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:32. AND WHEN THEY WERE GONE UP INTO THE BOAT. John (John 6:21) speaks of the boat being immediately ‘at the land whither they went' This was on the western side of the lake, and we may either suppose that the wind during the night had driven them near that shore, or accept another miracle... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:33. THEY THAT WERE IN THE BOAT _._ Probably manners and others exclusive of the disciples. The effect produced upon the latter is declared in strong terms, Mark 6:51-52. THE SON OF GOD. lit., son of God. Probably only a recognition of His Messiahship, but the miracle would exalt their n... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:34. AND WHEN THEY WERE PASSED OVER. This points to ordinary, not miraculous sailing. TO THE LAND UNTO GENNESARET. ‘Gennesaret' was a fertile district, with a mild climate, on the western shore of the lake (also called the Lake of Gennesaret). It is nearly four miles long and half as bro... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:35. THE MEN OF THAT PLACE. Not Capernaum, but a more retired spot. The people who had been fed, came to that city ‘seeking Jesus' (John 6:24): it is implied that they found Him somewhere else. Mark's account suggests that our Lord passed through other places on His way to Capernaum. GOT... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 14:36. ONLY TOUCH THE BORDER OF HIS GARMENT _._ A woman had been thus healed in the presence of a crowd (chap. Matthew 9:20-22), so that these people were not superstitious, but had strong faith. As our Lord was only passing through, a greater number could be healed in this way. Christ's mir... [ Continue Reading ]