_HEROD'S OPINION OF CHRIST. WHEREFORE JOHN BAPTIST WAS BEHEADED. JESUS DEPARTETH INTO A DESERT PLACE: WHERE HE FEEDETH FIVE THOUSAND MEN WITH FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES: HE WALKETH ON THE SEA TO HIS DISCIPLES: AND, LANDING AT GENNESARET, HEALETH THE SICK BY THE TOUCH OF THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT._ _A... [ Continue Reading ]
HEROD THE TETRARCH— Herod is called _Tetrarch,_ because he inherited but a _fourth_ part of his father's dominions. However, he exercised a regal authority in Galilee, and is styled a _king,_ Matthew 14:9 and Mark 6:14. This was Herod Antipas. See ch. Matthew 2:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS JOHN THE BAPTIST— From Luke 9:7 we learn that Herod and his courtiers were strangely perplexed respecting the fame of Jesus, which occasioned manyspeculations among them. Some supposed that it wasJohn risen from the dead, others, that it was Elias, and others, one of the old prophets; but He... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HEROD HAD LAID HOLD ON JOHN— Here is a digression in the history, from this to the 13th verse, in which the Evangelist gives us an account of the Baptist's death, though he does not tell us precisely when it happened. St. Mark indeed seems to assign it as the cause of the Apostles' return from t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN SAID UNTO HIM, &C.— Possessed of great credit with Herod, and with the people, it is not possible to suppose that the Baptist would have incurred Herod's jealousy and displeasure, had he been an impostor, and an associate of a pretended Messiah,—for fear of blasting at once all his preconce... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN HEROD'S BIRTH-DAY WAS KEPT— If Herod's resentment of the freedom which John the Baptist took with him was great, that of Herodias was much greater. The crime that she was guilty of was odious; she could not bear to have it named, and far less reproved. She was therefore enraged to the highe... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PROMISED WITH AN OATH— It is very probable that this oath of Herod's was repeatedly given; because, according to the manners of the East, it was disgraceful for women of rank to appear in public; and they never did appear, unless they were sent for, or had an important request to make. (See Esthe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE, BEING BEFORE INSTRUCTED— _Being before urged._ Doddridge. When the plot had thus succeeded, and Salome had obtained the king's promise, she went out to consult with her mother, who immediately disclosed her purpose, bidding her ask the Baptist's head. A counsel of this kind, no doubt, surpr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING WAS SORRY— Sudden horror, no doubt, seized every heart on hearing Salome's request; the king's gaietyvanished; he was confounded and vexed; but being unwilling to appear either rash, or fickle, or false, before a company of the first persons in his kingdom for rank and character, he com... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SENT, AND BEHEADED JOHN— This was contrary to the law of Moses, whereby it was enjoined that malefactors should be publicly executed. Thus the Baptist, having performed his office, died soon after Christ had begun his ministry. God took him then to himself, as St. Chrysostom has observed, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS HEAD WAS BROUGHT IN A CHARGER— The head of the prophet, whose rebukes had awed the king in his loosest moments, and whose exhortations had often excited him to virtuous actions, was immediately brought pale and bloody in a charger, and given to the daughter of Herodias, in presence of the gu... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JESUS HEARD OF IT, HE DEPARTED, &C.— _Into the desert of Bethsaida,_ Luke 9; Luke 10 _on the other side of the sea,_ John 6:1 and consequently in the tetrarchy of Philip, who was a meek and peaceable prince. Perhaps by this retreat Jesus proposed to shun Herod, who desired to see him, and might... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN IT WAS EVENING— When Jesus was come ashore, he taught the multitude with his usual goodness, and _healed their sick_ (Matthew 14:14.), spending several days in these charitable offices. The words of the text lead us to this supposition; for the disciples came and told him, that it was time to d... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMMANDED THE MULTITUDE, &C.— See the note on John 6:11 where this miracle is related more circumstantially, and where we shall speak more fully concerning it.... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS CONSTRAINED HIS DISCIPLES— We learn from John 6:15 that in consequence of this great miracle the _people were desirous to take him by force, and make him a king;_ but Jesus knowing both the purpose of the multitude, and the inclination of the disciples, which most probably led them to encourag... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SHIP WAS NOW IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA— The disciples, having met with a contrary wind, could not keep their course to Bethsaida, which was situated north-wards, about a league or two from the desert mountain on which the miraculous dinner was given. If Bethsaida had been at a greater distance, Je... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE DISCIPLES SAW HIM—THEY WERE TROUBLED— It is well known, that it is never intirely dark on the water; not to urge that the moon might perhaps now be in the last quarter, as it must have been, if this was about three weeks before the passover. By that little light, therefore, which they had,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PETER ANSWERED HIM, &C.— St. Peter, a man of a warm and forward temper, looking at Jesus walking upon the sea, was exceedingly struck with it, and conceived a mighty desire of being enabled to do the like; wherefore, without weighing the matter, he immediately begged that Jesus would bid him com... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND, &C.— Peter did not doubt that it was Jesus who walked upon the water; he might have been convinced of that, as we observed in the former note, before he left the vessel; nay, must have been convinced of it while he was sinking, otherwise he would not have called to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAME INTO THE LAND OF GENNESARET— The land of Gennesaret was a large tract of ground on the western shore of the lake, in part of which Capernaum appears to have been situated; for though St. Matthew and St. Mark only speak of their coming to the land of Gennesaret, and _putting to shore there,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN, &C.— _And the men—knowing him, sent out;_ Jesus ordinarily resided in the neighbourhood of Capernaum; but he had been long absent, namely, ever since his mother had taken him with her to Nazareth; see ch. Matthew 13:54 and Mark 6:1 wherefore the inhabitants, glad of this new opportunity, c... [ Continue Reading ]