CHAPTER XIV. _Herod, having heard the fame of Christ, supposes him to be John_ _the Baptist, risen from the dead_, 1, 2. _A circumstantial account of the beheading of John the Baptist_, 3-12. _Five thousand men, besides women and children, fed with five_ _loaves and two fishes_, 13-21. _The d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:2. _THIS IS JOHN THE BAPTIST_] ον εγω απεκεφαλισα, _Whom_ _I beheaded_. These words are added here by the Codex Bezae and several others, by the Saxon, and five copies of the Itala. - See the power of conscience! He is miserable because he is guilty; being continually under the domi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:3. _FOR HERODIAS' SAKE_] This infamous woman was the daughter of _Aristobulus_ and _Bernice_, and grand-daughter of Herod the Great. Her first marriage was with Herod Philip, her _uncle_, by whom she had _Salome_: some time after, she left her husband, and lived publicly with Herod... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:4. _FOR JOHN SAID UNTO HIM, IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR THEE TO_ _HAVE HER._] Here is an instance of zeal, fidelity, and courage, highly worthy of imitation. Plainness, mildness, and modesty, are qualifications necessary to be observed when we reprove the great. The best service a subject... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:5. _HE FEARED THE MULTITUDE_] Miserable prince! who fears more to offend his people, than to sin against his God, by shedding innocent blood. When a man resists sin only by the help of human motives, he cannot long defend himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:6. _HEROD'S BIRTH-DAY_] Either the day in which he was _born_, or the day on which he _began to reign_; for both were termed _birth-days_. See 1 Samuel 13:1, and Hosea 7:5. The kings of Persia were accustomed to reject no petition that was preferred to them during the entertainment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:8. _GIVE ME HERE JOHN BAPTIST'S HEAD IN A CHARGER._] The word charger formerly signified a large dish, bowl, or drinking cup: the Saxon has [Anglo-Saxon], a _dish_, Tindal, a _platter_; any thing is better than _charger_, which never conveyed much meaning, and now conveys none. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:9. _THE KING WAS SORRY_] He knew John to be a righteous man, and at first did many things gladly which John told him it was his duty to perform: Mark 6:20. _NEVERTHELESS, FOR THE OATH'S SAKE_] _The_ OATHS, ορκους - he had probably sworn again and again-one sin begets many. _AND TH... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:11. _HIS HEAD WAS GIVEN TO THE DAMSEL: AND SHE BROUGHT IT_ _TO HER MOTHER._] There is no person so revengeful as a lascivious woman when reproved and blamed. A preacher of the Gospel has most to fear from this quarter: - the first of this profession lost his life for the sake of tru... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:12. _HIS DISCIPLES CAME, AND TOOK UP THE_ BODY] The HEAD was in the possession of _Herodias_, who, 'tis probable, took a diabolic pleasure in viewing that speechless mouth which had often been the cause of planting thorns in her criminal bed; and in offering indignities to that _ton... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:13. _WHEN JESUS HEARD_ OF IT, _HE DEPARTED THENCE_] Had the blessed Jesus continued in that place, it is probable the hand of this impure female murderer would have been stretched out against him also: he _withdrew_, therefore, not through fear, but to teach his messengers rather to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:14. _JESUS-WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION_] εσπλαγχνισθε, he was moved with _tender compassion_, so I think the word should in general be translated: Matthew 9:36, Matthew 9:36. As a _verb_, it does not appear to have been used by any but _ecclesiastical_ writers. It always intimates _th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:15. _SEND THE MULTITUDE AWAY, THAT THEY MAY GO - AND BUY_] The disciples of Christ are solicitous for the people's temporal as well a spiritual welfare: and he is not worthy to be called a minister of Christ, who dues not endeavour to promote both to the uttermost of his power. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:16. _THEY NEED NOT DEPART_] He that seeks first the kingdom of heaven is sure to have every temporal requisite. When a man ensures the first, God always takes care to throw the other into the bargain. He who has an interest in Jesus has in him an inexhaustible treasure of spiritual... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:17. _WE HAVE HERE BUT FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES._] When we are deeply conscious of our own necessities, we shall be led to depend on Jesus with a firmer faith. God often permits his servants to be brought _low_, that they may have repeated opportunities of proving the kindness and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:18. _BRING THEM HITHER TO ME._] No creature of God should be considered as good or safe without the blessing of God in it. If thou have but even a handful of meal and a few herbs, bring them to Christ by prayer and faith, and he will make them a _sufficiency_ for thy _body_, and a _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:19. _AND TOOK THE FIVE LOAVES_, c.] This was the act of the father of a family among the Jews-his business it was to take the bread into his hands, and render thanks to God, before any of the family was permitted to taste of it. _LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN_] To teach us to acknowledge GO... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:20. _THEY DID ALL EAT, AND WERE FILLED_] Little or much is the same in the hands of Jesus Christ. Here was an incontestable miracle - _five thousand_ men, besides women and children, fed with _five cakes_ and _two fishes_! Here must have been a manifest _creation_ of _substance _- t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:22. _JESUS CONSTRAINED HIS DISCIPLES TO GET INTO A SHIP_] Either they were afraid to return into the jurisdiction of Herod, or they were unwilling to embark without their Lord and Protector, and would not enter their boat till Christ had commanded them to embark. From this verse it... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:23. _HE WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN APART, TO PRAY_] He whom God has employed in a work of mercy had need to return, by prayer, as speedily, to his Maker, as he can, lest he should be tempted to value himself on account of that in which he has no merit-for the good that is done upon ear... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:24. _TOSSED WITH WAVES_] _Grievously agitated_. This is the proper meaning of the word βασανιζομενον: but one MS. reads βαπτιζομενον, _plunged_ under the waves, frequently covered with them; the waves often breaking over the vessel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:25. _THE FOURTH WATCH_] Anciently the Jews divided the night into _three_ watches, consisting of _four_ hours each. The _first_ watch is mentioned, Lamentations 2:19: the _second_, Judges 7:19; and the _third_, Exodus 14:24; but a _fourth_ watch is not mentioned in any part of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:26. _IT IS A SPIRIT_] That the spirits of the dead _might_ and _did appear_, was a doctrine held by the greatest and holiest of men that ever existed; and a doctrine which the caviliers, _free-thinkers_ and _bound-thinkers_, of different ages, have never been able to dispove.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:27. _IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID_] Nothing but this voice of Christ could, in such circumstances, have given courage and comfort to his disciples: those who are grievously tossed with difficulties and temptations require a similar manifestation of his power and goodness. When he proclaim... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:28. _BID ME COME UNTO THEE ON THE WATER._] A weak faith is always wishing for signs and miracles. To _take Christ at his_ _word_, argues not only the perfection of faith, but also the highest exercise of sound reason. He is to be credited on his _own_ _word_, because he is the TRUTH... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _PETER - WALKED ON THE WATER_] However impossible the thing commanded by Christ may appear, it is certain he will give power to accomplish it to those who receive his word by faith; but we must take care never to put Christ's power to the proof for the gratification of a vain curiosity; or... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _WHEN HE SAW THE WIND BOISTEROUS, HE WAS AFRAID_] It was by faith in the power of Christ he was upheld; when that faith failed, by which the laws of gravitation were suspended, no wonder that those laws returned to their wonted action, and that he began to sink. It was not the violence of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _JESUS STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND_] Every moment we stand in need of Christ: while we _stand_-we are upheld by his power only; and when we are _falling_, or have _fallen_, we can be saved only by his mercy. Let us always take care that we do not consider so much the danger to which we are ex... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _THE WIND CEASED._] Jesus is the Prince of peace, and all is peace and calm where he condescends to _enter_ and _abide_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:33. _THOU ART THE SON OF GOD._] It is probable that these words were spoken either by the _sailors_ or _passengers_, and not by the _disciples_. Critics have remarked that, when this phrase is used to denominate the MESSIAH, both the articles are used, ε υιος του Θεου, and that the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:34. _THE LAND OF GENNESARET._] It was from this country that the _sea_ or _lake_ of Gennesaret had its name. In this district, on the western side of the lake, were the cities of _Capernaum_ and _Tiberias_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:35. _THE MEN OF THAT PLACE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF HIM_] i.e. _They knew him again_. They had already seen his miracles; and now they collect all the diseased people they can find, that _he_ may have the same opportunity of showing forth his marvellous power, and _they_ of being the instru... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 14:36. _THAT THEY MIGHT ONLY TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT_] What mighty influence must the grace and Spirit of Christ have in the soul, when even the _border_ or _hem of his garment_ produced such wonders in the bodies of those who touched it! Here is a man who has turned from sin to G... [ Continue Reading ]