Matthew14

Herod the tetrarch, believing Jesus to be John the Baptist risen, recounts John's beheading at the request of Herodias' daughter. Following this, Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes. Later, he walks on water to his disciples during a storm, where Peter briefly attempts to join him before sinking due to doubt, and Jesus calms the wind.

Herod Executes John the Baptist

1
At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Yeshua, ​
2
and said to his servants, “This is Yochanan the Immerser. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” ​
3
For Herod had laid hold of Yochanan, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. ​
4
For Yochanan said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ​
5
When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. ​
6
But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.
7
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.
8
She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of Yochanan the Immerser.” ​
9
The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, ​
10
and he sent and beheaded Yochanan in the prison.
11
His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.
12
His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Yeshua. ​

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13
Now when Yeshua heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. ​
14
Yeshua went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick. ​
15
When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”
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But Yeshua said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” ​
17
They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
18
He said, “Bring them here to me.”
19
He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. ​
20
They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. ​
21
Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Sea

22
Immediately Yeshua made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. ​
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After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. ​
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But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
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In the fourth watch of the night, Yeshua came to them, walking on the sea. ​
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When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. ​
27
But immediately Yeshua spoke to them, saying “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
28
Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” ​
29
He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Yeshua.
30
But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” ​
31
Immediately Yeshua stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ​
32
When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.
33
Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!” ​

Healings in Gennesaret

34
When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. ​
35
When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,
36
and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole. ​

Study Notes for Matthew 14

Verse 1

Herod the tetrarch is Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, who ruled Galilee and Perea. His hearing of Jesus’ fame is framed by his guilty conscience concerning John.

Verse 2

Herod’s belief that Jesus is John risen from the dead reveals his superstitious fear and paranoia, suggesting that the power of John’s prophetic ministry continued to haunt him.

Verse 3

Herod Antipas had illegally married Herodias, the wife of his half-brother (also named Philip). This incestuous and adulterous union was a violation of Mosaic Law (Lev. 18:16).

Verse 4

John the Baptist, acting as a true prophet, publicly denounced the moral failures of the ruling class, confronting the king directly and leading to his imprisonment.

Verse 5

Herod was a political pragmatist; he feared executing John not out of moral conviction but because the masses held John to be a prophet and might revolt.

Verse 8

A 'charger' is a large platter or serving dish. This detail emphasizes the brutality and public nature of the execution, demanded by Herodias to satisfy her vengeful hatred.

Verse 9

Herod regretted the command, not out of repentance, but due to political fear and the solemnity of his public oath, which he felt obligated to keep for the sake of his guests.

Verse 12

The action of John's disciples telling Jesus links the ministry of the forerunner directly to the Messiah, signifying the transition of the prophetic movement to Jesus.

Verse 13

Jesus sought solitude, likely to mourn John’s death and to rest from intense ministry. The crowds’ persistence demonstrates the depth of their need and their eagerness to follow him.

Verse 14

Jesus was 'moved with compassion' (splagchnizomai), a deep, visceral emotion that drives his ministry, leading him first to heal the sick before addressing their hunger.

Verse 16

Jesus’ command, 'give ye them to eat,' challenges the disciples to confront their own limitations and rely entirely upon his power, serving as a critical lesson in discipleship.

Verse 19

The actions of blessing, breaking, and giving the bread strongly echo the language later used to describe the Last Supper (Matt. 26:26), identifying Jesus as the provider of true sustenance.

Verse 20

The collection of twelve baskets of fragments symbolizes the superabundance of the miracle and may allude to the twelve tribes of Israel, indicating that the Messianic provision is complete.

Verse 22

Jesus urgently ‘constrained’ the disciples to leave, possibly to dismiss the crowd before they attempted to make him a political king following the miraculous feeding (cf. John 6:15).

Verse 23

Jesus models the necessity of spiritual devotion by withdrawing to pray in solitude after intense public ministry and a significant emotional event (John’s death).

Verse 25

The 'fourth watch of the night' (3:00 AM to 6:00 AM) emphasizes the disciples' prolonged difficulty and danger, highlighting Jesus’ timely and sovereign intervention.

Verse 26

The disciples’ initial reaction—crying out that Jesus was a ghost—shows they recognized the supernatural nature of the event but failed to recognize the unique, divine identity of the one controlling the sea.

Verse 28

Peter’s request demonstrates characteristic impulsiveness mixed with genuine, though imperfect, faith, seeking experiential confirmation of Jesus’ divine authority.

Verse 30

Peter began to sink when he shifted his focus from Jesus’ command to the power of the natural storm, illustrating the fragility of faith when attention is diverted by earthly fears.

Verse 31

The term 'O thou of little faith' (oligopistos) is a gentle rebuke, not of unbelief, but of wavering or incomplete trust when facing a trial.

Verse 33

This confession, 'Of a truth thou art the Son of God,' is the highest declaration of Jesus’ identity made by the disciples up to this point, prompted by His demonstration of divine power over creation.

Verse 34

Gennesaret was a fertile plain on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus resumed his ministry of healing, confirming his authority to the surrounding area.

Verse 36

The desire to touch the 'hem of his garment' reflects a belief in the healing power emanating from Jesus, possibly referencing the Jewish tradition regarding the symbolic power of the tzitzit (fringes).

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