Matthew 14
14
Chapter 14
Herod's soldiers kill John the Baptist
1At that time, people told Herod about the things that Jesus was doing. #14:1 Herod was the ruler in one of the four parts of Israel at that time. 2Herod said to his servants, ‘That man Jesus is really John the Baptist. John died but he has become alive again. That is the reason why this man can do these very powerful things.’
3Before that, Herod had commanded his soldiers, ‘Take hold of John. Tie his hands and feet and put him in prison.’ Herod had done this because of his wife Herodias. Before Herod married her, she was the wife of Herod's brother Philip. 4John had said to Herod, ‘Herodias was your brother's wife. So it is not right for you to have her as your wife.’ #14:4 Herodias had left Philip, her husband. Herod married her. So John told him what Moses had written in the Law. The Law said, ‘A man must not marry his brother's wife while his brother is still alive.’ Herod was not happy with John when he told him that. So Herod sent his men to put John in prison.
5Herod wanted to tell his soldiers that they must kill John. But the people thought that John was a prophet from God. So Herod was afraid to kill him.
6One day, when it was Herod's birthday, he asked people to come to a special meal. The daughter of Herodias danced in front of him and his visitors. Her dance caused Herod to become very happy. 7He said to the girl, ‘Ask me for anything that you want. I make a strong promise that I will give it to you.’ 8Herodias suggested to her daughter, ‘Ask Herod to give you John's head.’ So the girl said to Herod, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate.’ 9Then Herod felt sad. But he had made a special promise to the girl, and his visitors had heard him. So he sent his men to do what she had asked for. 10He said to a soldier, ‘Go to the prison and cut off John's head.’ 11The soldier did this. Then he brought the head on a plate and he gave it to the girl. The girl took it and gave it to her mother.
12After this, John's disciples went to the prison. They took away John's body and they buried it. Then they went and they told Jesus what had happened.
Jesus gives food to 5,000 men and their families
13Jesus heard about what had happened to John. After that, he went away from that place. He sailed in a boat to a quiet place where he could be alone. But the crowd heard where Jesus had gone. So they left their towns and they went on land to the place where he was going. 14Jesus got out of the boat. He saw a large crowd there on the shore. He felt sorry for them. There were sick people among them and he made them well again.
15When it was almost evening, Jesus' disciples came to speak to him. They said to him, ‘We are in a place where there are no houses. It will soon be dark. Send the crowd away now, so that they can go to the villages near here. Then they can buy some food for themselves to eat.’
16Jesus said to them, ‘The people do not need to go away. You should give them some food to eat.’
17But the disciples said, ‘We only have five loaves of bread and two fish.’
18‘Bring the bread and fish here to me,’ Jesus said. 19Then he said to the large crowd, ‘Sit down on the grass.’ He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and he thanked God for the bread and the fish. Then he broke the bread into pieces. He gave the pieces of bread to his disciples, and they gave them to the crowd. 20Then everybody ate. They all had enough food and they were not hungry any more. Then the disciples picked up all the bits of food that people had not eaten. They filled 12 baskets with little bits of bread and fish. 21About 5,000 men ate the bread and fish. Women and children also ate it with them. #14:21 Only God could make five loaves of bread and two fish become enough to feed 5,000 men and their families. This showed them that God had caused Jesus to be very powerful.
Jesus walks on the water
22Immediately after this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Get in the boat and sail across to the other side of the lake.’ Jesus said that he would first send the crowd away. Then he would also leave. 23So Jesus sent the crowd away. After they had gone, he went up on a mountain alone to pray. When it became dark, he was still there alone. 24At this time the boat with the disciples in it was in the middle of the lake. It was a long way from the land. The wind was blowing against the boat and the water was hitting it.
25Then, when it was nearly dawn, Jesus walked on the water towards his disciples. 26The disciples saw him walking on the water. They were very frightened. ‘It is a spirit,’ they said. They screamed loudly because they were afraid.
27But immediately Jesus said to them. ‘Be brave! It is I. Do not be afraid.’
28Peter replied, ‘Lord, is it really you? If it is you, say to me, “Come here! Walk to me on the water.” ’
29Jesus said to him, ‘Come to me.’
So Peter got down out of the boat. He walked on the water and he came towards Jesus. 30But then Peter saw that the wind was still blowing strongly. He became afraid and he began to go down into the water. He shouted to Jesus, ‘Lord, save me!’
31Immediately, Jesus put out his hand and he took hold of Peter. He said to Peter, ‘You should trust me more than you do. Why did you not believe that I could help you?’
32Jesus and Peter climbed up into the boat. Then the strong wind stopped. 33The disciples who were in the boat went down on their knees. They praised Jesus and they said to him, ‘It is true. You are really the Son of God.’
34They sailed across the lake and reached the shore at a place called Gennesaret. #14:34 Gennesaret was a part of the country on the west side of Lake Galilee.
35The people who lived in that place recognized Jesus. So they went to tell everyone who lived in places near there. People brought all their sick friends to him. 36The sick people asked Jesus for help. They wanted to touch only the edge of his coat. Every sick person who touched him became well again.
Currently Selected:
Matthew 14: EASY
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
MissionAssist 2018
Matthew 14
14
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2and said to his servants, This is John the baptist: he is risen from the dead, and because of this these works of power display their force in him. 3For Herod had seized John, and had bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother. 4For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5And while desiring to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held him for a prophet. 6But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod; 7whereupon he promised with oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. 8But she, being set on by her mother, says, Give me here upon a dish the head of John the baptist. 9And the king was grieved; but on account of the oaths, and those lying at table with him, he commanded it to be given. 10And he sent and beheaded John in the prison; 11and his head was brought upon a dish, and was given to the damsel, and she carried it to her mother. 12And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and came and brought word to Jesus.
13And Jesus, having heard it, went away thence by ship to a desert place apart. And the crowds having heard of it followed him on foot from the cities. 14And going out he saw a great crowd, and was moved with compassion about them, and healed their infirm. 15But when even was come, his disciples came to him saying, The place is desert, and much of the day time already gone by; dismiss the crowds, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves. 16But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give ye them to eat. 17But they say to him, We have not here save five loaves and two fishes. 18And he said, Bring them here to me. 19And having commanded the crowds to recline upon the grass, having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed: and having broken the loaves, he gave themto the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was over and above of fragments twelve hand-baskets full. 21But those that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22And immediately he compelled the disciples to go on board ship, and to go on before him to the other side, until he should have dismissed the crowds. 23And having dismissed the crowds, he went up into the mountain apart to pray. And when even was come, he was alone there, 24but the ship was already in the middle of the sea tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25But in the fourth watch of the night he went off to them, walking on the sea. 26And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is an apparition. And they cried out through fear. 27But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Take courage; it is I: be not afraid. 28And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be thou, command me to come to thee upon the waters. 29And he said, Come. And Peter, having descended from the ship, walked upon the waters to go to Jesus. 30But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, and says to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? 32And when they had gone up into the ship, the wind fell. 33But those in the ship came and did homage to him, saying, Truly thou art God's Son.
34And having crossed over they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognised him, they sent to that whole country around, and they brought to him all that were ill, 36and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made thoroughly well.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.