Matthew 14
14
Herod’s Opinion of Jesus. 1#The murder of the Baptist by Herod Antipas prefigures the death of Jesus (see Mt 17:12). The Marcan source (Mk 6:14–29) is much reduced and in some points changed. In Mark Herod reveres John as a holy man and the desire to kill him is attributed to Herodias (Mk 6:19, 20), whereas here that desire is Herod’s from the beginning (Mt 14:5). #Mk 6:14–29. At that time Herod the tetrarch#Herod the tetrarch: Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. When the latter died, his territory was divided among three of his surviving sons, Archelaus who received half of it (Mt 2:23), Herod Antipas who became ruler of Galilee and Perea, and Philip who became ruler of northern Transjordan. Since he received a quarter of his father’s domain, Antipas is accurately designated tetrarch (“ruler of a fourth [part]”), although in Mt 14:9 Matthew repeats the “king” of his Marcan source (Mk 6:26). #Lk 9:7–9. heard of the reputation of Jesus#Lk 3:1. 2and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”
The Death of John the Baptist. 3#Lk 3:19–20. Now Herod had arrested John, bound [him], and put him in prison on account of Herodias,#Herodias was not the wife of Herod’s half-brother Philip but of another half-brother, Herod Boethus. The union was prohibited by Lv 18:16; 20:21. According to Josephus (Antiquities 18:116–19), Herod imprisoned and then executed John because he feared that the Baptist’s influence over the people might enable him to lead a rebellion. the wife of his brother Philip, 4#Lv 18:16; 20:21. for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5#21:26. Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. 6But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod 7so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, 10and he had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.
The Return of the Twelve and the Feeding of the Five Thousand.#The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle of Jesus that is recounted in all four gospels. The principal reason for that may be that it was seen as anticipating the Eucharist and the final banquet in the kingdom (Mt 8:11; 26:29), but it looks not only forward but backward, to the feeding of Israel with manna in the desert at the time of the Exodus (Ex 16), a miracle that in some contemporary Jewish expectation would be repeated in the messianic age (2 Bar 29:8). It may also be meant to recall Elisha’s feeding a hundred men with small provisions (2 Kgs 4:42–44). 13#15:32–38; Mk 6:32–44; Lk 9:10–17; Jn 6:1–13. When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. 14When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16[Jesus] said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” 17But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” 18Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” 19and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking#The taking, saying the blessing, breaking, and giving to the disciples correspond to the actions of Jesus over the bread at the Last Supper (Mt 26:26). Since they were usual at any Jewish meal, that correspondence does not necessarily indicate a eucharistic reference here. Matthew’s silence about Jesus’ dividing the fish among the people (Mk 6:41) is perhaps more significant in that regard. the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over#The fragments left over: as in Elisha’s miracle, food was left over after all had been fed. The word fragments (Greek klasmata) is used, in the singular, of the broken bread of the Eucharist in Didache 9:3–4.—twelve wicker baskets full. 21Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
The Walking on the Water.#The disciples, laboring against the turbulent sea, are saved by Jesus. For his power over the waters, see note on Mt 8:26. Here that power is expressed also by his walking on the sea (Mt 14:25; cf. Ps 77:20; Jb 9:8). Matthew has inserted into the Marcan story (Mk 6:45–52) material that belongs to his special traditions on Peter (Mt 14:28–31). 22#Mk 6:45–52; Jn 6:16–21. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23#Mk 1:35; Lk 5:16; 6:12. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. 24Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night,#The fourth watch of the night: between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. The Romans divided the twelve hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. into four equal parts called “watches.” he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;#It is I: see note on Mk 6:50. do not be afraid.” 28Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30#8:25–26. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,#You of little faith: see note on Mt 6:30. Why did you doubt?: the verb is peculiar to Matthew and occurs elsewhere only in Mt 28:17. why did you doubt?” 32After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33#This confession is in striking contrast to the Marcan parallel (Mk 6:51) where the disciples are “completely astounded.” #16:16. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
The Healings at Gennesaret. 34#Mk 6:53–56. After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick 36#9:20–22. and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
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.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.