Matthew 14:1-36
DEATH OF THE BAPTIST. FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. WALKING ON THE SEA 1, 2. Herod's opinion of Jesus (Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
DEATH OF THE BAPTIST. FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. WALKING ON THE SEA 1, 2. Herod's opinion of Jesus (Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
HEROD THE TETRARCH] son of Herod the Great, received by his father's will the government (tetrarchy) of Galilee and Peræa. His first wife was the daughter of the Arabian prince Aretas, called in 2 Corinthians 11:32 king of Damascus. During a visit to his half-brother, Herod Philip (not the tetrarch)... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS JOHN THE BAPTIST] The belief was the effect of a guilty conscience working upon a superstitious mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARREST OF JOHN (Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19). The manner in which St. Matthew and St. Mark insert the arrest of John at this point, instead of in its proper historical place, the beginning of the Galilean ministry, is conclusive proof that their narratives are not independent. Either they borrow from one a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WOULD HAVE PUT HIM TO DEATH] This agrees with Josephus, who says that John was arrested for political reasons. 'Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, thought it best by putting him to death to pre... [ Continue Reading ]
BIRTHDAY] One of the Greek customs introduced by the Herods. The Hebrews regarded the keeping of birthdays as a part of idolatrous worship. THE DAUGHTER] Her name was Salome. She soon afterwards married her uncle, Philip the tetrarch. DANCED] Another instance of Greek manners. It was the custom of t... [ Continue Reading ]
EXECUTION OF THE BAPTIST (Mark 6:21). The dramatic circumstances of the death of John are recorded only in the Gospels. Josephus simply says, 'Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Machærus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death.'... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH AN OATH] cp. the rash vow of Jephthah, Judges 11:31. In the OT. Ahasuerus makes exactly the same promise to Esther (href='190 5:3'>Est 5:3). WHATSOEVER SHE WOULD ASK] St. Mark adds, 'even to the half of my kingdom,' a rhetorical expression for a very great reward. The incident is in accordance... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING BEFORE INSTRUCTED] RV 'being put forward.' A CHARGER] i.e. a dish.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SENT] Josephus says that John was imprisoned at Machærus, a fortress 5 m. E. of the Dead Sea.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE BROUGHT _it_] The judgment of God fell upon Antipas and Herodias for their crime. Their country suffered severely in the disastrous war with Aretas, and when the guilty pair visited Rome to demand from Caligula the title of king, they were banished to Lyons, in Gaul, on a charge of misgovernment... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARD _of it_] On hearing of the death of John, Jesus thought it better to retire from the kingdom of Antipas, until it was clear whether the designs of Antipas were directed against Him also. He therefore retired across the lake to Bethsaida Julias, in the dominion of Philip. His speedy return may... [ Continue Reading ]
FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND (Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10; John 6:1). The only miracle recorded by the four evangelists, and also one of the most wonderful. It cannot be accounted for, as some of the miracles of healing possibly can, as the powerful effect of mind over mind, or of mind over body, but is disti... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS DISCIPLES] In St. John the initiative comes from our Lord Himself, and what is here put into the mouth of the disciples is said by Philip. THE TIME] RV 'the hour,' i.e. the hour at which Jesus usually concluded His religious instructions.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE HERE] According to St. John a boy had them for sale. The disciples could be said to have what they could so readily obtain.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SIT DOWN] lit. 'to recline.' St. Mark says that the people sat down in separate companies, which he compares to the beds in a garden. HE BLESSED, etc.] A close resemblance to the consecration in the Lord's Supper. The miracle is to be regarded as taking place at this moment. THE DISCIPLES] As Je... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE BASKETS] _Kophinoi_ were large baskets such as were frequently carried by Jews. Each of the apostles had one. The gathering up of the fragments for future use was a lesson in economy, a protest against waste.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSTRAINED] The apostles were most unwilling to be sent away. St. John explains the reason. The people were desirous to make Jesus king by force, and the apostles thoroughly sympathised with the popular enthusiasm.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WALKING ON THE SEA (Mark 6:45; John 6:15). Another physical miracle, also belonging to the oldest tradition. As it is attested by actual eyewitnesses, it cannot be resolved into a legend or allegory, but must be accepted as an historic fact. Symbolically interpreted, it represents the struggles... [ Continue Reading ]
A MOUNTAIN] RV 'the mountain,' i.e. the mountainous country surrounding the lake. THE EVENING] But it was evening some time earlier (Matthew 14:15), before the multitudes were fed. The explanation is that the Jews reckoned two evenings, the first corresponding very much to our afternoon (St. Luke,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOURTH WATCH] This is Roman reckoning. The fourth or last watch was from 3 to 6 a.m. The Jews reckoned only three watches, beginning at 6 p.m.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SPIRIT] RV 'an apparition.' St. Mark adds that 'He would have passed by them,' doubtless to test their faith, or to draw from them some expression of their need of Him: cp. Luke 24:37.... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER] The incident is only in St. Matthew. It is thoroughly in keeping with St. Peter's character, confident and enthusiastic, and unconscious of his own weakness. 'So faith in the Lord's strengthening and upholding power conducts us securely over the agitated sea of a sinful life, but assuredly it... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE SHIP] Not inconsistent with St. John's statement, 'they were willing to receive him into the ship.' They were willing and did so.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT WERE IN THE SHIP] the apostles and the crew. THE SON OF GOD] The first time, in the Synoptic Gospels, that the title is applied to Jesus by men.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND OF GENNESARET] A fertile plain on the W. side of the lake towards its N. end, extending southwards from Capernaum. Josephus says of it, 'Such is the fertility of the soil that it rejects no plant, and accordingly all are here cultivated by the husbandmen, for so genial is the air, that it... [ Continue Reading ]
HEALINGS IN THE LAND OF GENNESARET (Mark 6:53). Enthusiasm is still at its height.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEM] RV 'border': see on Matthew 9:20. AS MANY] Multitudes healed. No failures. Most of Christ's miracles unrecorded.... [ Continue Reading ]