Matthew 14 Bible Commentary

McGarvey and Pendleton

(Read all of Matthew 14)
14:1  At that season Herod1 the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, HEROD ANTIPAS SUPPOSES JESUS TO BE JOHN. Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9
Herod. See Mark 6:14.

14:2  and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him1.
He is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him. John had wrought no miracle while living (Matthew 10:41), but there was a prevalent idea among the ancients that departed spirits were endowed with superhuman powers, and Herod therefore supposed that the risen John had brought these powers with him from the spirit world.

14:3  For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison1 for the sake of Herodias2, his brother Philip's wife.
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison. Matthew, by introducing what follows with the word "for", gives us the reason why Herod clung to this singular opinion of Jesus, Matthew 14:1,2. He did so because this opinion was begotten in the morbid musings of a conscience stained with the blood of John.
Herodias. See Mark 6:17.

14:4  For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her1.
It is not lawful for thee to have her. See Mark 6:18.

14:5  And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude1, because they counted him as a prophet.
He feared the multitude. See Mark 6:20.

14:6  But when Herod's birthday came1, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst2, and pleased Herod.
But when Herod's birthday came. See Mark 6:21.
The daughter of Herodias danced in the midst. See Mark 6:22.

14:7  Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask1.
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. See Mark 6:23.

14:8  And she, being put forward by her mother1, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist2.
And she, being put forward by her mother. See Mark 6:24.
Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. See Mark 6:25.

14:9  And the king was grieved1; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given;
The king was grieved. See Mark 6:26.

14:11  And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother1.
And she brought it to her mother. See Mark 6:28.

14:12  And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him1; and they went and told Jesus.
And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him. See Mark 6:29.

14:13  Now when Jesus heard [it]1, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard [thereof,] they followed him on foot from the cities2. FIRST WITHDRAWAL FROM HEROD'S TERRITORY AND RETURN. (Spring, A.D. 29.) A. RETURN OF THE TWELVE AND RETIREMENT TO THE EAST SHORE OF GALILEE. Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:30-32; Luke 9:10; John 6:1
Now when Jesus heard [it]. Heard about John's death. The excitement caused by this event, and the efforts to use Jesus as a leader in revolt, see Mark 6:29, constituted another reason why Jesus should withdraw from the multitude.

B. FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:33-44; Luke 9:11-17; John 6:2-14
And when the multitudes heard [thereof,] they followed him on foot from the cities. See Mark 6:33.

14:15  And when even was come1, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.
And when even was come. See Mark 6:35.
Send the multitudes away, that they may . . . buy themselves food. See Mark 6:36.

14:17  And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes1.
We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. See Mark 6:38.

14:19  And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass1; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed2, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. See Mark 6:39.
And looking up to heaven, he blessed. See Mark 6:41.

14:20  And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained1 over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
And they took up that which remained. See John 6:12.

14:21  And they that did eat were about five thousand men1, besides women and children.
And they that did eat were about five thousand men. See Mark 6:44.

14:22  And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away1. FIRST WITHDRAWAL FROM HEROD'S TERRITORY AND RETURN. (Spring, A.D. 29.) C. THE TWELVE TRY TO ROW BACK. JESUS WALKS UPON THE WATER. Matthew 14:22-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:15-21
Till he should send the multitudes away. See Mark 6:45.

14:23  And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray1: and when even was come, he was there alone.
He went up into the mountain apart to pray. See Mark 6:46.

14:24  But the boat was now in the midst of the sea1, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary2.
The boat was now in the midst of the sea. See Mark 6:47.
For the wind was contrary. See Mark 6:48.

14:25  And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea1.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. See Mark 6:48.

14:26  And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.
They were troubled, . . . and they cried out for fear. See Mark 6:49.

14:27  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I1; be not afraid2.
Be of good cheer; it is I. See Mark 6:50.
Be not afraid. See Luke 1:30.

14:28  And Peter answered him and said1, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto the upon the waters. Matthew 14:28,29
And Peter answered him and said, etc. This scene comports with the character of Peter, who had always a rash willingness to go into danger, and a lack of steadfastness to hold out through it.

14:30  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid1; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. So long as the attention of Peter was fixed upon the Lord's command he succeeded in his venture; but so soon as he let the power of the tempest distract his thoughts, his faith failed, and he began to sink.

14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt1?
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Fear is a source of doubt and an enemy of faith. Those who would achieve the victories of faith must overcome their fears.

14:34  And when they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret1.
Gennesaret. See Mark 6:53.