1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 And 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 was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Matthew Chapter 14 of the King James Version (KJV) Holy Bible is a rich tapestry of events, teachings, and lessons that continue to resonate with believers today. This chapter covers a range of themes, including faith, fear, doubt, and compassion, and provides us with a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ's mission and his divine nature. This chapter also showcases the spiritual struggles people often face, and the miraculous power of faith.
The chapter begins with the death of John the Baptist, a significant event that sets the stage for the rest of the chapter. Herod, the tetrarch, hears reports about Jesus and his disciples performing miracles and preaching, which reminds him of John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded. The narrative of John's unjust death is a stark reminder of the hostility that Jesus and his followers faced from those in power. This event also signals the end of the prophetic era represented by John the Baptist, and the beginning of the fulfillment of those prophecies in Jesus Christ.
The death of John the Baptist is an example of how worldly power and influence can be misused. Herod, despite his initial reluctance to kill John, is swayed by his wife Herodias and his guests. This act of fear and pride leads to the death of a righteous man. This theme of fear and pride versus faith and humility is a recurring theme throughout the Bible and is particularly evident in this chapter.
After hearing of John's death, Jesus withdraws to a deserted place, but the crowds follow him. Despite his grief and desire for solitude, Jesus is moved with compassion for the people and heals their sick. As evening approaches, the disciples suggest sending the crowd away to buy food. However, Jesus performs one of his most famous miracles—the feeding of the five thousand.
With only five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus gives thanks and distributes the food to the crowd. Everyone eats and is satisfied, and twelve baskets of leftovers are collected. This miracle highlights Jesus's divine authority and his compassion for people. It also illustrates the theme of faith. Despite the apparent scarcity of resources, Jesus provides abundantly for everyone. This teaches us that with faith in God, even what seems meager can be multiplied to fulfill our needs.
After the miracle of the feeding, Jesus sends his disciples ahead in a boat while he dismisses the crowd. He then goes up a mountain to pray alone. During the night, the boat is battered by waves and wind. In the early morning, Jesus comes to his disciples, walking on the sea. The disciples, seeing him, are terrified, thinking they're seeing a ghost.
Jesus reassures them, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27). Peter, in a moment of faith, asks Jesus to command him to come to him on the water. Jesus invites him, and Peter walks on the water towards Jesus. However, when he notices the wind, he becomes afraid and begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and catches him, chiding him for his doubt. When they get into the boat, the wind ceases, and those in the boat worship Jesus, saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33).
This event is a powerful illustration of the importance of faith and the dangers of doubt. Peter, despite his initial faith, allows fear and doubt to overwhelm him, leading him to sink. However, Jesus, in his mercy, saves him, demonstrating that even when our faith wavers, Jesus is there to save us. This event also underscores Jesus's divine nature and his power over the natural world.
The chapter concludes with Jesus and his disciples reaching the land of Gennesaret. When the people of that place recognize him, they send word throughout the region, and people bring all who are sick to him. They beg him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touch it are healed.
This final section of the chapter reinforces the themes of faith and Jesus's divine authority. The people's faith in Jesus's healing power is so strong that they believe even a touch of his cloak can heal them. This faith is rewarded, further emphasizing the power of faith.
In summary, Matthew Chapter 14 is a powerful exploration of faith, fear, and compassion. It showcases Jesus's divine authority and his deep compassion for people. It presents faith as a powerful force capable of enabling miracles and overcoming fear and doubt. At the same time, it warns of the dangers of allowing fear and doubt to overshadow faith. Through the life and works of Jesus Christ, the chapter encourages believers to maintain faith in God's providence and Jesus's saving power.
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