Matthew 14

Review

Matthew 13 gave us 7 (maybe 8) parables in which Jesus explains and encourages:

the disciples in the face of so much indifference and denial of the Gospel

the disciples that there would be some in the church who professed belief but didn’t truly. That God Himself would sort them in the end

that the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus said was at hand, was a tiny thing at the moment, but would become the “tree” that all the nations would roost on

that the Kingdom of Heaven, as such a tiny thing, WOULD transform the world and feed all the nations

that the Kingdom of Heaven is worth giving everything we have on earth to get it

all kinds of people will be drawn to the Kingdom of Heaven, and it was God’s place to determine “who’s kept and who’s thrown back”

that beginning with the greater revelation Jesus gave to the disciples (and on to us who have all of scripture); we should be able to “paint the picture” of the meaning of the Old Testament, it leading to the New Testament, and the impact of the old and new covenants not just on the salvation of a person but on the impact and importance of the Gospel to all of the church, society, family, and individual

Nazareth

Matthew 13:54–58 KJV

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

this was the synagogue Jesus had grown up in

by this point Joseph may have died; the people of His hometown don’t see Jesus as any more than “the carpenter’s son”

they know of Him and His family, and He’s sure not a miracle worker, let alone a man of God

57: offended in Him: “Familiarity breeds contempt”

58: did not (Mark says “could not”) this isn’t could not as in didn’t have the ability, but did not because of the lack of faith in Him as the messiah (blasphemy of the Holy Spirit would not allow the forgiveness of the Son to extend reconciliation to The Father)

Herod Antipas

Matthew 14:1–12 KJV

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.

Herod here is tetrarch (governor) of Jesus home province of Galilee; son of Herod the great

2: he had heard about the miracles and had a guilty conscience

3-11: “flashback” explains his guilty conscience

4: the marriage voiolated multiple Jewish laws (relatives Lev 18:16, Lev 20:21, also by means of two divorces)

4: “telling” likely not face to face, likely multiple times proclaimed in the public square and, in Herod’s mind, made John a political threat as well as a religious one

6-11: “conniving” of Herodias, the cowardice and pride of Herod.

Feeding the Crowd

Matthew 14:13–21 KJV

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.

13: “desert place apart” Jesus went into the wilderness to be alone with the disciples (Mark 6:30-31 (to rest awhile))

17: single loaf (like pita bread) would be a single meal for a person

17-21: There is a pattern in the OT of God taking what His people already had, and transforming or multiplying it)

19: looking up to heaven He is thanking the Father as provider

20: the people aren’t said to have noticed the miracle, it was for the disciples (Matt 16:9-10 “9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?” )

“took…blessed/gave thanks…broke…gave” we see the pattern of meal at Emmaus and a foretaste of the Last Supper which is a foreshadow of the messianic banquet (Matt 26:29 “29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” )

Walking on the Water

Matthew 14:22–33 KJV

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.

There are no natural explanations given in any of the Gospels.

24: midst of the sea; “Sea” of Galilee 13 miles long and 8 miles wide…middle was a long way from shore

25-27: 4th watch of the night is 3 hours preceding dawn; Jesus had spent the majority of the night in prayer

28-32: on one hand, seems like Jesus encourages? Peter; on the other the failure could show us that Peter’s actions are not the model to be followed but caution against “testing” God (Matt 4:5-7 “5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” )

Peter clearly has a leading role of the 12, but not always a good model to follow

31: doubt here used only again in Matt 28:17 “17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.” It’s not unbelief like Jesus hometown, more like a practical hesitation; his heart trusted, his head said this can’t be, his head won out

Many Healings

Matthew 14:34–36 KJV

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.

3 miles southwest of Capernaum; Jesus and His disciples were well known by now. The faith of the woman with the issue of blood, is here shown in all who touched the hem of His garment