Matthew 14: The King's Compassion and Power
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
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.
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
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.
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
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.
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
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.
But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
He said, Bring them hither to me.
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.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
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.
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.
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
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;
And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Matthew 14 offers a powerful glimpse into the multifaceted ministry of Jesus, showcasing His compassion, authority, and divine identity. This chapter, strategically placed after the parables of Matthew 13 and the rejection in His hometown, reveals Jesus' response to both personal tragedy and the overwhelming needs of the people. It's a chapter filled with miracles, challenges, and ultimately, a deeper understanding of who Jesus truly is. Let's delve into the key events and their significance.
Herod's Fear and John's Fate (Matthew 14:1-12)
The chapter opens with Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, grappling with the growing reports of Jesus' ministry. This Herod was the son of Herod the Great, who had sought to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:1-23), and his reaction reveals a similar wickedness. Haunted by his past actions, Herod believes Jesus to be John the Baptist resurrected (Matthew 14:2).
Matthew then provides a flashback, detailing the tragic circumstances of John the Baptist's execution. John had been imprisoned for condemning Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife (Matthew 14:3-4). Herod, though hesitant to execute John due to his popularity (Matthew 14:5), was manipulated into doing so through a rash promise made during a birthday celebration (Matthew 14:6-12). Herodias, fueled by hatred for John's righteous rebuke, seized the opportunity to have him beheaded.
This account serves as a stark reminder that rejecting God often leads to animosity towards His followers and their righteous lives. Herodias couldn’t stand to hear John the Baptist call attention to her sin, so she wanted him dead. Herod’s guilty conscience plagued him so much that he killed John and thought he’d come back to haunt him. As 1 John 3:12-13 says, unbelievers often hate those who live righteously.
Compassion and Provision: Feeding the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21)
Upon hearing of John's death, Jesus withdraws to a desolate place, seeking solitude (Matthew 14:13). However, the crowds follow Him, driven by their need for healing and hope. Moved with compassion, Jesus heals the sick (Matthew 14:14).
As evening approaches, the disciples suggest sending the crowds away to find food (Matthew 14:15). But Jesus challenges them, "You give them something to eat" (Matthew 14:16). Faced with their limited resources – only five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17) – the disciples are bewildered.
Jesus then performs a miraculous act of provision. He instructs the crowd to sit down, takes the loaves and fish, looks up to heaven, blesses the food, and breaks it (Matthew 14:18-19). He then distributes it through the disciples to the multitude. Miraculously, the food multiplies, feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with twelve baskets of leftovers remaining (Matthew 14:20-21). This could have meant feeding anywhere from 15,000-20,000 people!
This miracle underscores several key truths:
- Jesus' compassion: He is deeply moved by the needs of the people and actively seeks to meet them.
- God's provision: When Christ commands something, He will also provide the power to see it done. What seems impossible to us is possible with God.
- Bringing our "not-enough" to Jesus: "Not-enough" can become “more-than-enough” when two things happen. First, rather than dismissing it, bring what little you have to Jesus. Second, believe that Jesus can intercede in your situation, bringing abundance out of deficiency. Put him first and see what he can do. He can demonstrate the supernatural in the midst of your natural problem.
Walking on Water: Faith and Doubt (Matthew 14:22-33)
Immediately following the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sends the disciples ahead in a boat while He goes up to a mountain to pray (Matthew 14:22-23). As the night progresses, the boat is caught in a storm, battling against strong winds and waves (Matthew 14:24).
In the early hours of the morning, Jesus comes to them, walking on the water (Matthew 14:25). The disciples, terrified, mistake Him for a ghost (Matthew 14:26). Jesus reassures them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).
Peter, ever impulsive, asks Jesus to command him to come to Him on the water (Matthew 14:28). Jesus says, "Come" (Matthew 14:29). Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk on the water. However, when he sees the wind and the waves, he becomes frightened and begins to sink (Matthew 14:30). He cries out, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30).
Immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him (Matthew 14:31). He rebukes Peter for his doubt, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31).
When they climb into the boat, the wind ceases (Matthew 14:32). The disciples then worship Jesus, declaring, "Truly you are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33).
This episode highlights several important lessons:
- Obedience doesn't guarantee ease: The disciples were in God’s perfect will and about to enter a perfect storm, indicating that obeying God can sometimes lead to rough sailing. Nevertheless, it can only reach you by divine design and permission.
- Jesus' presence in the storm: Though Jesus was absent from them, he wasn’t unmindful of their needs. Paul told the Romans that Jesus intercedes for believers (Romans 8:34). His fulltime job is serving as the intercessor between you and God. And he’s the perfect one to do it because he’s fully God and fully human. He understands God, and he understands you.
- The power of faith and the danger of doubt: Peter's initial faith allowed him to walk on water, but his doubt caused him to sink.
- Jesus' immediate help: When we cry out to Him in our distress, He is always ready to rescue us.
- Deeper understanding through trials: Why would Jesus intentionally let his followers go through such a fearful situation? The disciples worshiped him and declared, Truly you are the Son of God! You may be wondering, Didn’t they know this already? Yes, they did. But with each new encounter, Jesus increased their understanding and deepened their experience of him. By God’s grace, they had been given an opportunity, through fearful circumstances, to come to know Jesus at a deeper level and worship him. He is the sovereign Son of God who exercises power over all things, wants you to discover that he’s bigger than your fears, and invites you to praise him.
Healing at Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34-36)
Upon arriving at Gennesaret, the people recognize Jesus and bring their sick to Him, begging to touch even the edge of His cloak (Matthew 14:34-35). As many as touched were healed (Matthew 14:36). This demonstrates the immense power and compassion that emanated from Jesus. One day that power will rid the universe of pain and death forever (see Revelation 21:4).
Matthew 14 paints a vivid picture of Jesus as a compassionate healer, a miraculous provider, and the divine Son of God. It's a chapter that encourages us to trust in His power, even in the midst of life's storms, and to bring our "not-enough" to Him, knowing that He can transform it into more than enough.
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
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.
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
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.
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
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.
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
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.
But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
He said, Bring them hither to me.
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.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
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.
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.
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
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;
And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Matthew 14 offers a powerful glimpse into the multifaceted ministry of Jesus, showcasing His compassion, authority, and divine identity. This chapter, strategically placed after the parables of Matthew 13 and the rejection in His hometown, reveals Jesus' response to both personal tragedy and the overwhelming needs of the people. It's a chapter filled with miracles, challenges, and ultimately, a deeper understanding of who Jesus truly is. Let's delve into the key events and their significance.
Herod's Fear and John's Fate (Matthew 14:1-12)
The chapter opens with Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, grappling with the growing reports of Jesus' ministry. This Herod was the son of Herod the Great, who had sought to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:1-23), and his reaction reveals a similar wickedness. Haunted by his past actions, Herod believes Jesus to be John the Baptist resurrected (Matthew 14:2).
Matthew then provides a flashback, detailing the tragic circumstances of John the Baptist's execution. John had been imprisoned for condemning Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife (Matthew 14:3-4). Herod, though hesitant to execute John due to his popularity (Matthew 14:5), was manipulated into doing so through a rash promise made during a birthday celebration (Matthew 14:6-12). Herodias, fueled by hatred for John's righteous rebuke, seized the opportunity to have him beheaded.
This account serves as a stark reminder that rejecting God often leads to animosity towards His followers and their righteous lives. Herodias couldn’t stand to hear John the Baptist call attention to her sin, so she wanted him dead. Herod’s guilty conscience plagued him so much that he killed John and thought he’d come back to haunt him. As 1 John 3:12-13 says, unbelievers often hate those who live righteously.
Compassion and Provision: Feeding the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13-21)
Upon hearing of John's death, Jesus withdraws to a desolate place, seeking solitude (Matthew 14:13). However, the crowds follow Him, driven by their need for healing and hope. Moved with compassion, Jesus heals the sick (Matthew 14:14).
As evening approaches, the disciples suggest sending the crowds away to find food (Matthew 14:15). But Jesus challenges them, "You give them something to eat" (Matthew 14:16). Faced with their limited resources – only five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17) – the disciples are bewildered.
Jesus then performs a miraculous act of provision. He instructs the crowd to sit down, takes the loaves and fish, looks up to heaven, blesses the food, and breaks it (Matthew 14:18-19). He then distributes it through the disciples to the multitude. Miraculously, the food multiplies, feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with twelve baskets of leftovers remaining (Matthew 14:20-21). This could have meant feeding anywhere from 15,000-20,000 people!
This miracle underscores several key truths:
- Jesus' compassion: He is deeply moved by the needs of the people and actively seeks to meet them.
- God's provision: When Christ commands something, He will also provide the power to see it done. What seems impossible to us is possible with God.
- Bringing our "not-enough" to Jesus: "Not-enough" can become “more-than-enough” when two things happen. First, rather than dismissing it, bring what little you have to Jesus. Second, believe that Jesus can intercede in your situation, bringing abundance out of deficiency. Put him first and see what he can do. He can demonstrate the supernatural in the midst of your natural problem.
Walking on Water: Faith and Doubt (Matthew 14:22-33)
Immediately following the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sends the disciples ahead in a boat while He goes up to a mountain to pray (Matthew 14:22-23). As the night progresses, the boat is caught in a storm, battling against strong winds and waves (Matthew 14:24).
In the early hours of the morning, Jesus comes to them, walking on the water (Matthew 14:25). The disciples, terrified, mistake Him for a ghost (Matthew 14:26). Jesus reassures them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).
Peter, ever impulsive, asks Jesus to command him to come to Him on the water (Matthew 14:28). Jesus says, "Come" (Matthew 14:29). Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk on the water. However, when he sees the wind and the waves, he becomes frightened and begins to sink (Matthew 14:30). He cries out, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30).
Immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him (Matthew 14:31). He rebukes Peter for his doubt, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31).
When they climb into the boat, the wind ceases (Matthew 14:32). The disciples then worship Jesus, declaring, "Truly you are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33).
This episode highlights several important lessons:
- Obedience doesn't guarantee ease: The disciples were in God’s perfect will and about to enter a perfect storm, indicating that obeying God can sometimes lead to rough sailing. Nevertheless, it can only reach you by divine design and permission.
- Jesus' presence in the storm: Though Jesus was absent from them, he wasn’t unmindful of their needs. Paul told the Romans that Jesus intercedes for believers (Romans 8:34). His fulltime job is serving as the intercessor between you and God. And he’s the perfect one to do it because he’s fully God and fully human. He understands God, and he understands you.
- The power of faith and the danger of doubt: Peter's initial faith allowed him to walk on water, but his doubt caused him to sink.
- Jesus' immediate help: When we cry out to Him in our distress, He is always ready to rescue us.
- Deeper understanding through trials: Why would Jesus intentionally let his followers go through such a fearful situation? The disciples worshiped him and declared, Truly you are the Son of God! You may be wondering, Didn’t they know this already? Yes, they did. But with each new encounter, Jesus increased their understanding and deepened their experience of him. By God’s grace, they had been given an opportunity, through fearful circumstances, to come to know Jesus at a deeper level and worship him. He is the sovereign Son of God who exercises power over all things, wants you to discover that he’s bigger than your fears, and invites you to praise him.
Healing at Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34-36)
Upon arriving at Gennesaret, the people recognize Jesus and bring their sick to Him, begging to touch even the edge of His cloak (Matthew 14:34-35). As many as touched were healed (Matthew 14:36). This demonstrates the immense power and compassion that emanated from Jesus. One day that power will rid the universe of pain and death forever (see Revelation 21:4).
Matthew 14 paints a vivid picture of Jesus as a compassionate healer, a miraculous provider, and the divine Son of God. It's a chapter that encourages us to trust in His power, even in the midst of life's storms, and to bring our "not-enough" to Him, knowing that He can transform it into more than enough.