Matthew 14: John’s death, feeding 5000, and walking on water

• v.1-12 John the Baptist Beheaded
• v.13-21 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
• v.22-33 Jesus Walks on the Water
• v.34-36 More sick people are brought and are healed

v.1-12 John the Baptist Beheaded

v.1,2 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

v.3,4 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

v.5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

v.6,7 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much  that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

v.8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

v.9,10 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison.

v.11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

v.12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

[Note: Herod wonders about Jesus as a resurrected John. Herod had arrested John but feared the people so didn’t kill him, yet on his birthday he made a foolish oath that required him to kill John. John’s head is brought in, but his disciples collect the body.]

v.13-21 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

v.13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

v.14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

v.15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

v.16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

v.17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

v.18 “Bring them here to me,” he said.

v.19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

v.20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

v.21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

[Note: On hearing this Jesus goes into solitude (?to grieve?) but when the crowd comes, Jesus heals their sick. The disciples were concerned about feeding the crowd and so Jesus tells them to feed them! They hardly have anything, so Jesus feeds the crowd. There was sufficient with plenty of leftovers despite them being about five thousand men plus women and children there.]

v.22-33 Jesus Walks on the Water

v.22-27 Jesus walks out to them on the Lake

v.22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

v.23,24 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

v.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

v.26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

v.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

[Note: After the feeding Jesus sends the disciples across the Lake and he prays on the mountain. Meanwhile the sea gets rough. Hours later he walks on the Lake to them, and they were naturally scared, so Jesus calls and reassures them.]

v.28-33 Peter also walks on the water

v.28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

v.29 “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

v.30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

v.31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

v.32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

v.33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

[Note: Peter checks Jesus and when Jesus calls him, he too walked on the water. However, then his faith wavered, and he started to sink but Jesus catches him and gently chides him. Once in the boat, the wind died down and the disciples worship Jesus.]

v.34-36 More sick people are brought and are healed

v.34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

v.35,36 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

[Note: When they arrive at Gennesaret crowds coming bringing their sick and they are healed by Jesus.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: