Home

Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
JOHN BEHEADED, 5000 FED, AND A WALK ON WATER

[Faith Small and Great]
(Key words: Dynamic Works)

Matthew 14:1-13 – John Beheaded

|| Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9

MT14:1 At this time Herod 871 the Tetrarch 872 heard what people were saying about Jesus.

871	Herod: The name occurs 55 times in the Gospels. It is a family name of Edomites. Their history is recorded by Josephus. This is Herod Antipas. Search the word Herod and see dictionaries.

872	Tetrarch: Meaning “ruler of one-fourth.” Or, TCNT: prince; GDSP: governor.

MT14:2 Herod told his servant-boys, “This person is John the Baptist raised from the dead, and it is because of this he is able to perform dynamic works.” MT14:3 For Herod, because of his woman Herodias 873 (wife of his brother Philip 874), had seized John and put him in prison.

873	Herodias: Compare Matthew 14:1-11; Mark 6:16-28; Luke 3:19, 20; 9:9. See Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 240-256 (vii, 1, 2); The Jewish War, II, 181-183 (ix, 6).

874	Philip: The father of Salome by Herodias, the “maiden” who danced for Herod Antipas.

MT14:4 John had been telling Herod, “It is illegal for you to have her.” 875

875	It is illegal for you to have her: Or, KJV: it is not lawful; RIEU: telling him he could not marry; NJB: it is against the Law. Compare Leviticus 18:16 and Leviticus 20:21 (Matthew 19:9).

MT14:5 So Herod wanted to kill John but he feared the crowd because they thought John was a prophet. MT14:6 Now when Herod’s birthday 876 was being celebrated the daughter of Herodias 877 danced among them and pleasured Herod so much

876

Birthday: The Greek is GENESIOIS. Only one other “birthday” is mentioned directly in the Bible (Genesis 40:20). Some feel birthdays are meant in Job 1:4, 5 and Hosea 7:5. Renowned historian Augustus Neander says: “The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period.” (The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries, translated by H. J. Rose, 1848, p. 190) The Catholic Encyclopedia states: “Origen [a writer of the third century C.E.]… insists that ‘of all the holy people in the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day on which they were born into this world below.’” (1913, Vol. X, p. 709) M’Clintock and Strong’s Cyclopaedia (1882, Vol. I, p. 817) says, “(The Jews) regarded birthday celebrations as parts of idolatrous worship…, and this probably on account of the idolatrous rites with which they were observed in honor of those who were regarded as the patron gods of the day on which the party was born.” Whether Christians in modern periods should avoid birthday celebrations because Jews may have refused is a choice for each conscience. Some refrain others do not.

877	Daughter of Herodias: She is known as Salome.

MT14:7 that he made a sworn oath to give her whatever she requested. MT14:8 Having been coached by her mother, she said, “Here, upon a plate, the head of John the Baptist!” MT14:9 This grieved the king because of his oaths and [because] of those reclining with him. So he gave the command MT14:10 and sent for John to be beheaded in prison. MT14:11 John’s head was delivered on a plate and given to the maiden 878 and she took it to her mother.

878	The maiden: The Greek is KORASIO. Or, KJV: damsel; MON: young girl; NJB: girl. We can only speculate on the manner of her dance but we suppose it was intimate and erotic and perhaps directed at Herod.

MT14:12 John’s disciples came forward, removed the corpse and buried him. Others arrived and reported back to Jesus. MT14:13 Having heard this Jesus departed from there in a boat into a solitary and secluded place. 879 When the crowds 880 heard this they set out on foot from the cities to follow him.

879

Into a solitary and secluded place: If the above was done to John because of his accusation against Herod’s relationship with Herodias, it can only be imagined what lays ahead for the Son of Humankind. Escaping into private and isolated spots was something Jesus did often. Or, KJV: desert place apart; TCNT: retired privately to a lonely spot; WEY: uninhabited and secluded; RIEU: a deserted place where he could be alone. Compare Mark 6:31; 9:10.

880	The crowds: There is no rest for such a famous and renowned person. This “crowd” is later revealed to be at least 5,000 strong.

Matthew 14:14-22 – 5,000 Fed

|| Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13

MT14:14 Now when Jesus got out he saw the large crowd. 881 Feeling compassion 882 for them, he healed their sick.

881	Large crowd: The Greek is PALYN HOCHLON and may mean a group of 5-7,000 thousand. Compare Revelation 7:9.

882	Feeling compassion: Or, PME: deeply moved; NJB: felt pity. See notes on Matthew 9:36.

MT14:15 In the evening his disciples approached Jesus, saying, “This is an isolated place and it is late enough – tell the crowds to leave so they may go into the villages and buy something to eat.” MT14:16 But, Jesus told them, “They do not have to leave. You give them something to eat.” MT14:17 The disciples said to him: “We only have five loaves and two fish.” MT14:18 Jesus told them, “Bring me the food.” MT14:19 Now Jesus commanded the crowds to recline upon the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish and looking upward into the sky he blessed the food. He broke up the loaves and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. MT14:20 And they all ate and were satisfied. When they gathered up the surplus 883 of leftovers twelve baskets were full.

883	They gathered up the surplus: Note nothing is wasted. Bread and fish – the simple meals these people rejoiced in is a lesson for those in the Western world.

MT14:21 The number of males 884 who ate were five thousand, not including women and little boys. 885

884	Males: The Greek has at least three words for “men” including here ANDRES (ANDROS) which means male. Sometimes crowd count is of the males only so we may assume the crowd was as much as twice the size.

885	Little boys: The Greek is PAIDION and is also rendered: KJV: children.

MT14:22 And quickly he urged his disciples to board the boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds.

Matthew 14:23-34 – Walking on Water

|| Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21

MT14:23 Having dismissed the crowds Jesus climbed up into the mountains 886 to a private spot to pray. He was alone at night.

886	Jesus climbed up into the mountains: Or, WEY: he climbed the hill to pray in solitude. We see Jesus now and then seeking his own privacy and solitude. It is a healthy example for others to imitate when they need quiet for thinking and meditation.

MT14:24 Now the boat [with the disciples] was many stadia 887 from land and was hard put by tortuous waves and a head wind. 888

887	Stadia: A “stadium” equaled 1/8th of a Roman mile. Or, TCNT: some miles; NWT: hundreds of yards; NJB: some furlongs. They had not made much progress against the windstorm. John 6:18 has it, “they had rowed about three or four miles.” (NWT)

888	Tortuous waves and a head wind: Or, NEB: battling with a head-wind and a rough sea.

MT14:25 But in the fourth night watch 889 Jesus came toward them walking upon the sea. 890

889	Fourth night watch: Or, WEY: towards daybreak; NEB: between three and six in the morning. The feeding of the crowd had begun about nightfall. Jesus had spent much of the night in meditative isolation. Now it may be near dawn. The disciples have been struggling some time.

890	Walking upon the sea: One of the most famous subjects of master painters. It would be hard to think that someone could even conceive of such a miracle, it is so ludicrous; which gives it a powerful ring of truth.

MT14:26 Seeing him walking upon the sea the disciples were troubled, and screamed in their fear, “It is a phantom!” 891

891	Phantom: The Greek is PHANTASMA and is rendered: NWT: apparition; KJV: a spirit; ASV: ghost.

MT14:27 Instantly Jesus yelled to them, “Courage, it is me! Do not fear!” MT14:28 But, Peter answered him, “Master, if it is really you command me to come toward you over the waters!” 892

892	To come toward you over the waters: Only Peter could think of this audacious suggestion but we applaud his conviction.

MT14:29 Jesus yelled, “Come!” And, stepping out of the boat Peter walked toward Jesus upon the waters. MT14:30 But, noticing the wind 893 Peter became fearful and started to sink. Peter screamed, “Master, save me!”

893	Noticing the wind: Stay focused!

MT14:31 Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed Peter, telling him, “Why did you doubt, 894 Little Faith?” 895

894	Doubt: A word appearing in the Gospels Matthew 14:31; 21:21; 28:17; Mark 11:23; Luke 24:38.

895	Little Faith: Literally, “one of little faith.” Or, MOF: how little you trust me; PME: you little-faith; TCNT: why did you falter; PME: what made you lose your nerve like that. See Matthew 6:30 and Matthew 8:26.

MT14:32 After both of them boarded the boat the wind abated. MT14:33 Now the disciples in the boat prostrated before 896 Jesus, saying, “Truthfully you are a Son of God!” 897

896

Prostrated before: The Greek is PRO(=before)KUNESAN(=kiss) and is rendered: KJV: worshipped; TCNT: threw themselves on their faces before him; NWT: did obeisance. The old English word “worship” though correct in its 16th century form (used of a judge “your, Worship.”) it gives a misleading impression in modern English. See lexicons on the use of PROSKUNEO. Vine’s: “to make obeisance, do reverence to” (from pros, “towards,” and kuneo, “to kiss”), is the most frequent word rendered “to worship.” It is used of an act of homage or reverence (a) to God, e.g., Matt. 4:10; John 4:21-24; 1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 22:9; 19:10 (2nd part); (b) to Christ, e.g., Matt. 2:2,8,11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9,17; John 9:38; Heb. 1:6, in a quotation from the Sept. of Deut. 32:43, referring to Christ’s Second Advent; (c) to a man, Matt. 18:26; (d) to the Dragon, by men, Rev. 13:4; (e) to the Beast, his human instrument, Rev. 13:4,8,12; 14:9,11; (f) the image of the Beast, Rev. 13:15; 14:11; 16:2; (g) to demons, Rev. 9:20; (h) to idols, Acts 7:43.

897	A Son of God: The Greek is without the article and thus “a” may be inferred though most say “God’s Son.” Or, RIEU: a son of God. Compare Matthew 27:54.

MT14:34 And they survived 898 and came to the shore of Gennesaret. 899

898	They survived: Or, having got through; got across.

899

Gennesaret: Also a name for the Sea of Galilee. Josephus describes it as ‘beautiful, fruitful, and well-watered region, where walnut, palm, and olive trees thrived, and where figs and grapes were available for ten months out of the year.’ (The Jewish War, III, 516-521 [x, 8]) See Numbers 34:11 and compare Mark 6:53; Luke 5:1. This name was later changed to a Roman one. The work The Jesus Papyrus suggests this use of “Gennesaret” proves the Gospels were written before the year 50 AD during the “eye-witness period.”

Matthew 14:35-36 – If They Might Just Touch Him

|| Mark 6:53-56

MT14:35 Now having recognized Jesus the males of that area and surrounding country set off and those with maladies approached him. MT14:36 They were begging Jesus so that if only they might just touch the fringe of his cloak. 900 And everyone touching was completely cured.

900	Touch the fringe of his cloak: Or, TCNT: touch the tassel of his cloak; ABUV: the fringe of his garment; MOF: the mere tassel of his robe.