Matthew

Chapter 14
{Focus of the King}
{The Case of Herod's Conscience}
14:1~~At that time {27 AD} Herod the tetrarch {also known as Antipus the fox} heard reports about Jesus.

14:2~~And He said to his servants, "This keeps on being John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And for this reason powers are at work in Him."

14:3-4~~(Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife . . . 14:4~~ for John had repeatedly told him, "It is not lawful for you to have her.")

14:5~~Although he wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd, because they accepted him as a prophet.

14:6-7~~But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias {Salomi, named after Herod the Great's sister} danced before them and pleased Herod the tetrarch 14:7~~ so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

14:8~~Instructed by her mother {previously}, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a serving platter."

14:9~~The king was grieved, but because of his oath and the guests, he commanded it to be given.

14:10~~And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

14:11~~His head was brought on a serving platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

{Note: This sealed the doom of this part of her family.}

14:12~~Then John's disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.

{What happens to believers who can not keep their eyes on the Lord}
{The Feeding of the Five Thousand Men (plus women and Children - maybe 10,000 total)}
14:13~~Now when Jesus heard this {death of John the Baptist} He went away from there privately in a ship {across the Sea of Galilee} to a desert place {in the area ruled by Herod Phillip}. But the crowd heard about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

{Note: Jesus went to the area controlled by Phillip because it was the most stabilized area of the time for evangelism.}

{Jesus presents his Messiah calling card - performs miracles - Miracle 1 massive healing}
14:14~~As He went out He saw the great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick {so they would listen to His message}.

{Note: The people expressed great positive volition to make the trip to where Jesus now is. This contributed to Jesus' compassion for them. His compassion also extended to His knowing how they would spend eternity in suffering if they were not saved.}

{Jesus presents his Messiah calling card - performs miracles - Miracle 2 massive feeding}
14:15~~As it became evening His disciples came to Him {Jesus} and kept on saying {lego} to Him, "This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away for the purpose that they can go into the villages and buy themselves food {the next day - too late in the day already from a human viewpoint}."

{Note: Lego means 'kept on saying' because it is in linear action sart.}

14:16~~But He {Jesus} answered {aorist tense them, "They do not need to go. YOU give them something to eat {NOW! This is a command}."

{Note: He is challenging them to have faith rest which used continually pressure leads to Occupation with Christ.}

14:17~~They kept on saying to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."{They keep on repeating this in panic . . . they have forgotten that the battle is the Lord's.}

14:18~~"BRING them {the loaves and fish} here to Me {Jesus}," He said {said it once again and it is a command}.

14:19~~Then He {Jesus} instructed the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass, and He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up toward heaven He blessed/'gave thanks'. Then He broke the loaves and passed them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.

14:20~~They all ate and were satisfied. And they {the disciples} took up twelve full and overflowing baskets {'full and overflowing baskets' is a picture of the grace of God} of leftover pieces {one for each disciple - now they can also eat}.

{Note: All these people with all their different tastes and appetites were all SATISFIED with the food. The miracle was more than 5 loaves and 2 fish feeding thousands! Most likely the best meal these people had ever had in their lives!}

14:21~~Not counting women and children, the number of men who ate was about five thousand {total number of people fed could have approached 10,000 people total}.

{Second test for the Disciples to use Faith Rest - and another miracle of Jesus - Walking on Water}

14:22~~Immediately He {Jesus} compelled the disciples get into the ship and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds.

{Note: This is a nice analogy of the church Age. We can't see the Lord, but we have a full basket of food/grace with us.}

14:23~~And after He {Jesus} dispersed the crowds, He went up into the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.

{Note: Other side of the picture of the Church Age analogy - Christ is alone in heaven representing us before the Father with intercessory prayers.}

14:24~~Meanwhile the ship, already far from shore was taking a beating from the waves, because the wind was against it.

14:25~~As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.

{Note: The 'night was ending' is literally the 4th watch. Each watch is 3 hours so is near 6 am and must be getting light because they can see Jesus Coming.}

14:26~~When the disciples saw Him {Jesus} walking on the sea they were terrified and kept on saying, "It is a ghost {phantasma}!" and screamed from the ultimate source of fear.

{Note: The Greek word Phantisma from which we get 'phantom' should be translated either phantom or ghost. In contrast, pneuma should always be translated spirit - as in Holy Spirit. The KJV is in error when the translators called God the Holy Spirit the 'Holy Ghost'.}

14:27~~But immediately He {Jesus} spoke to them: "Keep on having confidence! It is I. Stop being afraid."

14:28~~Peter said to Him {Jesus}, "Lord {deity}, if it is You - and it is - invite me to come to You on the water."

{Note: The Lord said to have confidence and Peter says I think I will! And a big chunk of confidence!}

14:29~~So He said, "Come." Peter got out of the ship, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

14:30~~But when he {Peter} saw the strong wind he became afraid {took his eyes off of the Lord and on to the circumstances}. And, starting to sink, he cried out, "Lord, help!"

14:31~~Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, "Oh, you of 'a little faith', why did you doubt?"

{Note: Peter did have some faith/faith rest. The other disciples had NO FAITH yet and are still back in the boat! Peter relied on the Lord and did more then he could by himself - he walked on water! When he took his eyes off the Lord, down he went.}

14:32~~When they went up into the ship, the wind ceased.

14:33~~Then those who were in the ship worshiped Him {Jesus}, saying, "Of a truth {doctrinally speaking} you are the Son of God."

14:34~~After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

{Note: Gennesaret was a fertile plain south of Capernaum (see also Mark 6:53). This name was also sometimes used for the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1).}

14:35~~When the people there heard He {Jesus} was there, they sent word into all the surrounding area. Then they brought all their sick to Him, 14:36~~ and kept on begging to only touch the edge of his cloak. And all who touched it were made perfectly whole {healed}.

{Note: They limited the way Jesus would heal them in their minds and so only the ones who touched His robe were healed. Instead of just saying 'heal my child from here' like the Centurion did. When you dictate to the Lord HOW to do something you want, something will be left out! Leave it to the Lord and His will . . . and the results will be perfect!}

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