Matthew 14

Matthew 14:1

Thus far in our study, we have seen that the purpose of Matthew’s Gospel is to present Jesus as KingKing of Israel, King of kings, King of all creation. His Person is revealed in chapters 1 through 4; His principles are recorded in chapters 5 through 7; His power is released in chapters 8 through 10. In chapters 11 through 13, the focus shifts from a revelation of the King to a rebellion against the King. And here in chapter 14, we will see the retreat of the King as Jesus pulls away from the crowds to share essential principles with His disciples. You remember Herod from Matthew 2. He was the one who slaughtered all of the male children in Israel when he heard a new King had been born. The Herod referred to here is Herod Antipas, his son. Herod Antipas wasn’t as bloodthirsty as his father was, but he was not a great leader in any sense of the word. He loved luxury and lived licentiously.

Matthew 14:2

Hearing of the fame of Jesus, Herod thought John the Baptist had come back from the dead. Why? His conscience was pricking him, for he was the one who had put John to death.

Matthew 14:3

Herodias was Herod’s brother’s wife. Herod took a liking to her, got rid of his own wife, and stole her from his brother. John confronted him, saying, “This is not right. You are king of the country and in a position of authority. You can’t live in this kind of immorality.” Herod responded by imprisoning the bold and radical Baptist. But Mark tells us when John was in prison, Herod talked with him and began to develop a real affinity for him. Herod saw that John was a just man, a godly man, a wise man. Thus, although he felt convicted by John, he respected him.

Matthew 14:6

At Herod’s birthday party, with wine flowing freely, Herodias told her daughter to dance. Herodias’ daughter complied, dancing seductively and sensually. Herod, probably under the influence of much wine, said, “Whatever you want to the half of my kingdom, you’ve got it.” Herodias, angry with John the Baptist, instructed her daughter to ask for John’s head. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear, “I was at this party,” or “I was down at the bar,” or “I was at the office get-together and I said something I shouldn’t have said, and then I did something I shouldn’t have done.” These statements always come from broken, devastated people whose lives are permanently scarred because they were playing the game, trying to get ahead. Watch out for an environment wherein alcohol is flowing, and seductive music is playing. I don’t care what society says. I don’t care what the demands from your boss might be. Watch out. Herodias is dancing. You’ll get sucked in, and you’ll regret it later.

Matthew 14:12

Distressed and discouraged, the disciples of John went to Jesusa good thing to do. Communication with Jesus is always the best insulation against depression.

Matthew 14:13

Jesus and John were close not only in ministry, but as family, being that John was a cousin of Jesus. Hearing John had been beheaded, Jesus withdrew to a quiet place. Jesus had need of solitude, but when He saw the crowd, Matthew writes He was “moved with compassion, and he healed their sick.” This is always a tension in our walks. We feel the need to get away and seek the Lord in quietness, yet there are needs all around us. The question arises: How do I know when to get involved with the needs I see around me and when to seek the Lord in solitude and tranquility? How do I know when it’s time to plunge in and get involved, versus time to retreat and be quiet before the Lord? I believe the answer lies in this passage. As with Jesus, compassion within you and anointing upon you are good indicators that you need to get involved in the situation around you.

Matthew 14:15

Jesus took limited resourcesfive loaves and two fishblessed them, gave them out, and fed five thousand. Notice, however, that in between blessing and giving, there was breaking. You might say, “I don’t have much. My talents are limited. My gifts aren’t great.” That’s Okay. In the Lord’s hand, a little goes a long way if you will let Him bless you and break you. I think of Mary with the alabaster box, anointing Jesus and ministering to Him. The box had to be broken before ministry could flow (Mar_14:3). I think of Gideon, whose three hundred men put torches in clay pots as they surrounded the hosts of the Midianites. On a given signal, they broke the clay pots, and the light flooded out. Confused by the light, the Midianites fought one another and destroyed themselves. Israel was victorious because before the battle was fought, the clay pots were broken (Jdg_7:19). People often say, “God has been good to me, and I want to be used in ministry. Why then am I going through the pits and through such difficulty?” The answer is very simple. Before the Lord can use a person greatly, He must allow him to be hurt and broken deeply. There’s no other way. Pride must go. Self-sufficiency must die to make way for the tenderness and compassion that come only through the breaking process. Now, after a time of ministry, Jesus at last had an opportunity to be alone with His Father. He sent His disciples across the sea and went to a mountain alone for contemplation and intercession.

Matthew 14:24

“They were troubled"that’s putting it mildly! A more accurate translation would be, “They were scared to death!” Here they were, struggling against the storm, obedient to the command of Jesus to proceed to the other side, when suddenly, they saw a figure walking towards them. Recognizing Our Redeemer A Topical Study of Mat_14:22-33 Fighting the Philistines in a brutal battle, as the Israelites’ losses mounted, so did their despair. Then someone had a brilliant idea: “Let’s bring in the ark of the Covenant!” The ark of the Covenant, a box about three feet long and two feet wide, was instrumental in tabernacle worship. When the ark was brought into the Israelite camp, the Israelites cheered so loudly that their shout of triumph could be heard in the Philistine camp. But though the Israelites charged ahead with the Ark leading them, they were defeated resoundingly. And the Philistines captured the Ark (1 Samuel 4). The lesson? An obvious one. The people of God should not have tried to put God in a box, saying, “This box will represent God, and we will have victory because of it.” Instead of looking to the Lord, they looked to the box and were beaten badly. If there is one thing many of us are learning, it is that the Lord works in mysterious ways. You just can’t box Him in. He is predictably unpredictable. He comes at the unexpected time, in the unexpected way. Here in Matthew 14, the disciples are out in the storm, toiling at the oars, continuing obediently in the directive Jesus had given them to “Go across the sea.” And while they were working and perspiring, Jesus was watching and praying. He was letting them go through the struggle, knowing the struggle would strengthen them. Finally, at four o’clock in the morning, knowing His disciples were feeling anxious and fearful, He came to them, walking on the water. He came to them at the unexpected time in an unexpected way, and they, thinking He was a ghost, freaked out. So, too, I suggest to you that many times Jesus comes to us as well, but like the disciples, we don’t recognize Him. When your boyfriend or girlfriend calls and says, “You know, I’ve been thinking. I really appreciate your personality. You’ve been a good friend, but…” Your heart stops, and you say, “This is frightening. It’s a ghost.” When your boss calls you into the office and says, “Don’t bother to take off your coat,” you know what’s coming, and you think, “It’s a ghost! I’m scared.” Oftentimes, when we, like the disciples, are obedient to the Lord and toiling for the Lord, we call out, “Lord, save me. I’m perishing. Lord, help me. I’m struggling.” Then He comes to usbut in ways that are totally surprising, refusing to be boxed in by our preconceptions of how and when He should appear. I would like us to look at four obstacles that prevent us from seeing Jesus when He comes to us in the unexpected way, at the unexpected time. Fear and Anxiety When our hearts are full of fear and anxiety, what should we do? Look at Jesus’ answer in the text before us. He said, “Be of good cheer. It is I.” This intrigues me. He didn’t say, “It is I. Be of good cheer.” He said, “Be of good cheer. It is I.” First, “Be of good cheer"an exhortation; then, “It is I"a revelation. The exhortation comes before the revelation. Scripture says that in everything we are to give thanks, to rejoice evermore, for this is the will of God (2Th_5:16-18). If you begin to rejoiceto be of good cheersuddenly you will see that it isn’t a ghost, but it’s Jesus drawing near. He’s freeing you from that job, or from that relationship that will drag you down. It’s the Lord coming to you in the storm. Next time fear and anxiety fill your heart, don’t freak outfaith out. By faith, rejoice, and He will reveal Himself to you as He walks on the water in the midst of your storm. False Familiarity Jesus came into His hometown, and there the people said of Him, “Hey, isn’t this the carpenter’s son? And isn’t Mary His mother? And don’t we know His brothers and sisters?” They thought they knew Him, but their assumptions were mistaken. Matthew writes that Jesus could not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief (see Mat_13:58). So, too, Jesus will come to you, gang, in people you know very well. Our tendency, however, is to say, “That guy can’t tell me anything. I know him.” “I know her. She’s my wife. She has nothing to say to me.” “Him? He’s only been a Christian six months. What could he possibly say to me?” In reality, those people are Jesus coming to you. Jesus comes to us constantly, yet if we’re not careful, we’ll say, “I can’t receive from her. I can’t receive from him. I know them.” Paul said, “I know no man after the flesh. I will no longer look at people with their faults, flaws, and failures. I will see people only in Christ” (see 2Co_5:16).

When we begin to look at our husband, our wife, our friends, our kids, our brothers, and our sisters as people in Christ, realizing Jesus indwells them, suddenly we will lay hold of the most incredible understanding, profound revelation, and convicting challenges. Why is it that we are so ready to receive from someone we esteem highlya Billy Graham, or a Chuck Swindoll? Wouldn’t it be radical if we saw every man in Christ? Jesus will come to you through the people closest to you, but if you’re not careful, you’ll miss Him. Personal Tragedy It was Easter morning. Mary Magdalene stood outside the sepulcher weeping, thinking the One speaking to her was a gardener (Joh_20:15). Sometimes the person who comes to us in time of tragedy, the person who ministers to us most effectively is not an angel or an apostle. In times of tragedy, Jesus will come to you in the most ordinary of peoplethe gardeners. Mary, no doubt, thought, If anyone is going to give me understanding, it will be Peter, John, or the angels at the tomb. They will help me. But Jesus came to Mary directly, and she mistook Him for a gardener. Maybe you’re going through a time of real personal tragedy. In those times of weeping and crying, be careful because sometimes you’ll miss Jesus coming to you very personally. You will think He should come in Peter or in John or in an angel sent from heaven. But you know how He’ll come? Through a very common person you wouldn’t have expected. And if your antennae aren’t up, you’ll miss Him. You’ll mistake Him as being insignificant and unimportant. Too often we think we need to see the pastor, a staff member, an elder, or an angel, when we should really be looking for the gardener. Look for the person you thought wouldn’t have much to say or much to offer. That’s where the deep, beautiful ministry of Jesus will often flow most freely. Despair and Despondency In Luke 24, we read the account of two followers of Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus, depressed and despondent following the death of their Master. As Jesus joined them and asked the reason for their sorrow, they said, “Are You a stranger here? Don’t You know what’s happening? Where have You been?” Then Jesus began gently and lovingly rebuking them for their lack of faith. Beginning with Moses and going through the prophets, He told them how all of the Scriptures foretold His death and resurrection. When you are depressed and despondent, the Lord will come to you. Initially, however, you might feel He’s a stranger. Going through a time of emotional turmoil and great difficulty, unable to sleep, I turned on the television to a Christian station and watched a preacher who I had previously thought was very strange. He wasn’t into heresy doctrinally, but his whole approach to the ministry was kind of weird. Normally, I wouldn’t have given him the time of day, but in this instance, I listened to him, since his show was the only thing on at three o’clock in the morning. And guess what? His words spoke precisely and powerfully to my exact situation. The Lord will often come through the person you might have previously thought strange. The eyes of the travelers on the Emmaus road were opened when Jesus broke bread with them. So too, when we break bread in Communion, we realize we are one body, all partaking of the same Lord, all cleansed by His blood. Our differences become irrelevant when we break bread, because suddenly our eyes are opened, and we see Jesus. Fear and anxiety, false familiarity, personal tragedy, despair and despondencyall will keep you from recognizing your Redeemer. But if you say, “I will watch for You, Lord, in the storm. I will praise Your Name and embrace this difficulty, trusting You are revealing Yourself to me.” I will receive from those who I think I know so well. I will take their words as Yours. I will listen for You in the common person, in the gardener, rather than waiting for an apostle or an angel to speak my name. I will embrace the stranger who walks alongside of me, and as we break bread at Your table, I will see Your face. You will find Jesus will come to you in ways and through people you never expected.

Matthew 14:26

The reason Peter could walk on water was not because he wanted to write a book about walking on water, or to send out publicity photos of himself surfing without a board. Peter’s motivation was neither notoriety nor fame. He simply wanted to go to Jesus.

Matthew 14:30

In extra-Biblical literature, Peter is referred to as “the Giant.” Historical writings corroborate the fact that he was a man of good size. Yet, Jesus was able to lift him out of the water with one hand. Artists’ renderings over the centuries portraying Jesus as a wimp are false. Jesus was a carpenter in the days before power tools and lumberyards, which means He logged trees and finished lumber before even beginning the building process. Anything but a weakling, Jesus was able to single-handedly lift a waterlogged Peter out of the sea and into the boat. And He does the same with us. We tire of our situation and become weary of the people in our boats, so we venture out upon the water and start to sink. Jesus pulls us out of the water and sets us back in the boat because there are yet lessons for us to learn there. He loves us enough to plop us back in the boat until the lesson is learned and His work is complete.

Matthew 14:33

When you’re in a storm with the wind raging and the waves pounding, and you feel like you’re sinking, know this: The same Lord who stills the storm allows the storm. Why does God allow storms? Scripturally, storms appear for two reasons. First, there are storms of correction. Ask Jonah about them. If we’re out of the Lord’s will, He will use a storm to get us back to where we need to be. Storms of correction discipline us. Second, there are storms of perfection that develop us. In this passage, the disciples were obeying Jesus’ command to go to the other side. Thus, this was not a storm to correct them, but to perfect them. In this storm, Jesus was saying, “I want to test you now. I’ve been teaching you. I’ve been with you. And now I want you to exercise your faith to go through this storm.” You see, faith is developed through struggle. If you ask people what faith is, most will answer, “Faith is believing even though you don’t have evidence.” Not true. Faith is not “believing in spite of the evidence.” Faith is obeying in spite of the consequence. Faith says, “I will do what the Lord says, even though it means a storm is headed my way. Even though it means there will be difficulties, obstacles, and challenges, even though it may be brutal and difficult, even though I must struggle, I will obey.” When Jesus came to His disciples, they thought He was a ghost. So, too, we can look around and say, “The Lord is nowhere.” Or we can slow down and say, “Wait a minute. Is the Lord speaking to me through my sister, through my mother, through that preacher, or through the radio?” And suddenly, “The Lord is nowhere” becomes “The Lord is now here” by adding a little space. I find if I slow down and give the Lord a little space, He appears through my brother who shares with me, through my wife who gives encouragement to me, or through my children who challenge me. He sent you into the storm, He’s praying for you through the storm, and He’ll come to you in the stormperhaps when you least expect Him.

Matthew 14:34

Throughout Scripture, blue is the color of heaven. Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue.Num_15:38 The color blue on the hem of the garments of the Jews was to be a reminder to them that they were a unique people, a heavenly people. As they dressed each morning and as they saw one another throughout the day, they were to remember they were pilgrims on this earth, headed for a heavenly city whose “Builder and Maker is God.” Maybe you’ve sought the Lord, but wonder, Why aren’t I healed? I encourage you to touch the hem of the garment of Jesus Christ and be reminded of eternity. There is healing when you realize, “I might suffer for a few weeks, months, years, or even decades, but I’m going to Eaven. And when I see Him, I shall be like Him. And when I am like Him, I will have a body custom-made for space, the cosmos, and the ages to come. There will be no sickness, no infirmity, no weakness whatsoever.” The Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation call us to a heavenly perspective. I do not understand why we have fallen into this “I’ve got to have it all nowwealth and health, prosperity and healing” mentality. If God blesses you materially or if He heals you physically, great! But don’t build your life on that. Set your heart on things above. Live for heaven. Touch the hem of His garment, and be reminded once again that it’s blue.