Matthew 14

Matthew 14:2

The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hidden in a field. Valuables which, with us, are entrusted to banks, are in the East buried in fields and gardens to save them from robbers and accidents. The parable teaches the immense value, priceless, of the gospel; and that one who finds out that value will give up everything else in order to possess himself of the privileges and hopes of the kingdom.

Matthew 14:3

Like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls. Pearls were then esteemed as the most valuable ornaments, and were sought by merchants on distant shores, the most valuable being brought from the Indian Ocean.

Matthew 14:4

When he had found one pearl of great price. He was willing to invest everything he had in this pearl of surpassing beauty and worth.

Matthew 14:5

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net. The Savior’s illustrations all come home to his audience. Many were husbandmen; many were women familiar with the culinary art; some were merchants; many were fishermen. A drag net or seine is meant. Gathered of every kind. Here again, as in the parable of the Tares, it is taught that, at the end of the world, the angels shall sever the wicked from the just.

Matthew 14:6

When it was full. The fishermen cannot stop to sort while they are drawing the nest. Nor can the preachers of the gospel always distinguish.

Matthew 14:7

So shall it be at the end of the world. Then, not men, but the angels, under the direction of the Son of Man, shall sever the wicked from the just.

Matthew 14:8

Shall cast them into the furnace of fire. Here is repeated, word for word, the language of Mt 13:42,50. The tares, the chaff, the corrupt trees, the barren tree, are all represented as burned, and here also the wicked are cast into a furnace. While I suppose that the language is a figure, it can only be understood as indicating that the sufferings of Gehenna, the abode of the wicked, are intense. See Matthew 8:12.

Matthew 14:10

Every scribe [which is] instructed, etc. Such will be able to furnish rich and suitable spiritual food. Scribes were theological teachers.

Matthew 14:12

When he had come into his own country. To Nazareth, where he was brought up. Compare Mr 6:1-6 Lu 4:14-29. He taught them in their synagogue. On the Sabbath day (Mr 6:2). Whence hath this [man] this wisdom? While admitting it, they were offended at it (Matthew 13:58).

Matthew 14:13

Is not this the carpenter’s son? Joseph. Jesus was a carpenter also (Mr 6:3). His mother called Mary? She is named. Joseph is indicated by his trade. His brethren, James, and Joses, Simon, and Judas? Sons of Joseph and Mary. For a full discussion of their relationship, see PNT John 2:12.

Matthew 14:15

And they were offended in him. Made to stumble. Led into error. They could not see how one so humble, and of so humble a family, could be so great a teacher. A prophet is not without honour, etc. A proverb that is quoted and applied.

Matthew 14:16

He did not many mighty works, etc. Faith was the usual condition of his miracles. Where there is persistent, obstinate unbelief, Christ works no mighty moral works now.

Matthew 14:18

The Miracles Beyond and Upon the Sea of Galilee SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 14: Herod’s Opinion of Christ. The Death of John the Baptist. Jesus Crosses the Sea. The Vast Multitude That Follows. The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes. The Multitude Wishing to Make Jesus a King Is Dismissed. The Disciples Sent Upon the Sea While Jesus Retires to Pray. The Storm on the Sea. Christ on the Waters. The Failure of Peter’s Faith. Herod the tetrarch. Compare Mr 6:14-29 Lu 9:7-9. Herod Antipas, one of the sons of “Herod the King”. See PNT Matthew 2:1 for information on the Herods. Called the “tetrarch”, or ruler of a fourth part, because he inherited one-fourth of the kingdom of his father. Heard of the fame of Jesus. Absent much of the time from Galilee in campaigns against Areta, king of Arabia, he probably did not hear much until his return home.

Matthew 14:19

This is John the Baptist. Herod claimed to be a Sadducee, and hence held that there was no life whatever after death, but under the terrors of a guilty conscience his creed undergoes a change. Hence his first thought when he hears of the deeds of Jesus is that the murdered John has risen from the dead. Therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. During his life John wrought no miracles (John 10:41). Herod supposed that his resurrection had clothed him with new power. This opinion was shared by others (Matthew 16:14 Mr 8:28).

Matthew 14:20

For Herod had laid hold on John. This arrest of John the Baptist had taken place a year previous, shortly before our Lord’s second visit to Galilee (Matthew 4:12 Mr 1:14), the events of which are given by John (John 4:43-54). The prison was the castle of Machaerus. See PNT Matthew 11:2. For the Herodias’ sake. Antipas had been, while at Rome, the guest of his brother Herod Philip. Here he became entangled by the snares of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; and he repaid the hospitality he had received by carrying her off. He had himself long been married to the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia. This Herodias was the granddaughter of “Herod the King”, and, hence, the niece of both her lawful husband and of Herod Antipas, who now had her.

Matthew 14:21

It is not lawful for thee to have her. The marriage was unlawful for these three reasons: (1) The former husband of Herodias (Philip) was still living. (2) The former wife of Antipas was still living. (3) Besides, the Jewish law did not permit a man to marry his niece.

Matthew 14:22

He feared the multitude. Mark says he feared John also (Mr 6:20). He no doubt feared John’s influence with the multitude.

Matthew 14:23

When Herod’s birthday was kept. In imitation of the Roman emperors, the Herodian princes kept their birthdays with feasting and revelry and magnificent banquets. We learn from Mark that he made a supper, or banquet feast. The daughter of Herodias. Her name, according to Josephus, was Salome, a daughter by Philip, Herod’s brother. She was afterwards married to her uncle Philip, the tetrarch of Iturea (Lu 3:1). Danced. It was not customary for the ladies of high rank to dance beyond the limit of the harem. The Oriental dance of a libertine character. But her wicked mother induced her own daughter thus to degrade herself in order to accomplish her revengeful purpose.

Matthew 14:24

He promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask. Herod confirms his promise by an oath. It was a common custom to reward a dancer or actor, on a great occasion like this, who pleased, and to ask what they wished. Herod knew that Salome danced because she had a request to make.

Matthew 14:25

Give me John the Baptist’s head. Mark tells us that she went to consult her mother before she made her request (Mr 6:24). That vile woman was prepared with an answer. Indeed, she had manipulated the whole affair so as to secure Herod’s consent to the murder of John. In a charger. An old English word for a large dish, so called from the load it sustained.

Matthew 14:26

The king was sorry. The Greek word “lupeo”, thus translated is very strong, and denotes a very great grief, and sorrow. For the oath’s sake, and them which sat eating with him. It was not so much his regard for the oath which he had taken, but his shrinking from the taunt of the guests, if they should see him draw back from his plighted word.

Matthew 14:27

He sent, and beheaded John in the prison. The executioner did his work in the dark dungeon; the wicked Herodias had triumphed.

Matthew 14:28

She brought [it] to her mother. The first Elijah had his Jezebel, who sought his life; the second Elijah had his Jezebel, the not less inhuman Herodias, who obtained his life.

Matthew 14:29

His disciples. John’s.

Matthew 14:30

When Jesus heard [of it]. When he heard of the fate of John the Baptist and of Herod’s conjectures concerning himself. It was a busy time. The twelve had just returned from a highly successful ministry and his own popularity was at its greatest height. The crowds, anxious to see, converse with him, or to be healed, pressed on him so as to give no leisure for reflection, or even to eat (Mr 6:31). It was but natural that he should wish a quiet season on receiving the tidings of the death of one related to him like John. Into a desert place. Not a sandy, barren spot, but one uninhabited and lonely. They crossed the Sea of Galilee (John 6:1), and proceeded in the direction of Bethsaida-Julias, as its northeastern corner (Lu 9:10), just above the entrance of the Jordan into it. To the south of it was the green and narrow plain of El-Batihah, “with abundant grass, and abundant space for the multitude to have sat down”. They followed him on foot out of the cities. The multitudes, seeing the course of the boat that bore the Savior and the twelve from Capernaum, rushed along the shore in order to reach its landing place in advance. The country west of the Sea of Galilee was, at that period, according to Josephus, wonderfully populous. Capernaum alone had 30,000 inhabitants, and there were twelve other cities upon or near its shores.

Matthew 14:31

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude. When he disembarked from the boat, the multitude was waiting. That it was great is shown by the fact that the men numbered 5,000, apart from the women and children. Was moved with compassion. He seems, from John 6:3, to have retired to the mountain for a short time, but then, filled with compassion, returned to the multitude. This is the only miracle of which there is an account in each of the four gospels. The parallel accounts are in Mr 6:30-44 Lu 9:10-17 John 6:1-14.

Matthew 14:32

When it was evening. It was the “first evening” which began at the decline of day about three o’clock in the afternoon. The second evening, according to Jewish customs, began at sunset. The day had already been spent in teaching and healing. This is a desert place. And hence there would be no hamlets dotting it, in which the multitudes could get provisions for themselves. There are no farm houses in Palestine. The whole population lives in towns or villages, and often the farmers go many miles to their fields.

Matthew 14:33

Give ye them to eat. We learn from the parallel accounts that the disciples did not understand how this could be done, though they cheerfully obeyed. (See Mr 6:37 Lu 9:13 John 6:7,9).

Matthew 14:34

We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. It was Andrew who spoke (John 6:8,9). The loaves here were of barley meal made into small, thin cakes, baked hard on the side of the oven, so as to be broken.

Matthew 14:36

He commanded the multitude to sit down. We learn from Mark that they sat down in companies (Mr 6:39). On the grass. John says, “there was much grass there” (John 6:10). It was in the spring season, in Nisan, “the month of flowers”, and the slopes were rich with the spring grass. Looking up to heaven. In prayer we should use such outward gestures as may most fitly serve to express the inward disposition and holy affections of our heart and soul. He blessed. He either gave thanks or asked the Father’s blessing on the food.