19 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the multitude G3793 to sit down G347 on G1909 the grass, G5528 and G2532 took G2983 the five G4002 loaves, G740 and G2532 the two G1417 fishes, G2486 and looking up G308 to G1519 heaven, G3772 he blessed, G2127 and G2532 brake, G2806 and gave G1325 the loaves G740 to his disciples, G3101 and G1161 the disciples G3101 to the multitude. G3793
And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 as G1722 he G846 sat at meat G2625 with G3326 them, G846 he took G2983 bread, G740 and blessed G2127 it, and G2532 brake, G2806 and gave G1929 to them. G846
As soon as ye be come H935 into the city, H5892 ye shall straightway H3651 find H4672 him, before he go up H5927 to the high place H1116 to eat: H398 for the people H5971 will not eat H398 until he come, H935 because he doth bless H1288 the sacrifice; H2077 and afterwards H310 H3651 they eat H398 that be bidden. H7121 Now therefore get you up; H5927 for about this time H3117 ye shall find H4672 him.
For G3754 every G3956 creature G2938 of God G2316 is good, G2570 and G2532 nothing G3762 to be refused, G579 if it be received G2983 with G3326 thanksgiving: G2169 For G1063 it is sanctified G37 by G1223 the word G3056 of God G2316 and G2532 prayer. G1783
He that regardeth G5426 the day, G2250 regardeth G5426 it unto the Lord; G2962 and G2532 he that regardeth G5426 not G3361 the day, G2250 to the Lord G2962 he doth G5426 not G3756 regard G5426 it. He that eateth, G2068 eateth G2068 to the Lord, G2962 for G1063 he giveth God G2316 thanks; G2168 and G2532 he that eateth G2068 not, G3361 to the Lord G2962 he eateth G2068 not, G3756 and G2532 giveth God G2316 thanks. G2168
And G2532 when he had taken G2983 the five G4002 loaves G740 and G2532 the two G1417 fishes, G2486 he looked up G308 to G1519 heaven, G3772 and blessed, G2127 and G2532 brake G2622 the loaves, G740 and G2532 gave G1325 them to his G846 disciples G3101 to G2443 set before G3908 them; G846 and G2532 the two G1417 fishes G2486 divided he G3307 among them all. G3956
And G1161 as they G846 were eating, G2068 Jesus G2424 took G2983 bread, G740 and G2532 blessed G2127 it, and brake G2806 it, and G2532 gave G1325 it to the disciples, G3101 and G2532 said, G2036 Take, G2983 eat; G5315 this G5124 is G2076 my G3450 body. G4983 And G2532 he took G2983 the cup, G4221 and G2532 gave thanks, G2168 and gave G1325 it to them, G846 saying, G3004 Drink ye G4095 all G3956 of G1537 it; G846
And G2532 whatsoever G3748 G3956 ye do G302 G4160 in G1722 word G3056 or G2228 G1722 deed, G2041 do all G3956 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 giving thanks G2168 to God G2316 and G2532 the Father G3962 by G1223 him. G846
And G2532 when he had given thanks, G2168 he brake G2806 it, and G2532 said, G2036 Take, G2983 eat: G5315 this G5124 is G2076 my G3450 body, G4983 which G3588 is broken G2806 for G5228 you: G5216 this G5124 do G4160 in G1519 remembrance G364 of me. G1699
And G2532 he commanded G2753 the multitude G3793 to sit down G377 on G1909 the ground. G1093 And G2532 he took G2983 the seven G2033 loaves G740 and G2532 the fishes, G2486 and gave thanks, G2168 and brake G2806 them, and G2532 gave G1325 to his G846 disciples, G3101 and G1161 the disciples G3101 to the multitude. G3793
The cup G4221 of blessing G2129 which G3739 we bless, G2127 is it G2076 not G3780 the communion G2842 of the blood G129 of Christ? G5547 The bread G740 which G3739 we break, G2806 is it G2076 not G3780 the communion G2842 of the body G4983 of Christ? G5547
(Howbeit G235 G1161 there came G2064 other G243 boats G4142 from G1537 Tiberias G5085 nigh G1451 unto the place G5117 where G3699 they did eat G5315 bread, G740 after that the Lord G2962 had given thanks:) G2168
And G1161 Jesus G2424 said, G2036 Make G4160 the men G444 sit down. G377 Now G1161 there was G2258 much G4183 grass G5528 in G1722 the place. G5117 So G3767 the men G435 sat down, G377 in number G706 about G5616 five thousand. G4000 And G1161 Jesus G2424 took G2983 the loaves; G740 and G2532 when he had given thanks, G2168 he distributed G1239 to the disciples, G3101 and G1161 the disciples G3101 to them that were set down; G345 and G2532 likewise G3668 of G1537 the fishes G3795 as much as G3745 they would. G2309
And G2532 he took G2983 bread, G740 and gave thanks, G2168 and brake G2806 it, and G2532 gave G1325 unto them, G846 saying, G3004 This G5124 is G2076 my G3450 body G4983 which G3588 is given G1325 for G5228 you: G5216 this G5124 do G4160 in remembrance G364 of G1519 me. G1699
And G2532 as they G846 did eat, G2068 Jesus G2424 took G2983 bread, G740 and blessed, G2127 and brake G2806 it, and G2532 gave G1325 to them, G846 and G2532 said, G2036 Take, G2983 eat: G5315 this G5124 is G2076 my G3450 body. G4983 And G2532 he took G2983 the cup, G4221 and when he had given thanks, G2168 he gave G1325 it to them: G846 and G2532 they all G3956 drank G4095 of G1537 it. G846
And G2532 he commanded G3853 the people G3793 to sit down G377 on G1909 the ground: G1093 and G2532 he took G2983 the seven G2033 loaves, G740 and gave thanks, G2168 and brake, G2806 and G2532 gave G1325 to his G846 disciples G3101 to G2443 set before G3908 them; and G2532 they did set them before G3908 the people. G3793 And G2532 they had G2192 a few G3641 small fishes: G2485 and G2532 he blessed, G2127 and commanded G2036 to set G3908 them G846 also G2532 before G3908 them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 14
Commentary on Matthew 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
John the Baptist had said concerning Christ, He must increase, but I must decrease, Jn. 3:30. The morning-star is here disappearing, and the Sun of righteousness rising to its meridian lustre. Here is,
Thus he went forth, thus he went on, conquering and to conquer, or rather, curing and to cure.
Mat 14:1-12
We have here the story of John's martyrdom. Observe,
The particular sin he reproved him for was, marrying his brother Philip's wife, not his widow (that had not been so criminal), but his wife. Philip was now living, and Herod inveigled his wife from him, and kept here for his own. Here was a complication of wickedness, adultery, incest, besides the wrong done to Philip, who had had a child by this woman; and it was an aggravation of the wrong, that he was his brother, his half-brother, by the father, but not by the mother. See Ps. 50:20. For this sin John reproved him; not by tacit and oblique allusions, but in plain terms, It is not lawful for thee to have her. He charges it upon him as a sin; not, It is not honourable, or, It is not safe, but, It is not lawful; the sinfulness of sin, as it is the transgression of the law, is the worst thing in it. This was Herod's own iniquity, his beloved sin, and therefore John Baptist tells him of this particularly. Note,
Herodias laid the plot; her implacable revenge thirsted after John's blood, and would be satisfied with nothing less. Cross the carnal appetites, and they turn into the most barbarous passions; it was a woman, a whore, and the mother of harlots, that was drunk with the blood of the saints, Rev. 17:5, 6. Herodias contrived how to bring about the murder of John so artificially as to save Herod's credit, and so to pacify the people. A sorry excuse is better than none. But I am apt to think, that if the truth were known, Herod was himself in the plot; and with all his pretences of surprise and sorrow, was privy to the contrivance, and knew before what would be asked. And his pretending his oath, and respect to his guests, was all but sham and grimace. But if he were trepanned into it ere he was aware, yet because it was the thing he might have prevented, and would not, he is justly found guilty of the whole contrivance. Though Jezebel bring Naboth to his end, yet if Ahab take possession, he hath killed. So, though Herodias contrive the beheading of John, yet if Herod consent to it, and take pleasure in it, he is not only an accessary, but a principal murderer. Well, the scene being laid behind the curtain, let us see how it was acted upon the stage, and in what method. Here we have,
Herod having given her her commission, and Herodias her instructions, she requires John the Baptist's head in a charger. Perhaps Herodias feared lest Herod should grow weary of her (as lust useth to nauseate and be cloyed), and then would make John Baptist's reproof a pretence to dismiss her; to prevent which she contrives to harden Herod in it by engaging him in the murder of John. John must be beheaded then; that is the death by which he must glorify God; and because it was his who died first after the beginning of the gospel, though the martyrs died various kinds of deaths, and not so easy and honourable as this, yet this is put for all the rest, Rev. 20:4, where we read of the souls of those that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus. Yet this is not enough, the thing must be humoured too, and not only a revenge, but a fancy must be gratified; it must be given her here in a charger, served up in blood, as a dish of meat at the feast, or sauce to all the other dishes; it is reserved for the third course, to come up with the rarities. He must have no trial, no public hearing, no forms of law or justice must add solemnity to his death; but he is tried, condemned, and executed, in a breath. It was well for him he was so mortified to the world that death could be no surprise to him, though ever so sudden. It must be given her, and she will reckon it a recompence for her dancing, and desire no more.
Thus was that voice silenced, that burning and shining light extinguished; thus did that prophet, that Elias, of the new Testament, fall a sacrifice to the resentments of an imperious, whorish woman. Thus did he, who was great in the sight of the Lord, die as a fool dieth, his hands were bound, and his feet put into fetters; and as a man falleth before wicked men, so he fell, a true martyr to all intents and purposes: dying, though not for the professions of his faith, yet for the performance of his duty. However, though his work was soon done, it was done and his testimony finished, for till then none of God's witnesses are slain. And God brought this good out of it, that hereby his disciples, who while he lived, though in prison, kept close to him, now after his death heartily closed with Jesus Christ.
Josephus mentions this story of the death of John the Baptist (Antiq. 18.116-119), and adds, that a fatal destruction of Herod's army in his war with Aretas, king of Petrea (whose daughter was Herod's wife, whom he put away to make room for Herodias), was generally considered by the Jews to be a just judgment upon him, for putting John the Baptist to death. Herod having, at the instigation of Herodias, disobliged the emperor, was deprived of his government, and they were both banished to Lyons in France; which, says Josephus, was his just punishment for hearkening to her solicitations. And, lastly, it is storied of this daughter of Herodias, that going over the ice in winter, the ice broke, and she slipt in up to her neck, which was cut through by the sharpness of the ice. God requiring her head (says Dr. Whitby) for that of the Baptist; which, if true, was a remarkable providence.
Mat 14:13-21
This passage of story, concerning Christ's feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, is recorded by all the four Evangelists, which very few, if any, of Christ's miracles are: this intimates that there is something in it worthy of special remark. Observe,
But if they be hungry, they have need to depart, for that is a necessity which has no law, therefore, give you them to eat. Note, The Lord is for the body; it is the work of his hands, it is part of his purchase; he was himself clothed with a body, that he might encourage us to depend upon him for the supply of our bodily wants. But he takes a particular care of the body, when it is employed to serve the soul in his more immediate service. If we seek first the kingdom of God, and make that our chief care, we may depend upon God to add other things to us, as far as he sees fit, and may cast all care of them upon him. These followed Christ but for a trial, in a present fit of zeal, and yet Christ took this care of them; much more will he provide for those who follow him fully.
Now at this miraculous meal we may observe,
It is the same divine power, though exerted in an ordinary way, which multiplies the seed sown in the ground every year, and makes the earth yield her increase; so that what was brought out by handfuls, is brought home in sheaves. This is the Lord's doing; it is by Christ that all natural things consist, and by the word of his power that they are upheld.
Mat 14:22-33
We have here the story of another miracle which Christ wrought for the relief of his friends and followers, his walking upon the water to his disciples. In the foregoing miracle he acted as the Lord of nature, improving its powers for the supply of those who were in want; in this, he acted as the Lord of nature, correcting and controlling its powers for the succour of those who were in danger and distress. Observe,
When they had sat down to eat and drink, they did not rise up to play, but each went to his business.
He walked upon the water, not for diversion or ostentation, but to go to Jesus; and in that he was thus wonderfully borne up. Note, When our souls are following hard after God, then it is that his right hand upholds us; it was David's experience, Ps. 63:8. Special supports are promised, and are to be expected, only in spiritual pursuits. When God bears his Israel upon eagles' wings, it is to bring them to himself (Ex. 19:4); nor can we ever come to Jesus, unless we be upheld by his power; it is in his own strength that we wrestle with him, that we reach after him, that we press forward toward the mark, being kept by the power of God, which power we must depend upon, as Peter when he walked upon the water: and there is no danger of sinking while underneath are the everlasting arms.
Here is,
When they were come into the ship, immediately the storm ceased, for it had done its work, its trying work. He that has gathered the winds into his fists, and bound the waters in a garment, is the same that ascended and descended; and his word even stormy winds fulfil, Ps. 148:8. When Christ comes into a soul, he makes winds and storms to cease there, and commands peace. Welcome Christ, and the noise of her waves will soon be quelled. The way to be still is, to know that he is God, that he is the Lord with us.
Mat 14:34-36
We have here an account of miracles by wholesale, which Christ wrought on the other side of the water, in the land of Gennesaret. Whithersoever Christ went, he was doing good. Gennesaret was a tract of land that lay between Bethsaida and Capernaum, and either gave the name to, or took the name from, this sea, which is called (Lu. 5:1) The Lake of Gennesaret; it signifies the valley of branches. Observe here,
They had knowledge of him, that is, of his being among them, and that he would be put awhile among them. Note, The discerning of the day of our opportunities is a good step toward the improvement of it. This was the condemnation of the world, that Christ was in the world, and the world knew him not (Jn. 1:10); Jerusalem knew him not (Lu. 19:42), but there were some who, when he was among them, had knowledge of him. It is better to know that there is a prophet among us than that there has been one, Eze. 2:5.