Matthew Chapter 14

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

1. Which Herod is this one?

 Herod the tetrarch” A tetrarch, a ruler with rank and authority lower than a king, ruled only with the approval of the Roman authorities. This was roughly equivalent to being governor of a region. Several times in the NT, Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, is called a king (Matt 14:9, Mark 6:14-29), reflecting popular usage rather than an official title.The term “Tetrarch” meant “leader of the fourth part.”  (Herod Antipas) was one of several sons of Herod the Great. Herod Antipas was the Roman ruler over the region where Jesus ministered. 

This meant that much of Jesus’ ministry was in the territory of this second generation Idumean ruler. The Idumaean family, successors to the Edomites of the Hebrew Bible, settled in Idumea (Biblical Edom), in southern Israel. When the Maccabean John Hyrcanus conquered Idumea in 140–130 BCE, he required all Idumaeans to obey Jewish law or to leave; most Idumaeans thus converted to Judaism, which at that time included circumcision. While King Herod publicly identified himself as a Jew and was considered as such by some, this religious identification notwithstanding was undermined by the Hellenistic cultural affinity of the Herodians, which would have earned them the antipathy of observant Jews.

 Herod Antipas was only 17 years old when his father, Herod the Great, died. At the death of Herod the Great, his kingdom was divided among three of his sons. Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee and Perea (4 B.C.–A.D. 39). Matthew correctly refers to him as tetrarch here, as Luke regularly does. But in v. 9 Matthew calls him “king”—as Mk 6:14 also does—because that was his popular title among the Galileans, as well as in Rome. In 39 AD Antipas was accused by his nephew Agrippa I of conspiracy against the new Roman emperor Caligula, who sent him into exile in Gaul. Accompanied there by Herodias, he died at an unknown date.

Herod’s marriages and children

Wife                                                                                                  Children

Doris                                                                                                 Son Antipater III, executed 4 BCE

Mariamne I, daughter of Alexandros                                     Son Alexander, executed

                                                                                         Son Aristobulus IV, executed 7 BCE

                                                                                                            Daughter Salampsio

                                                                                                             Daughter Cypros

Mariamne II, daughter of High-Priest Simon                      Son Herod II Boethus

Malthace

                                                                                                              Son Herod Archelaus – Ethnarch

                                                                                                              Son Herod Antipas – Tetrarch

                                                                                                              Daughter Olympias

Cleopatra of Jerusalem                                                                  Son Herod Philip II – Tetrarch

                                                                                                              Son Herod

Pallas                                                                                                  Son Phasael

Phaidra                                                                                              Daughter Roxane

Elpis                                                                                                    Daughter Salome bat Herod I

A cousin (name unknown)                                                          no known children

A niece (name unknown)                                                            no known children

 

2. Wait what’s going on here. How, when and why did John the Baptist die?

The first several verses of this chapter are a flashback of what had already taken place. When Herod heard about the preaching of Jesus, he was immediately filled with fear and superstition. Herod had put John the Baptist to death, and he associated John with the Lord Jesus. Herod believed John had risen from the dead, and his fear changed to frenzy because he wanted to eliminate John altogether. Herod was a drunken, depraved, debased, weak man, and he was a killer. He had already murdered John, the forerunner of Christ, and he was prepared to murder the Lord Jesus Himself. The opinion that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead originated with others (Luke 9:7-9), but was adopted by Herod. It was the conception, as expressed in the text, that Jesus was John risen from the dead. There was a prevalent idea among the ancients that departed spirits were endowed with superhuman powers; hence Herod’s conclusion that the supposed resurrection of John would account for the mighty works in question.

 3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

 3. What did John do to provoke Antipas?

Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. First she married her uncle, Herod Philip (Herod the Great also had another son named Philip), who lived in Rome. While a guest in their home, Herod Antipas persuaded Herodias to leave her husband for him. Marriage to one’s brother’s wife, while the brother was still living, was forbidden by the Mosaic law

 (Lev 18:16). “‘Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.

Philip. The son of Herod the Great and Mariamne, the daughter of Simon the high priest, and thus a half-brother of Herod Antipas.

 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. Mark 6:18-20 (NIV)

John was an in your face type of guy, he called the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees a bunch of snakes and he continued to bad mouth Herod and his adulterous “marriage to Herodias.

“hell hath no fury as a woman scorned”

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.

4. Why would Herod care about what the people think?

It was only in consequence of the persistent entreaties of Herodias, that Herod “would have put him to death;” for his own inclination was to spare him. He was restrained not only by his own respect for John, but by fear of a violent insurrection of the people—a result which would have occurred but for the refusal of Jesus to head the movement.

Herod served at the pleasure of the Romans. If there was too much trouble in his territory he could be removed as his brother had been.

6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

5. What changed Herod’s mind.

“the daughter of Herodias danced before them” Salome’s dance (see Josephus, Antiq. 18.5.4) must have greatly surprised everyone present because in this day and time dancing women were considered to be immoral. For a princess to dance before a group of drunken guests, particularly at this young age, must have been astonishing. The implication of the context is that it was a sensual dance instigated by her mother to win Herod’s approval.

The drunken Herod was so impressed by this dance that he promised here anything she wanted.

6. How did Herod feel about what he had done to John?

Because of his oaths.  A promise made with a certain oath was considered sacred and inviolable especially when made by a ruling monarch. Herod was widely known for his duplicity, so it was not honesty that he was concerned about, but rather the appearance of things. He did not want to be embarrassed in front of his dinner guests.He was sorry that the request was made, for the same reason which had restrained him before.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the  disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

The feeding of the five thousand is the one miracle which is recorded in all four Gospels. For that reason alone it is an important miracle.

7. Is this the same as the story of the feeding of the 4000 recorded later in the book as well as Mark 8?

8. What is significant about the baskets of  leftovers?

The feeding of the five thousand takes place in Jewish territory, on the western side of the division of the river Jordan flowing into the Sea of Galilee. It was a sign to Israel that the Messiah was able to feed all the people even when there was no food to be had. The fact that there were twelve baskets left over indicates that He could meet the needs of all twelve tribes of Israel. The feeding of the four thousand takes place more to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, across the boundary in the political territories. The region in the east was not under Herod Antipas, but under his brother Philip’s reign; it was a heavily Gentile population. So by doing the miracle there as well, Jesus was showing them that as Messiah He could provide food for the nations too. The account of the feeding of the four thousand follows the miracle done for the Canaanite woman, with the lesson that the dogs (Gentiles) will take the scraps that fall from the table (what the Jews reject). 

 According to Scripture there were seven nations living in the land when Israel arrived; this may well explain the symbolism of seven baskets of leftovers being collected afterwards.

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

9. What was this body of water Jesus was walking upon?

The Sea of Galilee is about 13 miles long, and eight miles wide. It has a tendency to have storms and high waves because it is located at the base of a mountainous area where wind blows down a valley from colder mountain tops to the warmer lake.

10. How did Jesus defy the laws of physics and cause Himself and Peter to walk on water.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:3 (NKJV)

 Since Jesus created the laws of physics, he has the ability to change them at will.

11. What can we say about Peter’s from this walking on water incident?

There is no passage in the New Testament in which Peter’s character is more fully revealed than this. It tells us three things about him.

(i) Peter was given to acting upon impulse and without thinking of what he was doing. It was his mistake that again and again he acted without fully facing the situation and without counting the cost. He was to do exactly the same when he affirmed undying and unshakable loyalty to Jesus (Matt 26:33-35), and then denied his Lord’s name. And yet there are worse sins than that, because Peter’s whole trouble was that he was ruled by his heart; and, however he might sometimes fail, his heart was always in the right place and the instinct of his heart was always love.

(ii) Because Peter acted on impulse, he often failed and came to grief. It was always Jesus’ insistence that a man should look at a situation in all its bleak grimness before he acted (Lk 9:57-58; Matt 16:24-25). Jesus was completely honest with men; he always bade them see how difficult it was to follow him before they set out upon the Christian way. A great deal of Christian failure is due to acting upon an emotional moment without counting the cost.

(iii) But Peter never finally failed, for always in the moment of his failure he clutched at Christ. The wonderful thing about him is that every time he fell, he rose again; and that it must have been true that even his failures brought him closer and closer to Jesus Christ. As has been well said, a saint is not a man who never fails; a saint is a man who gets up and goes on again every time he falls. Peter’s failures only made him love Jesus Christ the more. BDB

 

         BDB…………..Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)

·        ESV………….ESV Study Bible Notes

·         MSN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes

·        NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes. 

·        JVM ….J Vernon McGee,

·        ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary

·        BN …..Barnes Notes

·        WBC……   Wycliffe Bible Commentary

·        CN …… Constables Notes 

·        IC……….Ironside Commentary

·        NET………Net Bible Study Notes.

·        JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset  Brown Commentary

·        VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies

·        CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark

·         “Fair Use “ Notice – Title 17 U.S.C. section 107

The above post may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, social justice, for the purpose of historical debate, and to advance the understanding of Christian conservative issues.  It is believed that this constitutes a ”fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the Copyright Law. In accordance with the title 17 U.S. C. section 107, the material in this post is shown without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.