Worthy.Bible » ASV » Matthew » Chapter 14 » Verse 13-21

Matthew 14:13-21 American Standard (ASV)

13 Now when Jesus heard `it', he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard `thereof,' they followed him on foot from the cities.

14 And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

15 And when even was come, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.

16 But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18 And he said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.

20 And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

21 And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Commentary on Matthew 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 14

Mt 14:1-12. Herod Thinks Jesus a Resurrection of the Murdered BaptistAccount of His Imprisonment and Death. ( = Mr 6:14-29; Lu 9:7-9).

The time of this alarm of Herod Antipas appears to have been during the mission of the Twelve, and shortly after the Baptist—who had been in prison for probably more than a year—had been cruelly put to death.

Herod's Theory of the Works of Christ (Mt 14:1, 2).

1. At that time Herod the tetrarch—Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great, and own brother of Archelaus (Mt 2:22), who ruled as ethnarch over Galilee and Perea.

heard of the fame of Jesus—"for His name was spread abroad" (Mr 6:14).

2. And said unto his servants—his counsellors or court-ministers.

This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, &c.—The murdered prophet haunted his guilty breast like a specter and seemed to him alive again and clothed with unearthly powers in the person of Jesus.

Account of the Baptist's Imprisonment and Death (Mt 14:3-12). For the exposition of this portion, see on Mr 6:17-29.

Mt 14:12-21. Hearing of the Baptist's Death, Jesus Crosses the Lake with Twelve, and Miraculously Feeds Five Thousand. ( = Mr 6:30-44; Lu 9:10-17; Joh 6:1-14).

For the exposition of this section—one of the very few where all the four Evangelists run parallel—see on Mr 6:30-44.

Mt 14:22-26. Jesus Crosses to the Western Side of the Lake Walking on the SeaIncidents on Landing. ( = Mr 6:45; Joh 6:15-24).

For the exposition, see on Joh 6:15-24.

28. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is thou, bid me come to thee on the water—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)

29. And he said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat. he walked on the water, to go to Jesus—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)

30. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)

31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)

32. And when they had come into the boat, the wind ceased—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)