Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Matthew 14

John the Baptist Beheaded

Matthew 14:¹ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus

Matthew 14:² and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

• Mark 6:20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

• Herod Antipas feared John the Baptist. How much more should he fear Jesus?
  
• Luke 23:6-8 Jesus Faces Herod Antipas- When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.
  
• Luke 23:11 Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him (Jesus) with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.

Matthew 14:³ For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

Matthew 14:⁴ Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

• Herod Antipas’ half-brother Herod Philip I was Herodia’s husband.
  
• Herod Antipas’ mother was Malthace—a Samaritan, and Herod the Great’s forth wife.
  
• Herod Philip I’s (aka Herod Boethus II “Rus” aka Philip of Rome’s) mother was Mariamme the II the daughter of Simon the High Priest and Herod the Great’s third wife.
  
• [Side note – Herod the Great married “Cleopatra of Jerusalem” one of Simon the High Priest’s wives, as well as Mariamme II, the daughter of Simon the High Priest.]

Matthew 14:⁵ And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Matthew 14:⁶ But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

Matthew 14:⁷ Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

Matthew 14:⁸ So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”

Matthew 14:⁹ And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.

• Mix pride and hormones to carry out an unholy act.
• Mark 8:15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven (pride that puffs up) of Herod.”

Matthew 14:¹⁰ So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.

Matthew 14:¹¹ And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

Matthew 14:¹² Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Feeding the Five Thousand

Matthew 14:¹³ When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

Matthew 14:¹⁴ And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Matthew 14:¹⁵ When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

Matthew 14:¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Matthew 14:¹⁷ And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

• Five loaves and two fish equals God’s holy number “seven”.

Matthew 14:¹⁸ He said, “Bring them here to Me.”

Matthew 14:¹⁹ Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

Matthew 14:²⁰ So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.

Matthew 14:²¹ Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Sea

Matthew 14:²² Immediately Jesus made (invited, strongly urged) His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

Matthew 14:²³ And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

Matthew 14:²⁴ But the boat was now in the middle of the sea (many furlongs away from the land), tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Matthew 14:²⁵ Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 14:²⁶ And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

Matthew 14:²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,“Be of good cheer! (Take courage) It is I (Lit. “I AM”); do not be afraid.”

• The name of God “I AM that I AM” in Exodus 3:14.

Matthew 14:²⁸ And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Matthew 14:²⁹ So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Matthew 14:³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Fear Cancels Faith

• Quench Fear with Faith before Fear quenches you.
• Everyone is drowning in the sea of people in worldliness. All men need to cry out “Lord Jesus, Save Me!”

Faith Cancels Fear

Matthew 14:³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Matthew 14:³³ Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Many Touch Him and Are Made Well

Matthew 14:³⁴ When they had crossed over, they came to the land of (to land at) Gennesaret.

• The first syllable of the name Gennesaret is the Hebrew gan, “garden”
• 
• Cross Reference Verses:
  • Mark 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
  • Luke 5:1 Now it happened, while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.

Matthew 14:³⁵ And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick,

Matthew 14:³⁶ and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

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