31 And G1161 immediately G2112 Jesus G2424 stretched forth G1614 his hand, G5495 and caught G1949 him, G846 and G2532 said G3004 unto him, G846 O thou of little faith, G3640 wherefore G1519 G5101 didst thou doubt? G1365
And Abraham H85 called H7121 the name H8034 of that place H4725 Jehovahjireh: H3070 as H834 it is said H559 to this day, H3117 In the mount H2022 of the LORD H3068 it shall be seen. H7200
Who G3588 are kept G5432 by G1722 the power G1411 of God G2316 through G1223 faith G4102 unto G1519 salvation G4991 ready G2092 to be revealed G601 in G1722 the last G2078 time. G2540
But G1161 let him ask G154 in G1722 faith, G4102 nothing G3367 wavering. G1252 For G1063 he that wavereth G1252 is like G1503 a wave G2830 of the sea G2281 driven with the wind G416 and G2532 tossed. G4494 For G1063 let G3633 not G3361 that G1565 man G444 think G3633 that G3754 he shall receive G2983 any thing G5100 of G3844 the Lord. G2962 A double minded G1374 man G435 is unstable G182 in G1722 all G3956 his G846 ways. G3598
Which when G1161 Jesus G2424 perceived, G1097 he said G2036 unto them, G846 O ye of little faith, G3640 why G5101 reason ye G1260 among G1722 yourselves, G1438 because G3754 ye have brought G2983 no G3756 bread? G740
For G1063 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 whosoever G3739 G302 shall say G2036 unto this G5129 mountain, G3735 Be thou removed, G142 and G2532 be thou cast G906 into G1519 the sea; G2281 and G2532 shall G1252 not G3361 doubt G1252 in G1722 his G846 heart, G2588 but G235 shall believe G4100 that G3754 those things which G3739 he saith G3004 shall come to pass; G1096 he G846 shall have G2071 whatsoever G3739 G1437 he saith. G2036
Who G3739 against G3844 hope G1680 believed G4100 in G1909 hope, G1680 that G1519 he G846 might become G1096 the father G3962 of many G4183 nations, G1484 according G2596 to that which was spoken, G2046 So G3779 shall G2071 thy G4675 seed G4690 be. G2071 And G2532 being not G3361 weak G770 in faith, G4102 he considered G2657 not G3756 his own G1438 body G4983 now G2235 dead, G3499 when he was G5225 about G4225 an hundred years old, G1541 neither yet G2532 the deadness G3500 of Sara's G4564 womb: G3388 G1161 He staggered G1252 not G3756 at G1519 the promise G1860 of God G2316 through unbelief; G570 but G235 was strong G1743 in faith, G4102 giving G1325 glory G1391 to God; G2316
By G1722 G4571 stretching forth G1614 thine G4675 hand G5495 to G1519 heal; G2392 and G2532 that signs G4592 and G2532 wonders G5059 may be done G1096 by G1223 the name G3686 of thy G4675 holy G40 child G3816 Jesus. G2424
Saying, G3004 G3754 The Lord G2962 is risen G1453 indeed, G3689 and G2532 hath appeared G3700 to Simon. G4613
And G1161 the Lord G2962 said, G2036 Simon, G4613 Simon, G4613 behold, G2400 Satan G4567 hath desired G1809 to have you, G5209 that he may sift G4617 you as G5613 wheat: G4621 But G1161 I G1473 have prayed G1189 for G4012 thee, G4675 that G3363 thy G4675 faith G4102 fail G1587 not: G3363 and G2532 when G4218 thou G4771 art converted, G1994 strengthen G4741 thy G4675 brethren. G80
But G235 go your way, G5217 tell G2036 his G846 disciples G3101 and G2532 Peter G4074 that G3754 he goeth before G4254 you G5209 into G1519 Galilee: G1056 there G1563 shall ye see G3700 him, G846 as G2531 he said G2036 unto you. G5213
And G2532 he came G4334 and took G2902 her G846 by the hand, G5495 and lifted G1453 her G846 up; G1453 and G2532 immediately G2112 the fever G4446 left G863 her, G846 and G2532 she ministered G1247 unto them. G846
And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Because G1223 of your G5216 unbelief: G570 for G1063 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 If G1437 ye have G2192 faith G4102 as G5613 a grain G2848 of mustard seed, G4615 ye shall say G2046 unto this G5129 mountain, G3735 Remove G3327 hence G1782 to yonder place; G1563 and G2532 it shall remove; G3327 and G2532 nothing G3762 shall be impossible G101 unto you. G5213
Wherefore, G1161 if G1487 God G2316 so G3779 clothe G294 the grass G5528 of the field, G68 which to day G4594 is, G5607 and G2532 to morrow G839 is cast G906 into G1519 the oven, G2823 shall he not G3756 much G4183 more G3123 clothe you, G5209 O ye of little faith? G3640
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.