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Matthew 14

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

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

He said, Bring them hither to me.

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

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

What does Matthew 14:13 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:13 speaks of a moment when Jesus Christ chooses to depart to a solitary place following the news of John the Baptist's execution.

The verse emphasizes not only Jesus’s human need for solitude to grieve or seek refuge but also His divine compassion for the people. The literal meaning is that Jesus, learning of John’s death, travels by boat to a remote area to be alone.

However, the people, upon hearing of His departure, pursue Him on foot from surrounding cities.

The deeper significance here is multifaceted: it underscores the urgency and dedication of the people in seeking Jesus and reflects the magnetic draw of His ministry.

It also sets the stage for the feeding of the five thousand, showing Jesus’ response to the crowd's needs despite His own desire for solitude.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in the first century during the time of Jesus's ministry in the region surrounding the Sea of Galilee.

John the Baptist has been executed by Herod Antipas, which is the news that precipitated Jesus's departure.

The areas around Galilee were populated by small towns and villages, and many inhabitants would have been curious about Jesus's teachings and miracles.

It was common at the time for rabbis or teachers to have a following, but Jesus's following was distinguished by the signs and wonders associated with His ministry.

Theological Insights

From a Catholic viewpoint, this verse may be seen as exemplifying Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who cares for His flock even when He seeks solitude.

Protestant interpretations might focus on the personal relationship with Jesus that the crowd's action signifies – they long to be near Him even when He retreats.

In Eastern Orthodox theology, the pursuit of Jesus by the crowd can be seen as a parallel to the spiritual pursuit of Christ by the believer.

Regardless of the Christian tradition, the theological insight here is one of divine compassion meeting human need and the irresistible nature of Christ's presence.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Matthew 14:13 are numerous. It can teach the importance of seeking time alone, particularly in times of grief and distress.

However, the verse also serves as a reminder of the call to serve and love others even when inconvenient or when we are tempted to isolate. The principle of seeking Jesus diligently, as the crowd did, can be applied in the context of spiritual disciplines such as prayer and study of scripture.

Cross-References

Mark 6:30-34: Similarly recounts Jesus seeking a solitary place and the crowds following Him.
John 6:1-5: Provides another viewpoint of this event, highlighting Jesus's reaction to seeing the large crowd.
Isaiah 55:1-3: Speaks of seeking the Lord.
Psalm 34:18: References the Lord being close to the brokenhearted, paralleling Jesus' seeking solitude after John’s death.
Luke 9:10-11: Describes the same event, illustrating the convergence of the Gospel accounts.

Language Study

The key word in this verse is "departed" (ἀναχωρέω, anachōreō in Greek), which implies a withdrawal or retreat. The choice of the word emphasizes a deliberate action by Jesus to find solitude.

"Desert place" (ἔρημος, erēmos in Greek) suggests an uninhabited or desolate place, which highlights the contrast between the solitude Jesus sought and the crowds that followed Him.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of seeking solitude in the wilderness has parallels in other religious traditions and myths.

For instance, in Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama sought solitude and enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

In the context of other Near Eastern religions, figures often retreat to desolate places for religious or ascetic practices.

However, the uniqueness in the Christian narrative is the framing of solitude both for personal solace and as a prelude to a miraculous demonstration of compassion to a large crowd.

Scientific Perspectives

While there is no direct scientific perspective on the action of departing to a desert place, modern psychology supports the notion of retreat for emotional well-being, which could be related to Jesus's presumed need for solitude after hearing about John's death.

Additionally, understanding the geography and topography of the Sea of Galilee and its surrounding areas lends credibility to the historical narrative of the crowd being able to track Jesus's movements from the cities on foot.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer varying insights on Matthew 14:13.

Some commentaries focus on the humanity of Jesus, noting His need to process the sorrow felt over John the Baptist's death.

Others may concentrate on the logistics of the movement of the crowd and how the hunger for spiritual nourishment can surpass physical needs.

Matthew Henry's commentary notes that Jesus withdrew not only due to the news of John's death but also to avoid potential dangers from Herod.

Meanwhile, the MacArthur Study Bible commentary discusses the coming miracle of the loaves and fishes as a demonstration of Jesus's deity and provision.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 14:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?