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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 14:15 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:15 recounts the event of Jesus' disciples expressing concern for the multitude that has gathered to listen to Jesus' teachings.

As evening approaches, the disciples are worried because the location is remote, and there is seemingly no immediate source of food for the people.

The disciples suggest to Jesus that he should disperse the crowd so that the individuals can fend for themselves by purchasing food from the nearby villages.

This verse sets the scene for the miraculous event of feeding the 5000, highlighting the disciples' practical concerns and contrasting them with Jesus' compassionate response to the needs of the people.

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Historical Context

This verse is located within the Gospel of Matthew, written in the first century AD.

The context is Jesus' ministry in the Galilee region, primarily to a Jewish audience.

During this time, many followed itinerant teachers like Jesus to hear their teachings.

The description of the place as "desert" does not necessarily mean a sandy desert, but rather an uninhabited or sparsely populated area.

Traveling crowds often found themselves in situations where food and shelter were not readily available, which was a practical concern.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, the disciples' request reflects a concern for the physical well-being of the people but may also suggest a limited perspective on what Jesus is capable of doing.

This verse also foreshadows the miraculous feeding that follows, emphasizing God's provision. It invites reflection on the contrast between human limitations and divine abundance.

Different denominations may focus on various aspects of this prelude to the miracle.

Some may emphasize the importance of compassion and the call to provision for others, while others might see it as an illustration of faith in God's miraculous provision.

Practical Applications

This verse can encourage believers to be attentive to the needs of those around them and to take action, even as they trust in God's provision. It reminds us to balance practical considerations with spiritual ones, looking to both human effort and divine intervention to meet community needs.

Additionally, it can be seen as a call to hospitality, ensuring that all are cared for and that none are sent away hungry, spiritually or physically.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:32: "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."
John 6:5-6: "When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do."
Mark 6:35-36: "And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat."

Language Study

The key words in this verse from the original Greek text can offer further insight:

"Evening" (ὀψία, opsia) refers to late afternoon or early evening, implying that it was getting late.
"Desert place" (ἔρημος, eremos) typically indicates a solitary, lonely, uninhabited place, not necessarily a sand desert.
"Victuals" (τροφάς, trophás) refers to food or nourishment.

The disciples' phrase "that they may go" (ἀπελθόντες, apelthontes) shows the urgency and action they recommended.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, hospitality and the provision of food are considered sacred duties. The disciples' concern for sending the multitude away to find food echoes these values of hospitality.

Moreover, miraculous feeding events are found in various religious traditions and often serve to underline the divine nature or approval of a religious leader.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the disciples' suggestion appears practical as gathering and distributing food for a large crowd would require complex logistics and resources.

The disciples are focused on a logical solution, indicative of natural human tendencies to seek practical solutions to pressing needs.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse:

Some commentators observe that the disciples' request shows their practical nature but also their lack of understanding of Jesus' power and mission.
Others note that the disciples' proposal to send the multitude away highlights a contrast between human discernment and Jesus' divine compassion, as well as foreshadowing the miraculous nature of his ministry.
Yet, some commentaries might focus on the socio-economic implications, looking at the disciples' concern as reflective of the subsistence living that was common in agrarian societies at that time.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:15 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 14:15 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?