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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 14:16 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:16 is a verse from the passage that narrates the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, which is one of the miracles of Jesus recorded in the New Testament.

When Jesus saw a large crowd following him, he healed their sick and spoke to them about the kingdom of God.

As evening approached, the disciples suggested to Jesus that he send the crowd away so they could find food and lodging.

Rather than sending the crowd away, Jesus responded to his disciples' concern with the directive, "They need not depart; give ye them to eat."

At the literal level, this verse describes Jesus instructing his disciples to feed the crowd themselves.

However, at a deeper level, this statement represents a challenge to the disciples to take responsibility and trust in Jesus' ability to provide. It challenges the disciples' faith and invites them to partake in Jesus' miraculous provision.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written in the first century, primarily for a Jewish audience.

The feeding of the 5,000 occurred in a remote place near the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus had withdrawn by boat.

During this time, the region was under Roman rule, and the Jewish people were hoping for a Messiah who would liberate them.

The feeding miracle had messianic implications, echoing the Old Testament stories such as the manna provided by God in the wilderness to the Israelites.

It is also reflective of the Jewish tradition of hospitality and providing for those in need which were important cultural values of the time.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Matthew 14:16 shows Jesus as the provider and sustainer, much like God provided for the Israelites. It points to Jesus' identity as the Messiah who not only heals and teaches but also provides for physical needs.

A variety of theological viewpoints might see this miracle as an example of divine compassion, a sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God, or as a prefiguring of the Eucharist, where Jesus breaks bread and offers it to his followers.

This verse also shows Jesus inviting the disciples to be instruments of God's provision.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire believers to trust in God’s provision in their lives and to be proactive in responding to the needs of others.

It encourages a sense of communal responsibility and hospitality, inviting people to share their resources and to believe in the possibility of miracles in their everyday lives.

Moreover, it teaches the importance of faith in action, the disciples were asked to give what little they had, and in that act of faith and obedience, a miracle was able to occur.

It shows that even when faced with overwhelming need, small acts can be multiplied in God's hands.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:32-38 - The Feeding of the 4,000, similar to the event in Matthew 14.
Mark 6:35-44 - Mark’s account of the Feeding of the 5,000.
Luke 9:12-17 - Luke's version of the same story.
John 6:5-14 - John’s account, which also includes Jesus’ dialogue about being the Bread of Life.
Exodus 16:4 - God provides manna to the Israelites in the desert.
2 Kings 4:42-44 - Elisha feeds 100 men with 20 loaves of barley bread.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

"δεῖ" (dei) translated as "need": Implying a necessity or something that must take place.
"ἀπέρχεσθαι" (aperchesthai), translated as “depart”: To go away or leave.
"δότε" (dote), translated as “give”: This is an imperative verb, which carries the sense of an urgent command to provide or offer.

These word choices emphasize the imperative and compassionate nature of Jesus’ instruction to his disciples.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The miracle of feeding a large crowd with limited resources can find some parallels in other ancient myths and religions, where gods or heroes provide abundantly.

For instance, in the Greek myth of the Cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, it is a symbol that produces endless sustenance.

In some ways, the feeding of the 5,000 contrasts with these myths by emphasizing a monotheistic understanding of God’s provision, and reinforcing the relationship of trust and faith between Jesus and his followers, which is not present in the abundance myths of polytheistic traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the feeding of the 5,000 challenges natural laws, as the multiplication of food from five loaves and two fish is not physically explicable.

This event is considered a miracle precisely because it cannot be explained by natural or scientific means.

As a result, those who evaluate this passage from a scientific standpoint must address the event's supernatural nature.

Commentaries

Experts and biblical scholars offer various interpretations of this verse.

Some focus on the miracle itself, while others emphasize the symbolic meaning, such as the representation of God's Kingdom.

Many agree that the story underscores Jesus' compassion and his role as a provider, which parallels God's providence in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Scholars such as William Barclay note the disciples' lack of understanding and faith, which the miracle seeks to correct. Other commentators, like John Calvin, reflect on the sufficiency of Christ and his power to meet all our needs, both spiritual and physical.

Additionally, scholars often explore the Eucharistic overtones of Jesus blessing and breaking the bread, making the verse significant for Christian worship and sacramental theology.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:16 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 14:16 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?