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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 14:22 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:22 describes an event where Jesus directs his disciples to embark on a journey by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he remains behind to dismiss the crowd.

This verse is set immediately after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus had provided food for a large crowd starting with only five loaves of bread and two fish.

Here, the word "constrained" suggests a sense of urgency or compelling the disciples to leave without delay.

The separation of Jesus from his disciples sets the stage for subsequent events, including Jesus walking on water and Peter's attempt to do the same.

The deeper meaning may involve themes of obedience to Jesus’ commands, trust in his guidance even when he is not physically present, and the preparation of the disciples for trials of faith.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written in a Jewish-Christian context in the first century, likely between 80-90 A.D. The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake in what was then the region of Galilee, where Jesus carried out much of his ministry.

It was common in those times for fishing to be a significant part of the economy, and several of the disciples were fishermen by trade.

The setting is post-ascension and the early Christian church is grappling with understanding and teaching about Jesus' life and miracles.

Theological Insights

This verse gives rise to varied theological insights.

One perspective is the Christology of Matthew, depicting Jesus as the Messiah who possesses authority over nature.

Protestant theologians might emphasize the discipleship and the faith journey, where the disciples are literally and metaphorically navigating through storms.

Catholic viewpoints might focus on the Church and Peter (i.e., Papacy) as this narrative leads into Peter's attempt to walk on water.

Overall, irrespective of denominational interpretations, the verse can be seen as demonstrating Jesus’ care for his followers and his lordship over creation.

Practical Applications

This verse could be applied in everyday life to underscore the importance of following divine direction even when the reasons are not clear.

It suggests faith in divine providence during the absence of a visible sign of God’s presence.

Moreover, it teaches the value of immediate obedience without hesitation and trusting God in the midst of life's sudden changes or challenges.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:23-27 - Jesus calms a storm while with his disciples on a boat.
John 6:15-21 - Another account of this event and Jesus walking on water.
Mark 6:45-52 - Mark's account of the same event, including Jesus walking on water.
Matthew 28:20 - Jesus promises to be with his disciples always, even to the end of the age.

Language Study

Constrained (Greek: ἠνάγκασεν, enankasen): From the root word "anagkazo", meaning to compel or force, indicating a strong urging.
Ship (Greek: πλοῖον, ploion): Referring to a boat or vessel, likely a fishing boat common to the Sea of Galilee.
Disciples (Greek: μαθητάς, mathetas): Followers, learners, or students.

In Christian context, the twelve chosen by Jesus.

Multitudes (Greek: ὄχλους, ochlous): A crowd or throng, likely referring to those who had come to hear Jesus teach and witness miracles.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This event may be compared to cultural and religious stories that feature sea crossings or divine beings demonstrating authority over natural forces.

For instance, in Greek mythology, gods such as Poseidon have control over the sea, just as Jesus demonstrates his authority over natural elements in this biblical narrative.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, one could explore the geography and meteorology of the Sea of Galilee, which is known for sudden and violent storms. Understanding the environmental conditions of this region can provide a greater appreciation for the challenges that the disciples faced on the sea.

Commentaries

Various commentaries offer insights into Matthew 14:22.

For instance, the Matthew Henry Commentary emphasizes the duty and obedience of discipleship in the life of a believer, suggesting that Jesus sent them away to test them.

The Pulpit Commentary reflects on the contrast between the placid end of the day and the ensuing storm, seeing in this a metaphor for life's unpredictable challenges.

Other scholars debate the symbolism of the event and what it reveals about Jesus' identity and mission.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:22 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 14:22 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?