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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 14:23 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:23 describes a moment of solitude for Jesus, where, after dispersing a crowd, He retreats to a mountaintop to pray alone.

This verse emphasizes the importance Jesus placed on solitary prayer and communion with God, particularly after a period of teaching, preaching, or in this case, a miraculous feeding of the multitudes with five loaves and two fish.

From a literal standpoint, the verse paints a picture of Jesus seeking solitude at the end of the day, possibly indicating an opportunity for reflection and recharging through prayer.

On a deeper level, this act exemplifies the need for intentional withdrawal from the hustle of daily life to maintain spiritual clarity and connection with God.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, the region of Galilee had many secluded areas which made it possible to find a quiet place for prayer and reflection. Mountains and high places often held spiritual significance as locations where people could encounter God, as seen in various biblical events.

Additionally, the Jewish tradition placed a high value on prayer; this act of Jesus separating Himself for prayer would have been an important model for his disciples and followers, reinforcing the cultural practice of sincere and personal communication with God.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints may expand upon this verse to highlight various aspects:

Catholic: Emphasis might be placed on the model of prayer life that Jesus offers, underscoring the importance of solitary prayer in the spiritual life of believers.
Protestant: Some traditions might use this verse to stress the personal relationship with God that each believer should strive for, following Jesus' example of private prayer.
Orthodox: Interpretation may focus on the contemplative aspect of Jesus' prayer, as an example of theosis, or achieving union with God, which is a central element of Orthodox spirituality.
Liberal Christianity: The focus might be on the need for balance between social engagement and personal spiritual nourishment.

Practical Applications

This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of taking time for individual prayer and reflection, especially after busy or impactful events.

In today's fast-paced society, it encourages believers to find their own 'mountain', a space away from the demands of everyday life, where they can reconnect with God.

Cross-References

Mark 6:46 - "And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray."
Luke 6:12 - "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Psalms 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
Isaiah 26:9 - "With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early..."

Language Study

The word "pray" in this context comes from the Greek verb "προσεύχομαι" (proseuchomai), which relates to offering prayers or supplications. It conveys an act of worship and personal communication with God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, mountains were revered as places where one could encounter the divine.

For example, Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and many Greek myths place the gods dwelling on Mount Olympus.

Similarly, in Hinduism, mountains like the Himalayas are seen as abodes for deities and places for meditation and spiritual pursuit.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly intersect with scientific concepts, modern psychology supports the idea of withdrawal for mental health.

Solitude is endorsed to promote introspection, reduce stress, and lead to greater well-being, an implicit endorsement of the practice of finding time alone to pray or meditate.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentators have provided insights on this verse. For instance:

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes that Christ's retreat for prayer was an act of humility and devotion to his Father, setting an example for private prayer.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible suggests that Jesus went to the mountain not only for privacy but also for the advantage of being nearer the heavens, symbolically representing his desires to ascend to God in prayer.
The MacArthur Study Bible emphasizes the importance of Christ's example of regularly departing from the demands of ministry to commune with the Father, demonstrating the necessity of prayer in the life of a believer.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:23 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 14:23 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?