PrevMatthew 14:25Next

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 14:25 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:25 describes a remarkable event where Jesus Christ is said to have walked on the surface of water towards his disciples who were in a boat. This occurred during the "fourth watch of the night," which, according to Roman timekeeping, would be between 3 AM and 6 AM.

This verse highlights Christ's supernatural ability to defy natural laws, which serves as a testament to His divine nature. The act of walking on water illustrates a deeper meaning of authority over chaos and fear, as the sea often represents turmoil and danger in ancient literature.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of a narrative set in the period when Jesus was actively preaching and performing miracles in the region of Galilee.

The historical context of the event is shortly after the feeding of the 5,000, another one of Jesus' miracles.

At that time, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation, and the society was heavily influenced by both Roman and Jewish customs.

The concept of a "watch of the night" comes from the Roman division of the night into four watches.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, the event symbolizes Jesus' mastery over the natural world, affirming his divinity to believers.

The various interpretations include the reflection on how Jesus is present and comes to the aid of His followers during the darkest hours, providing comfort and assurance.

Some theologians also view this account as a demonstration of the importance of faith, as later in the story, Peter attempts to walk on water and begins to sink when his faith wavers.

Practical Applications

The practical lessons that can be gleaned from Matthew 14:25 involve trust and faith.

This passage encourages individuals to believe in overcoming the impossible in their moments of fear and uncertainty.

It can also apply to the need for vigilance and being watchful, as Jesus comes to His disciples during the watch, an implication that spiritual awareness is necessary throughout all periods of life, even the most unforeseen ones.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:22-33: The broader story of Jesus walking on the sea.
Mark 6:47-52: Mark's account of Jesus walking on the water.
John 6:16-21: John's account of the same event.
Matthew 8:26: Jesus calms the storm, showcasing His command over the sea.

Language Study

In the original Greek text:

"fourth watch" (τετάρτῃ φυλακῇ, tetarti phylaki) refers to the last division of the night by the Roman system.
"walking" (περιπατῶν, peripaton) suggests an ongoing, continuous action.
"on the sea" (ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν, epi ten thalassan) implies not only movement across but dominion over the body of water mentioned.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various cultures, figures who have the ability to walk on water are often considered divine or supernatural.

For instance, in Ancient Egyptian mythology, gods like Osiris are associated with control over water and other elements.

In Hinduism, Krishna is said to have performed miraculous deeds similar to Jesus, though not specifically walking on water.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, humans walking on water violates the principles of physics, as the density and surface tension of water are insufficient to support the weight of an adult human.

Modern attempts to replicate walking on water often involve utilizing special equipment or tricks, emphasizing the miraculous nature of Jesus' act as described in the Bible.

Commentaries

Biblical commentaries provide various insights on this verse:

William Barclay highlights the courage and comfort that Christ provides during times of trouble.
John Calvin discusses the mystery of Christ’s divine power in performing miracles.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the testing of faith, especially with the account of Peter following this verse, and the encouragement of Christ towards those with little faith.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:25 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 14:25 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?