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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 14:26 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:26 depicts a moment during the ministry of Jesus where He demonstrates His divine nature by performing the remarkable act of walking on water.

This event occurs after the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus has sent his disciples ahead of him to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat while He remained to pray.

When the disciples see Jesus walking on the water towards them, they are initially terrified, mistaking Him for a ghost or spirit ("phantōma" in Greek), as the concept of a human walking on water was beyond their natural understanding and experience.

This verse reveals not only the supernatural power of Jesus but also touches upon the disciples' human reactions of fear and uncertainty when faced with the miraculous.

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Historical Context

Matthew 14:26 is set in the context of first-century Palestine, specifically on the Sea of Galilee, a region where fishing was a common occupation.

During this time, the Roman Empire occupied Judea, and there was a mix of Hellenistic and Jewish cultural influences.

Supernatural phenomena were often interpreted as signs from God or, occasionally, as the work of spirits or evil forces.

The disciples, like many people of their time, would have had a worldview that embraced the spiritual and supernatural, so the sight of a figure treading on the sea could easily be perceived as a ghostly apparition.

Theological Insights

Different theological traditions interpret this verse in diverse ways.

Mainstream Christian theology sees this event as a testament to Jesus's divinity and his authority over nature.

The reaction of the disciples highlights their humanity and lack of understanding at this point in Jesus's ministry.

In Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, miracles like these bolster the teachings about Jesus's two natures, human and divine, co-existing.

In contrast, some liberal theologians might view the passage metaphorically, focusing on its meaning of overcoming fear and doubt with faith in Jesus.

Practical Applications

Matthew 14:26 can serve as a reminder of the importance of faith in the face of fear and the unknown.

The disciples' fear is a common human reaction to what we cannot explain or understand.

By looking to Jesus, believers can find comfort and courage when confronting life's storms or challenges, remembering that Christ is, according to Christian belief, master over all circumstances.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:22-33: This passage provides the full context of Jesus walking on water and Peter's attempt to do the same.
Mark 6:47-52: Another account of Jesus walking on the water which emphasizes the disciples' astonishment.
John 6:16-21: John's account of the event, highlighting the disciples' willingness to let Jesus into the boat.
Matthew 8:26-27: An earlier demonstration of Jesus's power over nature when He calms a storm.

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of Matthew 14:26 provide depth to its meaning:

"Troubled" (Greek: "etarachthēsan") conveys a disturbance of the state of mind, having inner turmoil or being deeply upset.
"Spirit" (Greek: "phantōma") indicates a ghost or an apparition.

This term reflects the disciples' misinterpretation of what they were seeing.

"Cried out" (Greek: "anekraxan") suggests a loud expression of emotion, often associated with fear or anguish.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, there are myths and stories of gods or heroes who have mastery over elements, such as walking on water or calming storms.

For example, Greek mythology talks about gods who could control natural elements.

In this context, Jesus's act of walking on water could be seen by non-Christian bystanders as a divine display, marking Him as an extraordinary figure comparable to the gods of other belief systems.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, walking on water is understood to be impossible for humans due to the physical properties of water and the laws of buoyancy and gravity.

Various explanations have been suggested over the years to rationalize this miracle, including the presence of submerged ice floes, but none of these fit with the weather conditions and descriptions in the text.

The miracle of walking on water, therefore, remains an event that challenges the boundaries of natural law from a scientific point of view.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have different interpretations of this passage:

Classic commentaries like those of Matthew Henry view this as a literal event showcasing the divinity of Christ and an encouragement for faith amidst trials.
More modern scholarly interpretations, such as those by Raymond E.

Brown, may focus on the symbolism behind the miracle, reflecting the identity of Jesus and the journey of the disciples towards a more profound faith.

Liberal theologians might lean towards an allegorical interpretation, where the act of walking on water symbolizes triumph over hardships by keeping one's focus on Jesus's teachings.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:26 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 14:26 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?