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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 14:27 mean?

Explanation

[Matthew 14:27] is a reassuring statement made by Jesus Christ to His disciples during a moment of fear and uncertainty.

The disciples are in a boat, being buffeted by the waves of the sea due to the wind.

They see Jesus walking on water towards them and are terrified, mistaking Him for a ghost.

Jesus promptly addresses their fear, urging them to take heart and not be afraid, identifying Himself to dispel their alarm.

From a literal perspective, the verse highlights Jesus's ability to walk on water and His desire to calm the fears of His followers.

In a deeper sense, the verse symbolizes Jesus's omnipotence and the comfort He provides in moments of trouble. It also reflects the concept of faith and the need for recognition of divine presence in challenging times.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

The Book of Matthew is one of the four canonical Gospels and part of the New Testament.

It was written around the 1st century AD, primarily for a Jewish audience, showcasing Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah who fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. This particular event takes place after Jesus feeds the five thousand with five loaves and two fishes.

It is nighttime, and Jesus has sent the disciples ahead of Him on the Sea of Galilee while He spends time alone in prayer.

The historical setting is significant, as the Sea of Galilee was known for its sudden storms, and the disciples, several of whom were experienced fishermen, would have been genuinely concerned for their lives.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, various interpretations arise:

Christological interpretation: This verse affirms the divinity of Jesus, showcasing His lordship over nature.
Ecclesiological interpretation: The boat can symbolize the church, with Christ offering guidance and reassurance through tumultuous times.
Eschatological interpretation: There is an element of future hope and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom, which can be seen in Christ overcoming the chaos symbolized by the storm.

Different theological traditions may emphasize various aspects of this narrative, but common to many is the reassurance of God's presence in times of adversity.

Practical Applications

The verse speaks to believers about having faith and trust in Jesus during life's metaphorical and literal storms.

It teaches us to recognize His presence and draw strength from it, especially when circumstances provoke fear or doubt.

The message can be applied to personal struggles, encouraging individuals to maintain hope and not let fear overcome their faith in Christ's providence and protection.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:22-33: This broader passage provides context to the verse, including the reaction of the disciples and Peter's attempt to walk on the water towards Jesus.
Mark 6:50: Mark's Gospel also recounts this event, with a similar command, "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."
John 6:20: In John's Gospel, Jesus says, "It is I; be not afraid," in a parallel account of the same incident.
Isaiah 43:1-2: "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee..."

Language Study

The phrase "Be of good cheer" (θαρσεῖτε, tharseite) in Greek can be understood as "take courage" or "be confident." The term "it is I" (ἐγώ εἰμι, egō eimi) mirrors the divine self-identification in the Septuagint, and to a Hebrew audience might echo the "I AM" in Exodus 3:14, implying Jesus’s divine identity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The miracle of walking on water has parallels in various cultures where deities or heroes exhibit dominance over natural elements.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, for instance, gods could traverse water or control elements, symbolizing their power. In various religious interpretations, the ability to perform such miracles differentiates the divine from mere mortals and often carries a message of hope and salvation.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, walking on water is physically impossible for humans due to the principles of buoyancy and the weight of the human body.

This event is thus viewed by the scientific community not as a historical fact but as a narrative device used to convey theological truths within the religious text.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varied insights on Matthew 14:27:

**Robert H.

Mounce**: Comments on the immediate comfort Jesus provides, noting the disciples’ terror was turned to joy upon recognizing Him.

William Hendriksen: Emphasizes that the self-revelation of Jesus is intended to instill courage in the hearts of the disciples.
**N.T.

Wright**: Suggests that the story reflects a 'theophany,' a moment where Jesus reveals part of His divine identity to the disciples.

Many agree that the narrative is rich in symbolism, portraying Jesus as sovereign over nature and a source of profound spiritual reassurance.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:27 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 14:27 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?