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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 14:28 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:28 recounts a moment of weighty interaction between Peter and Jesus Christ.

The scene takes place on the Sea of Galilee immediately after Jesus has startled His disciples by walking on the rough water towards their boat during a storm.

Peter, upon seeing Jesus and hearing His voice, is filled with a courageous mixture of faith and impulse.

He seeks to join Jesus on the water and requests confirmation that the figure he sees is indeed the Lord, asking for a command to authorize his seemingly impossible step of faith.

The verse captures a profound spiritual moment, as Peter's request is not just a literal appeal to step onto the water but is symbolic of an act of faith, trust, and seeking validation from Jesus. It signifies a daring move toward a divine invitation amidst uncertainty and fear.

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Historical Context

In the first century, the Sea of Galilee was a central hub for the fishing industry and trade in the region of Galilee.

Storms were common, as the sea is situated below sea level with hills surrounding it, allowing for sudden and severe weather shifts.

The disciples would have been very familiar with these storms, but the sight of a figure walking on water would have been wholly outside their realm of experience.

During this time, the Jewish people were awaiting a Messiah, and the Gospel of Matthew continually confirms Jesus's identity as the Christ through miraculous works and fulfillment of prophecy.

The understanding of the Messiah for many during this time was a liberator from Roman oppression, not necessarily one who would perform such astonishing miracles.

Theological Insights

This verse and the event it describes are often used to discuss the dynamics of faith and doubt within Christian theology.

From a traditional viewpoint, Peter's request symbolizes an exemplary faith that seeks to participate in the miraculous works of Jesus. His stepping out of the boat has been likened to an individual's step of faith towards Christ in times of uncertainty and fear.

From a critical or symbolic theological viewpoint, the water might represent chaos or the forces of evil, with Jesus' command allowing Peter to momentarily overcome them.

Jesus' control over the elements signifies His divine authority, and Peter's response serves as an allegory for the journey of faith.

Practical Applications

The verse serves as an encouragement to believers to take risks and step out in faith when they hear Jesus' call. It implies that discipleship involves moments of uncertainty and that believers should actively seek confirmation and guidance from Jesus during such times.

The verse can inspire individuals to trust in Jesus especially amidst life's storms and challenges.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:29: "And he said, Come.

And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus."

Matthew 14:31: "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Mark 6:48-50: "[...] he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. [...] for they all saw him, and were troubled.

And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."

John 6:19-20: "So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key phrases merit attention.

“Lord” is translated from “Kyrie” (κύριε), a title of respect that acknowledges Jesus' authority.

“If it be thou” translates from “ei sy ei” (εἰ σὺ εἶ), which implies a condition ("if you are...”).

The phrase “bid me come unto thee on the water” uses the word “keleuson” (κέλευσόν) for “bid” which means to command or order authoritatively, echoing the military or authoritative tone of the statement.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Miraculous events involving water are common in various mythologies. For example, in Greek mythology, gods like Poseidon had dominion over the seas.

However, in this Biblical account, Jesus' action is more than a display of control over nature; it serves a revelatory purpose, disclosing His divine identity. Unlike mythological gods, Jesus is also portrayed as accessible and inviting human participation in the miraculous.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, a human walking on water defies the known laws of physics, particularly those related to buoyancy and density.

A miracle, by definition, is an event that goes beyond natural explanation; therefore, this event cannot be satisfactorily explained by science, as it is understood to be a supernatural occurrence.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholars and theologians interpret this verse in various ways:

Traditional commentators like Matthew Henry emphasize Peter's faith and Jesus' power to involve His disciples in miraculous acts.
Others highlight the personal relationship between Jesus and Peter, noting that Peter needed to trust in Jesus' person and power to step out onto the water.
Some modern critics may view the narrative as a teaching tool, intended to communicate theological truths about Jesus and faith rather than as a historical event.

Commentaries generally agree that the essence of this Bible verse centers on faith, the recognition of Jesus' authority and divine nature, and the personal response to His call.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:28 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 14:28 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?