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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 14:32 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:32 speaks of the moment when Jesus, having walked on water to reach the disciples who were on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, steps into the vessel; as He does, the wind that had been troubling the waters and causing fear among His followers suddenly ceases.

On a literal level, this verse describes a miracle where the natural elements are calmed by Jesus' presence, showcasing His dominion over nature.

On a deeper level, this event symbolizes Jesus' ability to bring peace and stability into situations of turmoil and fear.

The disciples' struggle against the wind can be seen as representative of the challenges faced in life, and Jesus' arrival on the scene reflects the peace that comes with faith and His presence.

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Historical Context

Matthew 14:32 is set in the historical context of Jesus' ministry in the regions surrounding the Sea of Galilee during the first century.

This was a time of Roman occupation in Judea, and the Jewish people were under considerable political and social stress.

The Sea of Galilee was a central geographic location for Jesus' ministry, and many of His followers were fishermen by trade.

Events of miraculous nature, such as calming a storm, would have been deeply significant to the disciples and early believers, reinforcing their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse underlines the divine authority of Jesus.

Many Christian denominations view this event as a testament to Jesus' identity as the Son of God, able to command even the elements of nature. The calming of the storm is seen as a sign of hope and reassurance that God is always present to offer peace amidst life's metaphorical storms.

From a more critical theological standpoint, some may argue that this narrative was constructed to convey theological truths rather than to record a historical event. In this view, the story serves as a symbolic narrative reflecting early Christian beliefs about Jesus' divine nature.

Practical Applications

Matthew 14:32 offers several practical applications for daily life.

The verse can be a source of comfort, encouraging individuals to trust in a higher power during times of distress or uncertainty.

It serves as a reminder that one is not alone, and that faith can bring calmness to personal storms.

It also teaches that inviting Jesus into one's "boat" (life, situations, challenges) can transform the atmosphere and outcome.

Cross-References

Mark 4:39: "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still.

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

Psalm 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
John 6:20-21: "But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Matthew 14:32 include:

"ship" (Greek: "ploion"), which refers to a vessel or boat, suggesting a common, large fishing boat of that era.
"wind" (Greek: "anemos"), which literally means wind or a gust of wind.
"ceased" (Greek: "ekopasen"), which indicates became tired or ceased, emphasizing the sudden calm that followed.

The significance of the Greek term "ekopasen" suggests not just a lull in physical wind, but a cessation of a struggle or conflict.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of a deity calming a storm is not unique to Christianity.

Similar motifs can be found in various ancient myths, such as the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh where the storm god Enlil is involved in the Great Flood narrative, or Greek mythology where Poseidon, as the god of the sea, has power over storms.

In these comparative mythologies, the control over nature underscores the deity's power. In the Christian interpretation, however, the emphasis is on providing peace and reassurance to the followers, rather than exhibiting control for its own sake.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the sudden calming of a storm may be explained by natural phenomena such as a drop in wind speed due to a rapidly moving weather front or other meteorological conditions.

However, the miracle in Matthew 14:32 is not presented within the text as a natural event, but as a supernatural one, a deliberate act by Jesus, defying natural explanations and thus reinforcing the claim of divine intervention.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentators have reflected on Matthew 14:32.

Some like Matthew Henry and John Calvin see the verse as a clear demonstration of Jesus' divinity and authority, while others like Albert Barnes focus on the disciples' response , a mixture of terror and amazement , that led to the deeper understanding of who Jesus was.

Modern scholars might analyze the text from historical-critical methods, proposing that the narrative has been shaped to convey certain theological messages about Jesus' identity that were important to the early church.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:32 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 14:32 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?