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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 14:33 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:33 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible that describes an event following the miracle of Jesus walking on water.

After Jesus climbs into the boat with his disciples and the wind ceases, the disciples recognize the divine nature of Jesus and respond with worship and an explicit declaration of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.

This verse captures the climax of a powerful narrative where the disciples' recognition and confession signify a deepened understanding of who Jesus is.

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Historical Context

Matthew 14:33 is situated within the Gospel of Matthew, which was likely written in the late first century A.D. The Gospel is traditionally attributed to the apostle Matthew, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

It was composed in a Jewish-Christian community that was experiencing a transition from its Jewish roots to its own identity as followers of Jesus.

The event described occurs immediately after Jesus feeds the 5,000 and walks on water.

The Sea of Galilee, where this takes place, is known for its sudden and violent storms, which would have made this miracle particularly impactful for the disciples, most of whom were fishermen and familiar with the perils of the sea.

Theological Insights

This verse offers several key theological insights:

It encapsulates a Christological confession, a direct acknowledgement of Jesus' divine status as the Son of God.
The act of worship by the disciples reflects a recognition of Jesus’ authority and deity, moving beyond respect for a teacher to worship reserved for God.
It demonstrates the growing faith of the disciples, a theme Matthew often explores in his Gospel.
The miracle that precedes this confession is seen as a testament to Jesus’ lordship over creation.

Practical Applications

This verse suggests several practical applications for daily life:

It encourages individuals to acknowledge and respond to the divine in their own experiences.
The disciples' reaction serves as a model for worship and recognition of the divine authority of Jesus.
It can be seen as a call to faith, even in the face of fear or uncertainty, mirroring the tumultuous sea.
The story inspires believers to proclaim their faith openly and to respond to God's presence with worship.

Cross-References

Matthew 16:16 - "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
John 1:49 - "Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel."
Mark 6:51 - "And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered."

Language Study

The primary keywords in the original Greek text of Matthew 14:33 include:

"worshipped" (προσεκύνησαν, prosekynēsan): This term implies an act of reverence and adoration, typically reserved for deity.
"Son of God" (Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Huios tou Theou): A title that denotes a special relationship with God, often interpreted as recognition of Jesus’ divinity.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In examining cultural and religious comparisons:

The concept of divine beings or individuals with supernatural powers walking on water is attested in various myths and legends outside of the Christian tradition.
However, the confession "Son of God" is distinctively tied to the Jewish-Christian understanding of Jesus’ unique relationship with God, unlike deities in polytheist cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

The miracle of walking on water is not explainable using conventional scientific perspectives, as it defies known physical laws.

Thus, it remains an element of faith and is deemed a supernatural occurrence by believers. Science may point to natural explanations for other aspects of the story, such as the sudden calming of the storm, but the act of walking on water remains an article of faith.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Matthew 14:33 often focus on the deepening faith of the disciples and the revelation of Jesus’ true nature.

Scholars may explore the significance of this event in the narrative arc of the Gospel of Matthew, observing how it contributes to the development of the disciples' understanding of Jesus' identity.

Commentators often remark on the juxtaposition of human fear and divine power displayed in this passage.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:33 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 14:33 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?