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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 14:35 mean?

Explanation

The verse from Matthew 14:35 refers to the recognition of Jesus by the inhabitants of a place he visits, presumably after the event of feeding the 5000 and his time spent walking on water.

News of his presence spreads quickly throughout the local region, prompting people to bring those who are ill to him in the hope that they can be healed.

The literal meaning is clear: Jesus' fame as a healer has preceded him, and the local populace is eager to benefit from his miraculous power of healing.

The deeper meaning highlights Jesus' compassionate ministry and underscores the power of word-of-mouth as a testament to his divine authority and ability to heal not only physical ailments but spiritual maladies as well.

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Historical Context

Matthew 14:35 is set in the context of Jesus' ministry in Galilee.

At this point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus had already performed many miracles, including healing the sick, raising the dead, and feeding thousands with just a few loaves of bread and fish.

The areas around the Sea of Galilee were mostly Jewish, but also had a significant Gentile population, which might have influenced the spread of Jesus' fame across different cultural groups.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse can be seen as an illustration of Jesus' messianic role and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of a healer and savior.

It also speaks to the universal need for healing and salvation, transcending the boundaries of the local community.

The verse affirms Jesus' divine authority and compassion, as the healing miracles serve as signs of the in-breaking kingdom of God.

Practical Applications

This verse reminds believers of the importance of sharing the news of Jesus' power and love.

In a practical sense, this can translate to acts of compassion and service within one's community, as well as a responsibility to tell others about personal experiences of faith and transformation.

It also encourages those in need to seek help and healing, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual, from Jesus through prayer and the support of the faith community.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:24: "And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."
Mark 6:55-56: "And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the key phrases to focus on include "έγνωσαν" (egnōsan), which means "they knew" or "had knowledge of," indicating recognition; "περίχωρον" (perichōron), translated as "country round about," referring to the surrounding region; and "ἤσθενες" (ēsthenes), meaning "those who were diseased" or "ill." These terms emphasize the spreading awareness of Jesus' identity and the ensuing action of the people in response to this knowledge.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a divine or semi-divine figure performing miracles, including healing the sick, is present in various ancient myths and religious texts.

For example, the Greek god Asclepius was known for his healing powers.

Comparatively, in Jesus' case, these miracles were signs of his unique authority and were intrinsically linked to his teachings about the kingdom of God, contrasting with the mythological tales that often had different purposes and contexts for miracles.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the healing miracles attributed to Jesus in the Bible are supernatural events that do not have a basis in medical science as understood today.

However, the phenomenon of people seeking healing through faith, prayer, or pilgrimage is a well-documented aspect of human behavior with psychological and sociological implications, such as the placebo effect or the benefits of social support for the ill.

commentaries

Commentary on Matthew 14:35 offers various perspectives.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary highlights the readiness of people to bring their sick to Christ and their faith in his ability to heal.

The Pulpit Commentary notes the universality of Jesus' healing ministry, observing that all classes of society sought his aid.

Meanwhile, William Barclay's Daily Study Bible delves into the idea that Jesus' healing was as much spiritual as physical, providing a wholeness that encompassed every aspect of the individuals' lives.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:35 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 14:35 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?