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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 14:36 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:36 speaks of the profound faith demonstrated by the people who sought healing from Jesus Christ.

The verse describes a scene where individuals were seeking to be healed by merely touching the hem of His garment.

The belief was that by making even the smallest contact with Jesus, they would be cured of their ailments.

The passage highlights the power and authority that the populace attributed to Jesus, recognizing Him as a source of divine healing and miracles.

The verse uses the phrase "made perfectly whole," emphasizing not just physical healing, but a restoration to a state of wholeness that transcends mere bodily cure. This reflects the comprehensive redemptive work attributed to Christ's presence and, by extension, His ministry.

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Historical Context

Matthew 14:36 is set in the broader context of Jesus' ministry in Galilee.

During this time, Jesus performed many miracles and taught about the Kingdom of Heaven.

The touch of His garment for healing is reminiscent of another biblical event in the Gospel of Matthew where a woman believed that touching Jesus' garment would heal her of a chronic illness, which it did upon her act of faith (Matthew 9:20-22).

The act of seeking physical touch for healing was also a common practice in many ancient cultures.

However, in Jewish tradition, there were various laws concerning purity that might have made touching a rabbi's garment unusual or even taboo, yet the desperation and faith of the people overrode such concerns.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates the omnipotence of Christ, the belief in His power to heal not just physically, but spiritually.

Christian theologians often reference this passage when discussing the concept of faith and its central role in the process of salvation and healing.

This verse is also interpreted through the lens of 'soteriology,' the study of salvation in Christian theology.

It signifies the transformative power that comes from an encounter with Jesus, suggesting that faith, even at its most minimal expression (a mere touch), is sufficient for salvation and healing.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Matthew 14:36 encourages individuals to seek spiritual health and wholeness through faith.

It suggests that faith need not be grandiose to be effective; rather, a simple and earnest belief, represented by the desire to touch Jesus' garment, is sufficient.

The verse also serves as a reminder for those in positions to offer help and healing to remain accessible to those who seek it, as Jesus was to the people of Galilee.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:20-22: "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:"
Mark 5:27-29: "When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment."
Luke 8:43-44: "And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched."

Language Study

The phrase "made perfectly whole" in the original Greek is διεσώθησαν (diesōthēsan), derived from the verb σῴζω (sōzō), meaning "to save" or "to heal." The use of the perfect tense suggests a complete and lasting healing.

The word for "hem" is κράσπεδον (kraspedon), referring to the fringe or border of the garment, which in Jewish culture had a significant cultural and religious meaning, as it was a symbol of the individual's observance of the commandments (Numbers 15:38-39).

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many cultures, the idea of healing through a touch or contact with a holy person or object is common. For instance, in the Greco-Roman world, the touch of a deity's statue or a relic was believed to provide healing. This cultural backdrop may have influenced how the crowd interacted with Jesus.

In comparison, in Judaism, the concept of 'tzitzit,' the fringes on the garment, is an important religious symbol for obedience to God's commandments. The people reaching for Jesus' 'tzitzit' can be viewed as an acknowledgment of His authority and their adherence to faith.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the healing described in Matthew 14:36 cannot be accounted for by medical understanding. The passage speaks more to the beliefs of the people and their perception of Jesus' healing abilities rather than a medically verifiable process.

Commentaries

Commentators often focus on the faith exhibited by those who sought Jesus' healing touch.

For example, Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the power of faith and Christ's readiness to heal those who demonstrated such faith.

John Calvin, in his commentaries, speaks to the fact that Christ did not reject the people for their seemingly superstitious belief in the power of His garment but rather used their faith as a point of contact for His healing power.

Other commentators may also point out the cultural significance of the fringe on the garment and how it represents a faith that is based on an understanding of religious identity and practice.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:36 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 14:36 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?