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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 14:5 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 14:5 refers to King Herod's hesitation in executing John the Baptist. Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the public's response because the people revered John as a prophet.

The verse highlights Herod's fear of the crowd and their potential reaction, which acts as a protective force for John, albeit temporarily.

The literal meaning is straightforward: Herod was aware that John the Baptist held a significant position among the people, and executing him might lead to unrest or backlash against Herod.

On a deeper level, this verse also points to the political astuteness of Herod, who despite his personal vendetta against John the Baptist – possibly due to John's condemnation of Herod's marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife – is cautious not to incite people's anger.

It showcases the tension between his authority as a ruler and the power of public opinion.

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Historical Context

This passage is situated in the context of the ministry of John the Baptist. John was preaching in Judea and baptizing people in the River Jordan. His teachings and his comment on Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias (Herod's brother Philip's wife) led to his imprisonment.

Herod Antipas was a tetrarch in Judea during this period. Despite his title, Herod's power was limited both by Roman rule and by public opinion. In the culture of that time, prophets were highly respected, and their declarations were taken seriously by the people.

It was not uncommon for rulers to be mindful of prophets and their influence.

Theological Insights

Interpreters of this verse draw various theological insights.

Some see this moment as a testament to God's providence, using the public's perception of John as a prophet to delay his death. Others view it as a reflection of the fallen nature of humanity, where leaders succumb to the sway of public opinion rather than acting justly.

Moreover, it emphasizes the complex interplay between divine prophecy and human authority. Herod, despite his secular power, could not easily disregard John's spiritual authority without risking his standing with the people.

Practical Applications

The practical applications for contemporary readers can be multifaceted.

One could argue that the verse advises believers to recognize and respect the power of communal sentiment and public opinions.

It can teach about the courage of speaking truth to power, as John did, no matter the personal cost.

Furthermore, it could also serve as a reminder of the potential consequences of our actions, especially when in positions of authority, balancing personal beliefs against public responsibility.

Cross-References

Mark 6:20: "For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly."
Matthew 21:26: "But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet."
Luke 20:6: "But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet."

Language Study

Analysis of key words in the original Greek can yield more profound understanding:

"Fear": Translated from φοβέομαι (phobeomai), meaning to be afraid or to be apprehensive.

This word implies a worry about the consequences of an action.

"Multitude": The Greek word ὄχλος (ochlos) refers to a large group of people, a crowd, or a mob, which can possess considerable influence.
"Prophet": The term προφήτης (prophetes) in the original Greek denotes someone who speaks for God, a spokesperson for the divine, often holding significant sway over the public.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, figures similar to prophets, such as oracles in ancient Greece or seers in Norse culture, were also treated with deference, and their words could sway societal opinion.

Comparing the biblical prophet with these figures illuminates a common theme across cultures where certain individuals are believed to be divinely inspired and hold a certain power over both the common people and the elite.

Scientific Perspectives

While not directly related to scientific perspectives, this verse does emphasize the human psychological tendency for social conformity and the impact of group psychology.

Modern sociology and psychology acknowledge the significant influence that the collective opinion has on decision-making, a principle observed in this historical and scriptural context.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and commentators provide insights on this verse:

John Calvin notes Herod's superstitious nature, considering him conflicted between guilt and fear.
Matthew Henry comments on the common practice of political figures to use religion as a tool to manipulate public opinion, but notes that in this case, it protected John for a time.
William Barclay points out Herod's moral weakness and unwillingness to face the disapproval of the people, highlighting the power of public opinion over even a ruler.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:5 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 14:5 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?