matthew-14:1-18-niv

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:18

Bring them hither to me - No creature of God should be considered as good or safe without the blessing of God in it. If thou have but even a handful of meal and a few herbs, bring them to Christ by prayer and faith, and he will make them a sufficiency for thy body, and a sacrament to thy soul. Let the minister of the Gospel attend also to this - let him bring all his gifts and graces to his Maker - let him ever know that his word can be of no use, unless the blessing of Christ be in it. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:1

Verse 1 The reason why the Evangelists relate this occurrence is, to inform us that the name of Christ was universally celebrated, and, therefore, the Jews could not be excused on the plea of ignorance. Many might otherwise have been perplexed by this question, “How came it that, while Christ dwelt on the earth, Judea remained in a profound sleep, as if he had withdrawn into some corner, and had displayed to none his divine power?” The Evangelists accordingly state, that the report concerning... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:2

Verse 2 2.And said to his servants. From the words of Luke it may be inferred, that Herod did not of his own accord adopt this conjecture, but that it was suggested to him by a report which was current among the people. And, indeed, I have no doubt that the hatred which they bore to the tyrant, and their detestation of so shocking a murder, gave rise, as is commonly the ease, to those rumors. It was a superstition deeply rooted, as we have formerly mentioned, in the minds of men, that the dead... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:3

Verse 3 This narrative is at present omitted by Luke, because he had explained it on a former occasion; and for my own part, as I am unwilling to annoy my readers by writing the same thing twice, I shall handle this passage with greater brevity (354) The Evangelists relate that John was seized, because he had openly condemned Herod for carrying off Herodias, and for his incestuous marriage with her. Josephus assigns a different reason, namely, that Herod, dreading on his own account a change of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:5

Verse 5 5.And though he wished to put him to death. There is some appearance of contradiction between the words of Matthew and Mark: for the former says that Herod was desirous to commit this shocking murder, but was restrained by the fear of the people; while the latter charges Herodias alone with this cruelty. But the difficulty is soon removed. At first Herod would have been unwilling, if a stronger necessity had not compelled him reluctantly to do so, to put to death the holy man; because... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:6

Verse 6 6.And when Herod’s birthday was kept. The Evangelists now begin to relate the stratagem by which Herodias at length succeeded in a design which she had long meditated, the taking away of John’s life. The opportunity was afforded to her by an annual festival, when Herod was celebrating his birthday. It is scarcely possible that such magnificent preparations should not draw luxury, pride, unbridled merriment, and other crimes, and likewise many other evils, along with them. Not that there... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:13

Verse 13 Matthew 14:13.When Jesus heard it. John, who relates the same narrative, does not mention the reason why Jesus crossed over to the opposite bank, (6: 5.) Mark and Luke differ somewhat from Matthew; for they describe the occasion of the journey to have been to give some repose to his disciples, after that they had returned from their embassy. But there is no contradiction here; for it is possible that he intended to withdraw his disciples into a desert place, in order that he might be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:14

Verse 14 14.He was moved with compassion towards them. The other two Evangelists, and particularly Mark, state more clearly the reason why this compassion ( συμπάθεια) was awakened in the mind of Christ. It was because he saw famishing souls, whom the warmth of zeal had carried away from their homes and led into a desert place This scarcity of teaching indicated a wretched state of disorder; and accordingly Mark says that Jesus was moved with compassion towards them, because they were as sheep... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:15

Verse 15 15.When the evening was drawing on. The disciples had now lost their object, and they see that Christ is again absorbed in teaching, while the multitudes are so eager to receive instruction that they do not think of retiring. Theytherefore advise that for the sake of attending to their bodily wants, Christ should send them away into the neighboring villages. He had purposely delayed till now the miracle which he intended to perform; first, that his disciples might consider it more... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:16

Verse 16 16.Give you to them something to eat. As a fuller exposition of this miracle will be found at the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, instead of troubling my readers with a repetition of what I have said, I would rather send them to that exposition; but rather than pass over this passage entirely, I shall offer a brief recapitulation. Hitherto Christ had bestowed his whole attention on feeding souls, but now he includes within his duties as a shepherd the care even of their bodies. And in... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:16

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