Matthew 14:1-14 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

We have here the story of John's martyrdom. Observe, I. The occasion of relating this story here, Matt. 14:1, 2. Here is, 1. The account brought to Herod of the miracles which Christ wrought. Herod the tetrarch or chief governor of Galilee heard of the fame of Jesus. At that time, when his countrymen slighted him, upon the account of his meanness and obscurity, he began to be famous at court. Note, God will honour those that are despised for his sake. And the gospel, like the sea, gets in one... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 14:13-21

This passage of story, concerning Christ's feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, is recorded by all the four Evangelists, which very few, if any, of Christ's miracles are: this intimates that there is something in it worthy of special remark. Observe, I. The great resort of people to Christ, when he was retired into a desert place, Matt. 14:13. He withdrew into privacy when he heard, not of John's death, but of the thoughts Herod had concerning him, that he was John the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

14:1-12 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus, and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He has been raised from the dead, and because of this, these deeds of power work in him." For Herod had seized John the Baptizer, and had bound him and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John insisted to him: "It is not right for you to have her." So he wished to kill him, but he was afraid of the crowd, for they regarded him as a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

(iv) There is Herod himself. He is called the tetrarch. Tetrarch literally means the ruler of a fourth part; but it came to be used quite generally, as here, of any subordinate ruler of a section of a country. Herod the Great had many sons. When he died, he divided his territory into three, and, with the consent of the Romans, willed it to three of them. To Archelaus he left Judaea and Samaria; to Philip he left the northern territory of Trachonitis and Ituraea; to Herod Antipas--the Herod of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:13-21

14:13-21 When Jesus heard the news (of the death of John), he withdrew from there in a boat, into a deserted place alone. When the crowds heard of it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he had disembarked, he saw a great crowd, and he was moved with compassion for them to the depths of his being, and healed their sick. When it had become late, his disciples came to him: "The place is deserted," they said, "and the hour for the evening meal has already passed. Send the crowds... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:13-21

(iii) This miracle informs us very clearly of the place of the disciple in the work of Christ. The story tells that Jesus gave to the disciples and the disciples gave to the crowd. Jesus worked through the hands of his disciples that day, and he still does. Again and again we come face to face with this truth which is at the heart of the Church. It is true that the disciple is helpless without his Lord, but it is also true that the Lord is helpless without his disciple. If Jesus wants... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:13-21

There are some people who read the miracles of Jesus, and feel no need to understand. Let them remain for ever undisturbed in the sweet simplicity of their faith. There are others who read and their minds question and they feel they must understand. Let them take no shame of it, for God comes far more than half way to meet the questing mind. But in whatever way we approach the miracles of Jesus, one thing is certain. We must never be content to regard them as something which happened; we must... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:1

f3 At that time Herod the tetrarch,.... Not Herod the Great, in whose reign Christ was born, and who slew the infants of Bethlehem, but his son; this was, as the Jewish chronologer F3 David Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 25. 2. and so in Juchasin, fol. 142. 2. rightly observes, "Herod Antipater, whom they call טיתרקי , "the tetrarch"; the son of Herod the First, and brother of Archelaus, and the third king of the family of Herod.' And though he is here called a "tetrarch", he is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:2

And said unto his servants ,.... Those of his household, his courtiers, with whom he more familiarly conversed; to these he expressed his fears, that it might be true what was suggested by the people, and he was ready to believe it himself; this is John the Baptist : some copies add, "whom I have beheaded", as in Mark 6:16 the guilt of which action rose in his mind, lay heavy on him, and filled him with horror and a thousand fears: he is risen from the dead ; which if he was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:3

For Herod had laid hold on John ,.... By his servants, whom he sent to apprehend him: and bound him ; laid him in chains, as if he was a malefactor; and put him in prison , in the castle of Machaerus F4 Joseph. Antiqu. 1. 18. c. 7. , for Herodias's sake ; who was angry with him, had a bitter quarrel against him, and by whose instigation all this was done; who was his brother Philip's wife . This Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son to Herod the Great F5 Ib.... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 14:13-21

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:13-21

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:13-21

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:13-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:3

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