matthew-14:23,mark-1:35,luke-5:16

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:23

Alone to pray. By our Saviour's conduct on this occasion, we are taught to leave occasionally the society of men, and to retire into solitude, as a more proper place to commune with heaven in earnest and fervent prayer. The company of mortals is often a great distraction to the fervent Christian. (Denis the Carthusian) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:22-33

22-33 Those are not Christ's followers who cannot enjoy being alone with God and their own hearts. It is good, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to meet with storms in the way of duty, but he thereby shows himself with the more grace to them and for them. He can take what way he pleases to save his people. But even appearances of deliverance... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Matthew 14:1-99

Matthew 14 AT THAT TIME, says the opening verse, Herod “heard of the fame of Jesus.” Just when He had no fame at Nazareth His fame reached the ears of that godless man, and as it appears, touched his hardened conscience. It is remarkable that he should have thought it was John risen from the dead, since to a later Herod we have Paul saying, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” ( Act_26:8 ). That which they could not believe when it had... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Matthew 14:23

Christ in prayer: v. 23. 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. A significant fact: Jesus, in the midst of the most distracting work, always found time for prayer, for presenting the great work He had taken upon Himself to His heavenly Father, and, in earnest supplication, asking for sustaining strength. He was a true man, who felt the need of seeking comfort and strength in intimate intercourse... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Matthew 14:22-33

3. Jesus Walking on the Sea. Matthew 14:22-3322 And straightway Jesus [he] constrained his disciples to get [enter, ἐμβῆναι] into a ship, and to go before him unto [to] the other side, while he sent [until he should have sent] the multitudes away. 23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart [καἰ ἰδίαν] to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with [vexed by the] waves: for the wind was... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Matthew 14:22-36

Help in the Hour of Need Matthew 14:22-36 Jesus always comes in the storm. It had been a great relief to escape from the pressure of the crowd to His place of prayer, on heights swept by the evening breeze and lighted by the holy stars. But He tore Himself away because His friends needed Him. He is watching you also in the storm and will certainly come to your help. He uses the element we dread as the path for His approach. The waves were endangering the boat, but Jesus walked on them. In... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Matthew 14:1-36

The presence and activity of the true King filled the false ruler with alarm. Herod sacrificed John to his lust. Once Herod had heard John, and the remembrance of former conviction was still with him, but the grip of sensual intoxication was greater than the voice of conscience. Yet in the sight of heaven it was Herod who perished, not the prophet. "When Jesus heard of it" (verse Mat 14:13 ), that is, of Herod's surmise, He went to the desert. The crowds followed Him. "He healed their sick,"... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Matthew 14:22-33

The Fourth Watch of the Night Matthew 14:22-33 INTRODUCTORY WORDS As we enter this study, we are particularly struck with the words: "Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship." What is the deeper meaning of the word "constrained"? 1. There seemed a hesitancy on the part of the disciples to enter the ship, and to start across Galilee. We have no doubt that they, as fishermen used to the freaks of Galilee, anticipated a coming storm. The storms still sweep suddenly down upon that... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:23

THE SOLITUDE OF CHRIST‘When the evening was come He was there alone.’ Matthew 14:23 Christ had an actual human body and soul, yet He was Divine. It was on His human side that He was depressed, sorrowful, as well as at times hungry, thirsty, and weary. It was on the human side of His nature that He felt the need of solitude. We ask, however, why did Christ seek to be alone? I. Physical exhaustion.—Was Christ conscious of physical exhaustion needing repair? His was an essentially busy life. Why... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:1-36

Jesus Is Confirmed As The Son of God, Begins To Establish His New Congregation, Reaches Out To Gentiles, Is Acknowledged As Messiah By His Disciples, and Reveals His Inherent Glory (13:53-17:27). The advance of the Kingly Rule of Heaven leading up to the final consummation having been made clear by His parables Jesus is now confirmed as the Son of God (Matthew 14:33; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 18:26) and begins to establish a new open community (Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 15:32-39; Matthew 16:18;... read more