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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 14:1 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 14:1 recounts the moment when Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, becomes aware of Jesus' activities and growing popularity.

The term "tetrarch" refers to a ruler of a fourth part of a region, though it had come to be used more generally for certain types of rulers under Roman sovereignty.

Herod Antipas is a son of Herod the Great, mentioned in the birth narratives of Jesus, and a significant political figure during Jesus' lifetime.

The "fame" of Jesus alludes to the widespread talk about his teachings, miracles, and healings, that had been circulating among the people of Galilee and beyond.

This verse captures a turning point where Jesus' influence has expanded to the extent that it catches the attention of the reigning political class.

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Historical Context

Matthew 14:1 is set in the first century Roman province of Judea, particularly in the area governed by Herod Antipas.

Herod Antipas ruled from 4 BC to AD 39 and was responsible for regions including Galilee and Perea.

The historical Herod was known for his ambitious building projects, including rebuilding and renaming the city of Tiberias in honor of the Roman emperor.

His rule was marked by political and personal intrigue, including marrying Herodias, who was formerly his brother's wife, an action that John the Baptist publicly criticized and which resulted in John's imprisonment and execution.

Theological Insights

This verse offers important theological insights into the gospel narrative.

The mention of Herod's awareness of Jesus signals a shift towards conflict between Jesus and the ruling powers.

Reflecting on Herod's reaction can also be seen as a prelude to Jesus' eventual trial and crucifixion by the political and religious authorities.

Different theological viewpoints might see this as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah's suffering and rejection by earthly kings and powers.

Practical Applications

This scripture calls to consider how influence and power dynamics intersect with faith and morality.

It invites reflection on how people in positions of power react to movements that challenge the status quo.

In daily life, it may inspire believers to stay steadfast in their faith, even when faced with misunderstanding or opposition from those in authority.

Cross-References

Luke 9:7-9: "Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;"
Mark 6:14-16: "And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him."
Matthew 2:1-3: "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

Language Study

The term "tetrarch" in Greek is "τετράρχης" (tetraarchēs), which denotes a ruler of a quarter of a region.

The Greek word "ἤκουσεν" (ēkousen), translated here as "heard," suggests more than just physical hearing; it implies that Herod was taking note of Jesus, with a sense of concern or curiosity.

The word "ἀκοή" (akoē), translated as "fame," refers to the report or things heard about Jesus, indicating that His reputation had grown significantly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this narrative to other ancient myths, one might consider the reactions of rulers in various mythologies when confronted with individuals who threaten their power.

For example, in Greek mythology, when prophecies foretold a ruler's downfall, they often reacted with fear and attempted to prevent their fated demise.

In this biblical account, Herod becomes alarmed upon hearing of Jesus, perhaps fearing a challenge to his authority or the stability of his realm.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the spread of information about an influential figure like Jesus might be analyzed through the lens of social dynamics or communication theory.

Understanding how news traveled and gained momentum in the first-century context, without modern technologies, can provide insight into the organic spread of Jesus' reputation and the social structures that facilitated or hindered such communication.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse.

Some see it as establishing a direct link between Jesus' growing popular ministry and the eventual conflict with secular authorities. Herod's reaction is sometimes seen as foreshadowing the broader rejection and persecution Jesus would face.

Commentators might also discuss how Matthew weaves the narrative of Jesus' activities with political figures of the day, making historical connections and setting the stage for later events in the Gospel narrative.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:1 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 14:1 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?