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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 14:29 mean?

Explanation

This passage describes a miraculous event where Peter walks on water towards Jesus.

In the narrative, Jesus had just finished praying alone on a mountainside.

The disciples, in a boat, were facing rough waters on the Sea of Galilee.

Seeing them struggling, Jesus walks out to them on the water, causing fear amongst them as they think he is a ghost.

To reassure them, Jesus identifies himself and tells them not to be afraid.

Peter then challenges the figure to prove he is Jesus by inviting him to walk on the water.

Jesus calls Peter to come, and Peter steps out of the boat and miraculously walks on the water before fear and doubt cause him to sink, prompting Jesus to save him.

The verse has both a literal interpretation – the physical act of Peter walking on water – and deeper, spiritual meanings about faith, doubt, and the recognition of Jesus' divine authority.

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Historical Context

Matthew 14:29 is set during Jesus' ministry in the first century in the Roman-controlled region of Galilee.

The primary audience for this Gospel were Jewish Christians, who would be well aware of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah.

The Gospels often communicate the fulfillment of these prophecies through Jesus' actions and teachings.

The act of walking on water is not only a demonstration of Jesus' mastery over the natural world but also serves as a symbolic illustration of God's power to aid those who are willing to step out in faith.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse has been interpreted in various ways.

Some theologians emphasize the importance of faith in Jesus, which allows believers to accomplish the impossible.

Others point to Peter's initial courage and subsequent fear as a lesson in spiritual focus – where looking away from Jesus leads to spiritual peril.

Still others find in this narrative evidence of Jesus’ divine nature, as he performs a miracle that defies natural laws.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, the passage offers several lessons: it encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones with faith; it warns against the distractions and doubts which can consume us and cause us to falter; and it demonstrates the ever-present help Jesus provides when we take risks for the sake of our faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:22-33 (for the full context of the story)
Matthew 28:20 ("...lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.")
Isaiah 43:2 ("When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee...")
Hebrews 11:1 ("Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.")

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek for this verse are significant:

"Come" (Greek: "elthe").

This word is used in the imperative tone as a command, but with the invitation implying encouragement.

"Walked" (Greek: "periepatei").

This term indicates continuous action; Peter kept walking towards Jesus.

"Water" (Greek: "hydatos").

In biblical symbolism, water is often chaos or danger, making Jesus' and Peter's actions all the more significant.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Walking on water is a motif uncommon in most cultures and religions because of the impossible nature of the act.

However, numerous religious traditions do include narratives about masters of spiritual or mystical arts breaking natural laws, which can be compared to Jesus’ display of supernatural ability.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, humans walking on liquid water is physically impossible due to issues of density and the lack of physical support.

This story in Matthew is considered a miracle precisely because it contradicts known natural laws and scientific understanding.

Attempts to explain the event within the scope of science speculate about frozen patches of water or optical illusions, but these theories do not align with the cultural or literary context of the narrative.

Commentaries

Many biblical commentaries conclude that this event illustrates the power of Jesus and the potential of human faith.

Renowned biblical scholars such as William Barclay note that the focus is not just on Jesus' miraculous action, but also on Peter's response and what it teaches about faithfulness and discipleship.

Others, such as Matthew Henry, extend the lesson to the church and its leaders, likening Peter's stepping out of the boat to ministry and leadership responsibilities and the necessity of Jesus' guidance in those roles.

Matthew 14

Matthew 14

What does Matthew 14:29 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 14:29 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?