Verses 1-12: A Prophet Silenced, Truth Still Speaks

¹ At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, ² and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” ³ For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. ⁴ For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. ⁶ But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod. ⁷ Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. ⁸ She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.” ⁹ The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, ¹⁰ and he sent and beheaded John in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother. ¹² His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

• Earthly power can oppose God’s servants, yet God’s purposes are not threatened:

  Herod’s court shows how fear, pride, and political calculation can lead to grave injustice: John is imprisoned “for the sake of Herodias,” and executed “for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him.” Yet even as human rulers misuse authority, the chapter implies that God’s redemptive work continues undeterred, since the report “concerning Jesus” spreads and the narrative immediately turns to Jesus’ compassionate and sovereign ministry.

• God’s moral law stands above social pressure and personal desire:

  John’s prophetic confrontation is direct: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” This highlights that God’s commandments are not negotiable, even for the powerful. At the same time, Herod’s behavior illustrates how conscience can be suppressed by the desire to save face—he is “grieved,” yet still “commanded it to be given.” The text presses readers to honor God’s righteousness rather than public opinion.

• Faithfulness may involve suffering, and the faithful are to be remembered and honored:

  John’s disciples “took the body, and buried it,” showing reverence for the martyr and acknowledging the cost of witness. Their next action—“Then they went and told Jesus”—also models bringing grief and confusion to the Lord, trusting him with what evil has done.

• Misreadings of Jesus reveal both guilt and spiritual confusion:

  Herod interprets Jesus through a troubled lens, saying, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead.” The passage shows that extraordinary works can provoke distorted explanations when hearts are unsettled, reminding believers to seek truth through God’s revelation rather than fear-driven speculation.

Verses 13-21: Compassion That Heals, Provision That Satisfies

¹³ Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. ¹⁴ Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick. ¹⁵ When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.” ¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.” ¹⁸ He said, “Bring them here to me.” ¹⁹ He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. ²⁰ They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. ²¹ Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

• Jesus’ compassion is active: he heals, he feeds, he draws near to need:

  When Jesus “saw a great multitude,” he “had compassion on them, and healed their sick.” Compassion here is not mere emotion but a divine mercy that moves toward suffering. This supports a theology of God’s goodness: the Lord does not despise human weakness but meets it with restorative power.

• Jesus dignifies human participation in his work without depending on human adequacy:

  Jesus tells the disciples, “You give them something to eat,” even though they confess, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.” The command exposes their limitations while also calling them into service. Yet the decisive movement is, “Bring them here to me,” showing that fruitful ministry flows from placing what we have into Christ’s hands—he supplies what we lack and still involves his people as instruments of his care.

• God’s provision is sufficient and overflowing, not scarce and anxious:

  The result is emphatic: “They all ate, and were filled,” and there are “twelve baskets full” left over. Theologically, this testifies that Jesus provides truly and abundantly. It also teaches trust: the disciples’ calculation (“We only have…”) is answered by Christ’s generosity and command over creation.

• Jesus’ blessing directs provision to the Father and keeps miracles from becoming self-exalting:

  Jesus “looking up to heaven, he blessed,” showing dependence and communion within God’s saving work. The miracle is not presented as spectacle but as provision that honors God, strengthening a worshipful understanding of daily bread and divine generosity.

Verses 22-33: The Praying Lord, the Saving Hand, the Confessing Church

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. ²³ After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. ²⁴ But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. ²⁵ In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” ²⁸ Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” ²⁹ He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

• Jesus leads his people into trials while remaining present, praying, and purposeful:

  Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat,” and soon they are “distressed by the waves.” Theologically, this shows that difficulty is not always a sign of disobedience; sometimes it is part of Christ’s wise direction. Yet Jesus is not absent in indifference: he withdraws “by himself to pray,” and then “came to them,” demonstrating a Lord who intercedes and comes near in the darkest watches.

• Jesus reveals divine authority over creation and divine comfort to fearful disciples:

  He “came to them, walking on the sea,” revealing authority that belongs to God. But the revelation is not crushing; it is pastoral: “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” True doctrine about Jesus strengthens assurance, because his identity and his word address the deepest human fears.

• Faith both acts and depends: stepping out is real, and crying “save” is also real:

  Peter asks for a command and receives it: “Come!” He truly “walked on the waters to come to Jesus,” demonstrating that faith is not mere inward feeling but obedient action toward Christ. Yet when fear rises, Peter prays a simple, desperate petition: “Lord, save me!” This shows that authentic faith may be mingled with weakness; what matters is turning to Jesus rather than hiding in self-reliance.

• Salvation is Christ’s initiative and Christ’s grip, received in personal trust:

  “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him.” The rescue is decisive and timely, grounding hope not in human steadiness but in the Savior’s mercy and power. At the same time, Jesus addresses Peter personally—“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”—showing that grace does not eliminate responsibility; Christ both saves and sanctifies by correcting doubt and calling for deeper trust.

• Worship is the fitting response to Jesus’ identity and works:

  When the wind ceases and Christ is with them in the boat, “Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, ‘You are truly the Son of God!’” Theologically, the chapter moves from miracle to confession: encountering Jesus rightly leads to adoration, and adoration is anchored in who he is, not merely in what he gives.

Verses 34-36: The Reach of Mercy to All Who Come

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. ³⁵ When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick; ³⁶ and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

• Recognizing Jesus leads to mission: those who know him bring others to him:

  “When the people of that place recognized him,” they immediately “sent into all that surrounding region” and “brought to him all who were sick.” The passage presents a natural theology of witness: experiencing Christ’s mercy produces outward movement—neighbors are invited, the needy are carried, and the community becomes a conduit of compassion.

• Faith seeks Christ himself, and his power is not diminished by human weakness:

  They “begged him” to “touch the fringe of his garment,” a picture of humble, almost trembling trust. Yet the outcome is sweeping: “As many as touched it were made whole.” Theologically, this underscores both the accessibility of Jesus and the efficacy of his mercy. The healing is not portrayed as earned by merit but received through coming to him, even in simple, imperfect faith.

Conclusion: Matthew 14 holds together the sobering reality of righteous suffering, the tender compassion of Jesus, and the sovereign authority of the Son of God. The chapter calls believers to courage amid opposition, to bring what little they have to Christ for his multiplying grace, to trust him in storms with both bold obedience and honest cries for rescue, to worship him as “truly the Son of God,” and to bring others to him with confidence that “as many as touched it were made whole.”