A Brief Exposition of Matthew, Biblical commentary · Part · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
After the history of Johns beheading, to ver. 13. The miracle of the loaves, and Christs walking on the sea, to ver. 34. And the healing of the sick in the bounds of Genezareth is set down.
Ver. 1. AT that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Iesus.
2. And said unto his servants, This is Iohn the Baptist, he is risen from the dead, and therfore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
Herod heareth of Christ, and taketh him to be John Baptist risen from the dead. Doct. 1. Whatsoever opposition Christ doth meet with, he seeth ever to the spreading of the glory of his own name: for here, His fame cometh to Herod, after Iohn is beheaded. 2. God can clear the cause of his Martyrs in the conscience of their persecuters, as Herod here counteth John Baptist a man righteous, whom God would honour, by making him an instrument of mighty works.
Ver. 3. For Herod had laid hold on Iohn, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias sake, his brother Philips wife.
4. For Iohn said unto him, It is not lawfull for thee to have her:
5. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a Prophet.
By this occasion, Johns death which was bypast, is here recorded, in which history, learn, 1. Faithful Ministers wil not spare to tel, even Kings their sins, as John doth here reprove Herod for his incest & adultery. 2. It is no new thing that Kings & great men take it evil, to be reproved of their sins, and are ready to persecute faithful Preachers; for, Herod here imprisons Iohn for his free speeches. 3. The Lord can make any means serve to keep his servants life so long as he pleaseth, as here he maketh the fear of the people a mean of Johns safety for a time. 4. Wicked men do not abstain from any sin, but for worldly reasons, they do nothing for regard to God, nothing else did Herod look to; but, He feared the multitude.
Verse 6. But when Herods birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7. Wherupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8. And she, being before instructed of her mother, saith, Give me here Iohn Baptists head in a charger.
9. And the king was sorry: never theless, for the oaths sake, and them which sat with him as meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10. And he sent and beheahed Iohn in the prison.
11. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
At last the Lords appointed time cometh, and John is beheaded: in which history, learn, 1. When a man hath a mind to an evil work, a time shall be found fit for the doing of it, as here a time is offered unto Herod. 2. A time of carnall feasting, is a time fit for plotting and practising against Gods Servants, as here Herods birth-day is fit for John Baptists beheading. 3. A foolish and gracelesse heart is easily taken with a small delight, as Herod is marvellously pleased with a Damsels dancing. 4. A foolish delight is able to insnare a man for practising a wicked work, as Herods vain delight ingageth him in a rash generall promise and oath, and so he is ingaged in the murther of the Lords Servant. 5. Such as the Parents are, such is the education of their children readily, Such mother here, such daughter. 6. The malice of the wicked against reprovers of their sin is deadly; for, Iohn Baptists head must passe for his reproof of incest. 7. Malicious persons wil prefer the satisfaction of their malice to any thing else; for, Herodias had rather have Iohns head, then half a Kingdome. 8. A gracelesse soul may have a wrestling with his lusts, ere he commit a sin, and may be sorrowfull for carnal reasons to do some wicked deed, as Herod here is loath to kill John: Naturall conscience may tell a man of sin, and vexe him also, and yet for no right reasons; as, The King is sorry, to behead Iohn. 9. A naturall conscience is not able to resist a temptation, though it may restrain a man for a time; for, Herod, though he be sorry, yet he yeeldeth. 10. A sinner insnared is holden by bands which he might lawfully break, as Herod here by a rash oath; Neverthelesse for the oaths sake, he yeeldeth. 11. That which indeed is a mans shame, will appear unto a foolish sinner to be his credit; and when credit appears, it will more prevail with the wicked, then either conscience and carnal fe…; Herod here for Their sakes that sate with him at meat, doth yeeld that John shall lose his head. 12. Gods dearest servants may be taken away by a light occasion, after that …he Lord hath ended his worke by them; as here, Iohn dyeth at the desire of a wanton Lasse. 13. The bodies of the Saints may be abused after death, at the pleasure of the persecuters, as Iohns head here is made a spectacle to his foes.
Ver. 12. And his disciples came, and took up his body and buried it, and went and told Iesus.
From the history of Johns buriall, Learn, 1. That the faithful must not be ashamed at the suffering of the Saints, but testifie their respect to the living and to the dead; for; Iohns disciples came and buried Iohns body. 2. When Pastors are cut off, men must resort to the chiefe shepherd so much the more, at the Disciples of John came to Christ, and told him of Iohns death.
Verse 13. When Iesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him one foot out of the Cities.
14. And Iesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their ….
From the history of Christs departure, Learn, 1. That Jesus hath reason to depart from the place where any of his servants are slain, and others of them are in danger; for, When he heard this he departed. 2. Such as have need of Christ wil find him out, and follow after him, refusing no travel nor pains to seek him; for, The people follow him to a desert place. 3. Christ is compassionate toward such as seek him; and of such as seek he will put none away; the needy and sick find health from him, for here it is said, He was moved with compassion, and healed the sick which followed him.
Ver. 15. 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.
16. But Iesus said unto them, They need not depart, give them to eat.
17. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18. He said, Bring them hither to me.
19. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grasse, & 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.
20. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they tooke up of the fragments that remained, twelve baskets full.
21. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Here is the miracle of the loaves, occasioned by the Disciples care to have the multitude dismissed timously. Doct. 1. It is wisdom to have regard unto peoples infirmity, and what they may endure in attendance of divine worship; as, The Disciples here have a care of the peoples want of food. 2. If God cal for extraordinary attendance, he wil furnish ability, and provide for the bodies of such as prefer the feeding of their soules to the refreshing of their bodies, providing they tempt not God herein, by neglecting wilfully ordinary means; Therefore Jesus saith, They need not depart, give ye them to eat. 3. Where God giveth a call to his servants to feed people, they must look to himself for ability, and not be discouraged, for the little furniture which they conceive they have; for here the Disciples have no more but five loaves, and two fishes, and Christ contenteth himself with them, Bring them to me, saith he. 4. It is good in an ordinary call unto any work to look to ordinary means, as the disciples here not apprehending as yet any more then the ordinary, do make objection, that they have but five loaves and two fishes. 5. The Lord will have our weaknesse for his work to beseen: to the end his power may the more appear; as here, the paucity of loaves and fishes must first be seen, ere he work the work. 6. In working of miracles, our Lord did so dispose of all circumstances, as might most profit the people, and glorifie the Father; in whose name and power, as being one with the Father he did the work; as here, He ordereth the people in their places, looketh to Heaven, and powerfully blesseth their provision, that there might be bread and fish enough by his divine operation. 7. Christs Ministers shall lose nothing in distributing their gifts unto the feeding of his people; for the Disciples, after more then five thousand have eaten of their few loaves, do take up twelve baskets full, a great deal more then they had laid down.
Ver. 22.
And straightway Iesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
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.
24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Another miracle tending to shew, that as Christ is Lord of the earth, and lives of the creatures therein, so he is Lord also of the sea and winds, wherein he exerciseth his Disciples with a plece of trouble, to make them profit in the knowledg of his spirituall Kingdom. The reasons of this short dispatch, and constraining of the disciples to go to sea without his bodily presence, may be seen in Ioh. 6. and Mark. 6. Here it is sufficient to learn, 1. That we should be sure of an urgent calling, before we undertake a hazardous voyage; for, Iesus constrained his disciples to go into a ship. 2. Christ wil not have men diverted from their places and callings, under pretence of waiting on him; nor to expect to live by miraculous means, but to attend upon the ordinary blessing of each mans vocation: and therfore, he sendeth the multitude away. 3. Christ, albeit the Son of God, yet because he had taken on our nature, and the office of Mediator therein, upon all occasions of retyring, he prayeth and intercedeth with God for his people, He went and prayed apart. 4. When the Godly are in trouble, and under trials, the Mediator is praying for their upholding: when the disciples go to sea, Christ goeth to the Mount to pray. 5. Christs Disciples must be in trouble and hazards, when others are at ease, as here it fareth with these Disciples. 6. Albeit men have Christs warrant for their voyage, yet are they not exempted from trouble & danger therein, for here is an instance. 7. Men may have fair wheather in the beginning of a work, and danger and trouble may be kept back till they be so far ingaged, as it is more safe for them to go forward then to return; so fareth it here with the Disciples; for, The storm ariseth, when they are in the midst of the sea.
Ver. 25. And in the fourth watch of the night, Iesus went unto them walking on the sea.
26. And when the Disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cryed out for fear.
27. But straightway Iesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid.
Christ doth not stay all night from them, but cometh to them in due time. Doct. 1. God keepeth back comfort and delivery, till it be time, as Christ suffereth the disciples to be exercised long, and cometh not to them till the fourth watch of the night: but then he cometh in due season. 2. Christ is Lord of Sea and Land, and can make way unto his people… relief, through the most stormy Sea, no impediment can …nder him, nor hold him from his disciples society: for, Christ here cometh walking on the Sea. 3. The Lords coming to his own sometimes is fearfull, and sometimes destruction is apprehended, when delivery is most near, as here They cry out for fear. 4. Apparitions of spirits in bodily shape… is possible, and the truth of it in all ages hath been received, as here, They say, It is a spirit. 5. When the Lords disciples are in greatest extremity, then useth he to comfort them speedily, and to reveal himselfe unto them most kindly, as here straightway he cryeth, It is I, be of good cheer. 6. Wheresoever Christ sheweth himselfe present, there is no reason to be afraid of any trouble or danger, for he is able to deliver his owne in whatsoever strait; therefore saith he, It is I, be not afraid. 7. When he speaketh, he maketh his word to be discerned by his people, and so satisfies them; for he maketh his owne know his presence, Be of good cheer, it is I, saith he.
Ver. 28. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, …id me come unto thee on the water.
29. And he said, Come, and when Peter was come downe out of the ship, …e walked on the water, to go to Iesus.
Zealous Peter cannot stay, till Christ enter the ship, and so cometh to be exercised a little. Doct. 1. Fervent love hasteth to be at Christ, it looketh to no danger, but will hazard through fire and water to be at him; as here: Peters heart fli… …ers to be a… the Lord, when he seeth him. 2. When men mistake the measure of their own strength and gifts, they are ready to seek a calling ere it be given them, and to enterprise things too hard for them: as here Peter saith, Lord bid me come unto thee on the water. 3. If God give a calling, however it seem to be procured, a man may relye on it, and have reason to believe for assistance in following of it; for, Peter heareth Christ say, Come; and presently he casteth himselfe on the sea, and his faith for a time upheld him, so long as he kept the gripes.
Vers. 30. But when he saw the wind boisterous: he was afraid: and beginning to sinke, he cryed, saying, Lord, save me.
The storme continueth, and Peter beginneth to fear, and doubt, and sink. Doct. 1. It is not Christs presence, but his will and command, which maketh a storm calme: Christ and trouble may be both present together; for notwithstanding Christ is come, the wind is boisterous stil. 2. The continuance of the triall of faith, bringeth to light the weaknesse of faith; for a man may hold out a while, who at length may faint as Peter here doth. 3. When men look more to the dangers then to God calling them to it, no wonder that their faith be…brangled: for Peter seeth the wind too much, and Christ presence too little. 4. It is safest to ponder all that faith is to meet with, if we can overtake it, before we enter in the conflict with difficulties; for Peter should have prepared against the wind, as well as against the sea, and waters. 5. Somtimes perill presseth a man more when he is in the dangers, then before; and a man may seem stout before the experience of the danger, who shall prove feeble in it: men know not readily their own weaknesse, till they be put to a proof; Peter doubted nothing to walk on the Sea, till now. 6. As faith groweth feeble, courage and strength, and all begin to fail; as soon as Peter doubteth, he beginneth to sink. 7. When our faith groweth weak, our prayer should be strong; for doubting Peter cryed in prayer. 8. Whatsoever be our danger, let Christs power be exalted, as sufficient to help us, as Peter doth, saying, Lord, save me. 9. Seen danger, and felt weaknesse, doth cut off presumption, and put faith to rely upon God altogether; for now Peter cryeth, Lord, save me.
Ver. 31. And immediately Iesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Christ draweth neer quickly, and helpeth him. Doct. 1. Albeit our Lord be displeased with our sins, yet will he not delay to help, when need calleth for present relief; as here suddenly, He stretched forth his hand. 2. To doubt where we have warrant to believe, is worthy of a reproof; therefore saith Christ, Why didst thou doubt?; Christ wil neithe… deny that to be faith which is mixt with doubting, nor refuse to help the weaknes thereof, by gryping by his powerful grace, such as do but faintly gripe him by their faith, as here he caught Peter, and said unto him, O thou of little faith.
Ver. 32. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33. Then they that were in the ship, came and worshipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Now the exercise is ended, the disciples weaknes and Christs strength is manifested. Doct. 1. When the triall is at an end, the trouble is at an end, Christ and Peter come up into the ship, and the wind ceased. 2. It is a blessed trouble which endeth in glorifying of Christ, and in the increase of knowledg; for, Now the Disciples come, and worship Christ. 3. New experience doth furnish deep impressions of Christs divine power and Godhead; for now, say they, Thou art the Son of God. 3. Delivery out of imminent death, speaketh more of Gods power to the humble person, then the greatest works doth speak unto the secure, as the delivery of the Disciples from the raging sea, maketh them more sensible of Christs Godhead, then the miraculous feeding of five thousand with so few loaves in the wilderness; for now it is, and not till now, that they say, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Ver. 34. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Genesaret.
35. And when the men of that place had knowledg of him, they sent out into all that countrey round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased.
36. And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment, and as many as touched, were made perfectly whole.
Now the Lord landeth, and goeth to Gen…saret, and healeth the sick. Doct. 1. Our Lord goeth ever where he hath an errand, and delighting to do good where ever he goeth, and as the common Saviour of all sorts of persons, in all places, doth heal all, who in the sense of their need do seek the benefit of him; as here, all the sick in Genesaret that come to him, Are made whole. 2. Then have people right knowledg of Christ, when they know his power, and grace, and do give him imployment, as this people do. 3. Such as know Christ aright, will not only make use of him themselves, but also bring in unto him, all whom they can move, each man according to his calling, as this people do. 4 The greater measure of saith be, the l…ss wil be the prescribing of signs unto God; for, The hem of the garment sufficeth these beleeving people. 5. Where God seeth need of signs to help the exercise of the faith of miracles, he giveth unto the persons the instinct also of the signe, which may suffice to confirm them; for, As many as touched, were made whole perfectly.