Westminster Annotations, Matthew 2 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Vers. 1. AT that time] Here is, in John, an example of invincible courage, which all faithfull ministers of Gods word ought to follow: in Herod, an example of tyranny, and of the miserable slavery of such as have given themselves over to sensuality: in Herodias and her daughter, an example of wantonnesse and cruelty.
Herod] Mark 6. 14. Luke 9. 7. There were three Herods. The first of them was Antipaters son, who is also called Ascalonius, in whose reign Christ was born; and he it was that caused the children to be slain. The second was called Antipas, the son of Herod the great, whose mothers name was Malthaca, or Martaca: and he was called, Tetrarch of Galilee, Luke 3. 1. The third was Agrippa, nephew to Herod the great by Aristobulus: and he was the person that slew James: so they were all three murderers; for the second slew John Baptist.
the tetrarch] He had a fourth part of the kingdom. Sea Luke 3. 1.
V. 2. he is risen from the dead, and therefore, &c.] He hath more power now, then he had before; for John wrought no miracles, Joh. 10. 41.
mighty works] Force and power, whereby such works are wrought, and not the works themselves. So chap. 12. 54.
do shew forth themselves in him] Or, are wrought by him.
V. 3. For Herod] Luke 3. 19, 20.
laid hold on] Or, caused him to be apprehended.
his brother Philips wife] Many faults did Herod here commit. First, that he took another mans wife, while he was alive, Secondly, put away his own. Thirdly, took his brothers wife, and so was guilty of incest. Fourthly, when his brother had children by her, which was not lawfull, if his brother had been dead.
V. 4. It is not lawfull for thee to have her] Levit. 18. 16. and 20. 21. See Johns boldnesse! he doth not say, It may be dangerous; but speaks home; It is unlawfull. And in particular, For thee, O Herod.
V. 5. when he would have put him to death] It seems he was willing to kill him, before Herodias provoked him: so willing are great men to be rid of their reprovers.
he seared the multitude] He fears those he needed not, and that feared his tyranny; but fears not God, whom he ought to fear.
because they counted him as a prophet] Chap. 21. 26.
V. 6. when Herods birth-day was kept] The birth-days of kings used to be kept with great feasts and triumphs, Gen. 40. 20.
the daughter of Herodias] By Philip her former husband, not by Herod.
V. 7. whatsoever she would ask] He forgat to except things unlawfull and unfitting. So many, in their jollity, rashly promise what they are sorry for afterwards, v. 9.
V. 8. before instructed] Not before the feast: for if her mother bad any such intent, she would hardly trust her daughter with it: and it appears, Mark 6. 24. that she went out to ask her mother, after the king had promised.
Give me here John Baptists head in a charger] The mother was not content John should be killed, but must have his head in a platter, as the best dish at the feast, that she might be sure of his death, and glut her self with the sight of it. So harsh are strumpets to their reprovers.
V. 9. the king was sogry] Because he knew John to be unjustly condemned, and might fear an insurrection.
for the oaths sake] He makes no conscience of taking his brothers wife, and Johns head, yet would be thought to make conscience of an oath: as if the same God that forbids perjury, had not forbidden incest and murder, Jam. 2. 10, 11.
and them which sate with him at meat] Either he feared they would account him a perjured man; or, they, in favour to Herodias, pressed him to perform his oath.
V. 10. and beheaded John in the prison] He doth it not in publike, for fear of the people, v. 5. Johns triall was the more, because he had no means to clear his innocency before the people at his death, nor no …riends to comfort him.
V. 11. his head was brought in a charger] A sad sight at a feast; to see a mans head new cut off, hot and bleeding.
V. 12. and told Jesus] Either that he might prevent the like danger; or, that they might be raught by him what course to take now their master was gone.
V. 13. When Jesus heard of it] Mark 6. 32. Luke 9. 10. Of Johns death, or of Herods hearing of the fame of him by the miracles which he did, v. 1. which were done after Johns death, v. 2.
he departed thence] From his own countrey, chap. 13. 53. or, from the place where he was told of Johns death.
into a desert place, apart] From the parts of Galilee, more frequented, to a more solitary place, to shun Herods lying in wait for him: for the time of his death was not yet come. So chap. 4. 12. and 12. 14, 15.
they followed him on foot] So they might; for both those places were on the same side of the lake. He onelyonly went over a creek by ship, and the people went about on foot. See their zeal! They go assoon as they hear he was gone; they go a great way about on foot, and leave the cities where they dwelt, and where provision might be had, to follow Christ in desert places.
V. 14. And Jesus went forth] Out of the ship, and saw the people there before him, Mark 6. 33. such haste made they.
he healed their sick] They carried sick folk also with them, which could not be without trouble: but nothing could keep them from following Christ.
V. 15. when it was evening] Mark 6. 35. Joh. 6. 5. That is, the first evening, when the sun was much declined, about three of the clock after noon, 1 Kings 18. 29. The second evening is mentioned, v. 23. which began at sun-set. Between these two evenings was the passeover slain, Exod. 12. 6. margin. This history is of great weight to prove Christs divine power; for it is recorded by all the four evangelists.
This is a desert place] Neither time nor place are fit for provisions.
the time is now past] The usuall time of eating, or of dinner. Gr. the hour.
send the multitude away] Who hindered them? It seems they they were tied by the ears. Christ was so willing to teach, and they to hear, that they neglected their food: but now adays men long till the sermon be done.
V. 16. give ye them to eat] Christ refresheth a great multitude with five loaves and two little fishes; shewing thereby, that they shall want nothing, which lay all things aside, and seek the kingdom of heaven.
V. 17. We have here but five loaves and two fishes] Comparing their short provision with the multitude of the people, they marvelled how they should be commanded to feed them.
V. 18. Bring them hither] They might have said, What shall we then eat our selves? but they readily obey. So the woman of Sarepta, 1 Kings 17. 12, 13, 15.
to me] You cannot make them serve to feed so great a multitude, but I can.
V. 19. to sit down on the grasse] That they may be fed and told the more orderly and easily. A grasse-table, and barleybread, with the Gospel, is good chear.
looking up to heaven] To shew whence he had the power to do this miracle, and whither the hungry people ought to look for supply, Psal. 145. 15.
he blessed] He gave thanks to God for that provision, and prayed for a miraculous blessing upon it.
and brake] As the master of the family, or chief person in the company used to do, that it might be distributed, Luke 24. 35.
V. 20. they did all eat, and were filled] Lest any, to extenuate this miracle, should think that some did not eat, and others were not satisfied, this is added.
they took up of the fragments] Gr. they took the remainder of the fragments. This remainder shewed the truth of the miracle, and also the greatnesse of it; for more was left, then was there at first. This was more then Moses did in the Manna, or Elias in the meal, 1 Kings 17. It shews also the peoples modestie, who, being satisfied with Christs liberality, did not spoil nor steal away the remainder, but left it to be gathered by the apostles.
twelve baskets full] Each apostle one basket. The baskets were such as they used to carry bread, and other the like victuall, about with him in, chap. 16. 7. Mark 8. 14.
V. 21. they that had eaten] He doth not say, They that were present; but, They that had eaten, were about five thousand. They are numbred, that the miracle might be the more famous.
beside women and children] Which, doubtlesse, were a great many, if not so many more.
V. 22. straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship] His disciples here, are the apostles, or attendants in ordinary; not the rest, though they came to be taught by him. So chap. 13. 41. and 15. 36. and 17. 25. They were willing to have slayed with Christ, because they loved his company, and saw no other ship there for him to come in, Joh. 6. 22. They were loth to leave him in a wildernesse, a little before night, to come over the lake alone. But he, fearing lest they, out of their respect to him, should joyn with the people to make him a king, Joh. 6. 15. and intending, in the following storm, to try their faith, and shew them what need they had of him, compelled them to go before.
unto the other side] See notes on v. 13.
V. 23. And when he had sent, &c.] Mark 6. 46.
into a mountain apart to pray] Convenient places must be chosen for private prayers.
and when the evening was come] Joh. 6. 16. The second evening, at sun-set. See on v. 15.
V. 24. in the midst of the sea] Many things concurring make this triall the greater. It was a great storm: it was dark, Joh. 6. 17. they had endured it till the last watch of the night: they were far from shore: the wind kept them back: he was with them, though asleep, Matth. 8. 24. and might quickly be awaked to help them; but now Christ was absent, and they knew not when he would come to relieve them.
tossed with waves] Gr. tormented. Reeling up and down, as a man in torment turns every way for ease. A metaphor. So Jon. 1. 4. margin. The ship thought to be broken; that is, was in danger of breaking.
V. 25. in the fourth watch] They divided the night into four watches, which are set down, Mark 13. 35.
Jesus went unto them] We may fail thorow mighty tempests, yet Christ will never forsake us, if we go when and whither he commands us.
V. 26. saw him walking on the sea] Not standing onelyonly on it, which yet was more then could by humane strength be done, but walking up and down, as on dry ground.
they were troubled] For they had never seen the like before. They feared this apparition more then the storm.
It is a spirit] The Greek word signifieth, that which a man imagineth to himself vainly in his minde, perswading himself that he seeth something, when he seeth nothing. An apparition.
V. 27. straightway Jesus spake unto them] Christ quickly hears the cries of his servants.
Be of good chear] Gr. Be confident. Fear oft ariseth, not out of the greatnesse of the danger (for others endure as much without fear) but out of want of confidence.
it is I] He doth not say, I am Jesus, as to persecuting Saul, Acts 9. 5. but, It is I, as speaking to them that knew his voice.
V. 28. bid me come unto thee on the water] True believers are soon pacified with Christs voice. Peter was not onelyonly quiet, but also desires, on Christs word, to walk on the sea.
V. 29. he walked on the water] A great strength of faith in Peter, that, upon one word of Christ, durst adventure to walk on the sea.
V. 30. when he saw the wind] Perceived it, by hearing and feeling; for winde cannot be seen. It may be a secret reproof of Peter, for taking his eyes off from Christ, and looking on the great waves raised by the wind, which might occasion his forgetfulnesse of Christs power, and the weaknesse of his faith, which was the cause of his beginning to sink.
boistrous] Or, strong.
Lord, save me] By faith Peter trod under feet the seas, yet needed he Christs help in distresse, for all that.
V. 31. why didst thou doubt?] What need hadst thou to doubt, seeing I am with thee? this shews thy faith to be weak.
V. 32. the wind ceased] Christ not onelyonly comforts his in trouble, but also puts an end to their troubles.
V. 33. they that were in the ship] The rest of the apostles, or others that rowed them, or went over with them.
came and worshipped him] They blame not Peter for attempting, nor commend him for walking on the sea; but come directly to Christ, to worship him. They had seen as great a miracle newly, in feeding them so strangely, yet did they not then worship him. Affliction taken away, sooner brings men to Christ, then prosperity given.
thou art the Son of God] It seems to be a term commonly given to the Messias; taken out of Psal. 2. 7. See chap. 16. 16. Joh. 1. 49. for it is not likely that they yet knew the Trinity of the persons, and that Christ was the naturall Sonne of God.
V. 34. And when they were gone over] Mark 6. 53.
the land of Gennesaret] This Gennesaret was a lake nigh to Capernaum, which is also called, The sea of Galilee, and Tiberias; so that the countrey it self grew to be called by that name.
V. 35. had knowledge of him] By fame, or by such of them as had seen his miracles.
they sent out into all that countrey] They would not ingrosse Christ to themselves, but inform others of his coming, that they might get good by him also.
V. 36. The hem of his garment] The lower end of it. This was a signe of modestie, Matth. 9. 20.
hem] Or, selvage, or, fringe.
were made perfectly whole] In that Christ healeth the sick, we are taught to seek remedy for spirituall diseases at his hands, and not onelyonly to run to him our selves, but also to bring others to him to be saved.