Annotations Upon the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Verse 2. THis is John the Baptist] His conscience troubled him for killing so holy, and innocent a man.
Vers. 6. When Herods birth day was kept] After the manner of the Kings of the East.We have a most ancient example of this custome in Aegypt, Gen. 40.20. That ancient custome cannot be disproved in it self, of joyfull solemnizing the birthday yearely, for that day, as often as it returns, admonisheth every one of us to give thanks to God, from whom being brought hither we have passed many yeares now through his merciemercy; then that it may call to our mind how unprofitablely we have spent the time allowed by him,Calvin. and that we would commend our selves for the remainder of our lives to his protection.Maldonate inveighes against Calvin for this that he here delivers, but he is vindicated by Paraeus.
Vers. 19. He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass] That Christ commanded the people to sit down by troopes, he did this first by counsell, that the miracle might be the more conspicuous to the troopes so disposed. Secondly, that the men might be the more fitly numbred, and when some looked back on others they might be mutually witnesses to themselves of this heavenly grace. Thirdly, Because he saw the Disciples sollicitous, he would approve of their obedience,Calvin. commanding them that which was in shew a miracle, for it was wonderfull when there was no provision, wherefore Christ would make shew of a banquet.
Hilary disputes, whether the multiplication was made in the hands of Christ breaking, or of the Disciples distributing, or of the company taking; but it is probable that it happened in all three, and in breaking he so multiplied the fragments, that both the Apostles and the company saw the power of God in his hands,Polyc. Lyser. and after felt it in their own hands.
Vers. 20. And they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full] Every Apostle, as it seems,Grotius. Vide. Juvenalis satyram tertiam. brought his basket after the usuall manner of the Jews, as often as they went any journey far from the towns: In these baskets they were wont to carry bread with them, as it appears, 16.7. Mark 8.14.
Vers. 23. Compared with ver. 15. These things cannot otherwise be reconciled,Vide Grot. in vers. 15. Gerh. in Har. than that the evening in the former place notes the time next the Sun-setting, in the latter place the time after the sun-setting, which extends it selfe to midnight. Exod. 12.6.
V. 25. And in the 4th watch of the night] The night was in times past divided into foure quarters, or greater houres, termed 4. watches, each watch containing three lesser houres. The first they called caput vigiliarum, Vide Grotium in loc.the begining of the watches, it began at the even or Sunseting. Lam. 2.19. The second was the middle watch, Judg. 7.19. not so termed because there were onelyonly three watches, as Drusius would perswade, but because it lasted till midnight. The third watch began at midnight, and held till three of the clocke in the morning, gallicinium, Cock-crowing. Luk. 12.38. The last called the morning watch, the dawning, Exod. 14.24. it began at three of the clock, and ended at sixe of the morning, that is spoken of here, and all of them are mentioned, Marke 13.35. The Romanes did so divide their night, and distinguished their severall watches by severall notes, and sound of Cornets or Trumpets; thence the phrase de tertia vigilia in Caesars Commentaries.
Vers. 27. Be of good cheere] The Greeke word signifies three things. 1. Be of good courage, forti animo estote. 2. Comfort, be of good comfort, consolamini. 3. Confidence, fiduciam habete, be of good confidence, beleeve.
V. 28. Bid me come unto thee on the water] Rash zeale in Peter, yet God turned it for best, 1. Lest any say Christs Body was not like ours, Hierome. 2. He sank to check his blind zeal. 3. Theophylact and Hilarie thinke it a type of Peters forwardnesse when he denied Christ.
Vers. 30. Lord save me] We should have an eye on Christ in all troubles, Psal. 121.1. Peter falls to prayer.
Vers. 31. Christ is firme, though he sinke.
Vers. 36. Only touch the hemme of his garment] Neither weake faith nor superstition, but as Luke 8.44. Act. 19.12. Christ hath all creatures to obey him, and he heales all diseases.