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Matthew 14
14:1-12
Who was Herod the tetrarch?
[14:1]
See: King Herod
What were the powers that were at work with Jesus?
[14:2]
Herod said that certain powers were at work in Jesus. At this time, many Jews thought that someone received great power to do miracles if they were resurrected. Since Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected, this is why he thought Jesus received his power to do miracles. Herod did not think God gave Jesus the power to do these things.
See: Resurrect (Resurrection) ; Miracle; King Herod
Why did Herod arrest John the Baptist?
[14:3]
John the Baptist spoke against King Herod. He said the things Herod did were evil. John said it was wrong for Herod to marry Herodias because her husband Philip was still alive. This made Herodias angry. Herodias wanted to kill John. However, Herod worried about what people would do if he killed John because the people knew John to be a prophet. Therefore, he put him into prison.
See: Leviticus 20:21
See: Prophet; King Herod
Who was Herodias?
[14:3]
Herodias was the wife of King Herod. Before he married her, Herodias was married to Herod’s brother Philip.
What was a prophet?
[14:5]
See: Prophet
What was a “birthday” celebration?
[14:6]
A birthday is a celebration of the day someone was born. Every year on the same day on which a person was born, people celebrated that person.
What did it mean that Herodias’ daughter’s dance pleased Herod?
[14:6]
Scholars think that in ancient times, it was common for a woman to dance in a sensual way. That is, they danced in a way that made the people watching them want to have sex.
What was an oath?
[14:7]
See: Swear (Oath)
Why was Herod upset with his step-daughter’s request?
[14:9]
Herod was upset because he did not want to kill John the Baptist. He knew John was a man who honored God. However, he did not want people to see him break his oath. Therefore, he had John killed.
See: Swear (Oath); King Herod
Why did John’s disciples take his body and bury it?
[14:12]
John’s disciples took his body away and buried it. This honored John as a prophet. According to the Law of Moses, a person who died needed to be buried immediately.
See: Disciple; Law of Moses
14:13-21
What were the five loaves about which the disciples spoke?
[14:17]
The loaves of bread about which the disciples spoke were round, flat cakes of bread about the size of a man’s hand.
Why did Jesus “bless” the bread?
[14:19]
When Jesus blessed the bread, he was thanking God for giving them the bread.
How much did the people have left over after they ate?
[14:20]
After they ate, the disciples had far more food left than what they began with. Scholars think this was to show how great this miracle was.
See: Miracle
How many people ate the bread and fish?
[14:21]
Matthew said that 5000 men ate the bread and fish. There were also women and children who needed to eat. Therefore, many more than 5000 people ate.
14:22-33
What was the fourth watch of the night?
[14:25]
When Matthew wrote about the fourth watch, he was writing about a time after midnight, between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m.
What was a ghost?
[14:26]
The disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. They did not think anyone could do this. Therefore, they thought he was a ghost. A “ghost” referred to the spirit of someone who had died. The disciples thought he was not real, even though he could be seen.
See: Disciple; Spirit (Spiritual)
What did Peter doubt?
[14:31]
Matthew wrote that Peter doubted something. That is, he did not trust in Jesus to do the thing he promised to do.
Why did the disciples worship Jesus?
[14:33]
The disciples worshipped Jesus because they believed he was the Son of God. They believed Jesus is God because only God could do the miracles Jesus did.
See: Disciple; Worship; Son of God; Jesus is God
Where was Gennesaret?
[14:34]
See Map: Gennesaret