Matthew 14 explained: A Murder, a Meal, a Storm

Herod's guilty fear (vv. 1-2)

This Herod, a son of Herod the Great, ruled Galilee under Rome. When he heard about Jesus' miracles, his guilt over killing John made him fear that John had come back to life.

John's arrest and death (vv. 3-12)

John had publicly condemned Herod for taking Herodias while she was still married to Herod's half-brother, which Jewish law forbade. At a birthday feast Herod swore to give Herodias's daughter anything she asked; prompted by her mother, she asked for John's head, and Herod granted it rather than break his oath in front of his guests.

Feeding the crowd (vv. 13-21)

Jesus withdrew after hearing of John's death, but when crowds followed him he healed them and fed thousands from five loaves and two fish, with plenty left over. Many readers hear an echo of God feeding Israel in the wilderness with bread from heaven.

Walking on the lake (vv. 22-27)

Jesus prayed alone, then came to his struggling disciples in the hours before dawn, walking on the water. In the Hebrew Scriptures it is God who treads on the sea, and Christians read his words 'It is I' as also echoing God's name, 'I am.'

Peter steps out (vv. 28-33)

Peter walked toward Jesus but began to sink when he looked at the wind, and Jesus caught him. The scene ends with the disciples worshiping Jesus as the Son of God, a high point in their growing sense of who he is.

Healing at Gennesaret (vv. 34-36)

Across the lake, on a fertile plain along the shore, people brought all their sick to Jesus. They asked only to touch the edge of his cloak, likely the tassels Jewish law told people to wear, and all who touched it were healed.

Key verse: Matthew 14:33

Where Christians differ

Most Christians read the feeding and the walk on water as literal miracles, while some read them mainly as symbolic stories meant to show who Jesus is.

Something to think about

Have you ever seen someone do something they knew was wrong because they had made a promise or feared looking bad in front of others?