Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Matthew
Book: Matthew
Chapter: 14
Overview:
Death of
John the Baptist.
(1-12) Five thousand people
miraculously fed.
(13-21) Jesus walks upon
The Sea.
(22-33)
Jesus healing the sick.
(34-36)
1-12 The terror and reproach of
Conscience, which Herod, like
other daring offenders, could not shake off, are proofs and
warnings of a future
Judgment, and of future misery to them. But
there may be the terror of convictions, where there is not the
Truth of
Conversion. When men pretend to favour the
Gospel, yet
live in evil, we must not favour their self-delusion, but must
deliver our consciences as
John did. The world may
Call this
rudeness and
Blind zeal. False professors, or timid Christians,
may censure it as want of civility; but the most powerful
enemies can go
No further than the
Lord sees good to permit.
Herod feared that the putting of
John to
Death might raise a
rebellion among the people, which it did not; but he never
feared it might stir up his own
Conscience against him, which it
did. Men fear being hanged for what they do not fear being
damned for. And times of
Carnal mirth and jollity are convenient
times for carrying
On bad designs against
God's people. Herod
would profusely reward a worthless
Dance, while imprisonment and
Death were the recompence of the
Man of
God who sought the
Salvation of his soul. But there was real malice to
John beneath
his consent, or else Herod would have found ways to get clear of
his promise. When the under shepherds are smitten, the
Sheep
need not be scattered while they have the Great
Shepherd to go
to. And it is better to be drawn to
Christ By want and loss,
than not to come to him at all.
13-21 When
Christ and his
Word withdraw, it is best for us to
follow, seeking the
Means of Grace for our souls before any
worldly advantages. The presence of
Christ and his
Gospel, makes
a
Desert not only tolerable, but desirable. This little supply
of
Bread was increased
By Christ's creating power, till the
whole multitude were satisfied. In seeking the welfare of men's
souls, we should have compassion
On their bodies likewise. Let
us also remember always to crave a blessing
On our
Meals, and
learn to avoid all waste, as frugality is the proper source of
liberality. See in this
Miracle an emblem of the
Bread of
Life,
which came down from
Heaven to sustain our perishing souls. The
provisions of
Christ's
Gospel appear mean and scanty to the
world, yet they satisfy all that feed
On him in their hearts
By
Faith with thanksgiving.
22-33 Those are not
Christ's followers who cannot enjoy being
alone with
God and their own hearts. It is good, upon special
occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue
long in secret
Prayer, and in pouring out our hearts before the
Lord. It is
No new thing for
Christ's disciples to meet with
storms in the way of duty, but he thereby shows himself with the
more
Grace to them and for them. He can take what way he pleases
to save his people. But even appearances of deliverance
sometimes occasion trouble and perplexity to
God's people, from
mistakes about
Christ. Nothing ought to affright those that have
Christ near them, and know he is theirs; not
Death itself.
Peter
walked upon the water, not for diversion or to boast of it, but
to go to
Jesus; and in that he was thus wonderfully borne up.
Special supports are promised, and are to be expected, but only
in spiritual pursuits; nor can we ever come to
Jesus, unless we
are upheld
By his power.
Christ bade
Peter come, not only that
he might walk upon the water, and
So know his
Lord's power, but
that he might know his own weakness. And the
Lord often lets his
servants have their choice, to humble and prove them, and to
show the greatness of his power and
Grace. When we look off from
Christ, and look at the greatness of opposing difficulties, we
shall begin to fall; but when we
Call to him, he will stretch
out his
Arm, and save us.
Christ is the great
Saviour; those who
would be saved, must come to him, and cry to him, for
Salvation;
we are never brought to this, till we find ourselves sinking:
the sense of need drives us to him. He rebuked
Peter. Could we
but believe more, we should suffer less. The weakness of
Faith,
and the prevailing of our doubts, displease our
Lord Jesus, for
there is
No good reason why
Christ's disciples should be of a
doubtful mind. Even in a stormy
Day he is to them a very present
help. None but the world's Creator could multiply the loaves,
none but its
Governor could tread upon the waters of
The Sea:
the disciples yield to the evidence, and confess their
Faith.
They were suitably affected, and worshipped
Christ. He that
comes to
God, must believe; and he that believes in
God, will
come, Heb 11:6.
34-36 Whithersoever
Christ went, he was doing good. They
brought unto him all that were diseased. They came humbly
beseeching him to help them. The experiences of others may
direct and encourage us in seeking for
Christ. As many as he
touched, were made perfectly whole. Those whom
Christ heals, he
heals perfectly. Were men more acquainted with
Christ, and with
the diseased state of their souls, they would flock to receive
his healing influences. The healing virtue was not in the
finger, but in their
Faith; or rather, it was in
Christ, whom
their
Faith took
Hold upon.