Matthew 14
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 14
John the Baptist, Herod, and Jesus.[a] 1 At that time Herod the tetrarch[b] heard reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead. That is why such powers are at work in him.”
3 Now Herod had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and imprisoned him on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John had told him, “It is against the law for you to have her.”
5 Herod wanted to put John to death, but he was afraid of the people because they regarded John as a prophet. 6 But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias[c] danced in front of the guests, and she pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her anything she asked for. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests present there, he ordered that her request be granted. 10 He had John beheaded in the prison.[d] 11 The head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and removed the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13 Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men.[e]When Jesus received this news, he withdrew from there in a boat by himself to a deserted place, but when the people learned of it, they followed him on foot from the towns.[f] 14 When he came ashore and saw the vast crowd, he had compassion on them and healed those who were sick.
15 When evening approached, the disciples came up to him and said, “This is a deserted place and the hour is now late. Send the people away now so that they can go to the villages to buy some food for themselves.” 16 Jesus replied, “There is no need for them to depart. Give them something to eat yourselves.” 17 But they answered, “All we have here are five loaves of bread and two fish.” 18 Jesus said, “Bring them here to me.”
19 Then he ordered the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.[g] 20 They all ate and were satisfied. Then they gathered up the fragments that were left over—twelve full baskets. 21 Those who had eaten numbered about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.[h]
22 Jesus Walks on the Water.[i] Then Jesus instructed the disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After he sent them away, he went by himself up on the mountain to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from the shore, battered by waves and a strong wind.
25 During the fourth watch[j] of the night, Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified, and they cried out in their fright, “It is a ghost!” 27 But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you across the water.” 29 He said, “Come!” Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he realized the force of the wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught hold of him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Those in the boat fell to their knees in worship, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”[k]
34 Jesus Heals the Sick at Gennesaret. After they had completed the crossing, they landed at Gennesaret.[l] 35 When the people there recognized him, they sent word of his presence throughout the region. They also brought him all those who were sick 36 and begged him to let them touch only the edge of his cloak. All who touched it were completely healed.
Footnotes
- Matthew 14:1 At the ominous banquet in the fortress of Machaerus we find various members of the family of Herod. Antipas was the second-born of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea. We come upon him several times in the New Testament (Lk 9:7; 23:7; Acts 4:27); Caligula will exile him to Gaul in A.D. 39. His half-brother Philip died in Rome without ever attaining political power. Herodias, niece of both men and wife of Philip, was ambitious and desired to be the wife of a ruler.
- Matthew 14:1 Tetrarch: ruler of one quarter of the kingdom of his father, Herod the Great.
- Matthew 14:6 The daughter of Herodias: her name was Salome, as we are told by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.
- Matthew 14:10 The beheading of the Baptist probably occurred in A.D. 29 in the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea, as is attested by Flavius Josephus.
- Matthew 14:13 Exegetes have named this the “Section of the Loaves” because of the frequency with which the word “bread” is used therein. It seems to symbolize the teaching and salvific acts of Jesus, with a particular reference to the founding of the Church.
- Matthew 14:13 At the time of the temptation in the desert, Jesus had refused to renew the miracle of the manna either for himself or to attain his own success. Moreover, six times in the Gospels (two of which are in Matthew) we read an account like this one. Thus, the first generation of Christians attached a particular importance to the deed. It is first of all an act of mercy, a sign of the goodness of God, who satisfies material and spiritual hunger at the last days. It is also the manifestation of Jesus as the new Moses, as the new founder of the people—he too feeds the crowd in the desert (Ex 16); he acts like the great men of God such as Elisha (2 Ki 4:42-44). In addition, something even more mysterious is part of this extraordinary moment. How can one not discern in this account a climate of Liturgy? For Christians the giving of bread announces the joy of the Eucharist: the Lord present in the assembly, satisfying every hunger with the Bread of Life that is himself (see Jn 6).
- Matthew 14:19 Note the resemblance of this verse to that of the institution of the Eucharist (Mt 26:26). Obviously in the eyes of the primitive Church this meal was a prelude and prefiguration of the Eucharistic banquet, which in its turn recalls the Messianic banquet. Particularly allusive are the breaking of the bread and the action of the disciples in distributing the bread.
- Matthew 14:21 In addition to women and children: women and children were not permitted to eat with men in public. Hence they were in a place by themselves and would greatly increase the number given for the men: 5000!
- Matthew 14:22 For people of the Bible, raging waves and the dead of night evoke the forces hostile to God and his faithful. In calming the storm, Jesus has manifested himself as the master of the powers of evil. To follow him means to escape from their clutches. This is a dangerous path at times in which we must risk everything for him because it is he. “It is I,” he says, and in these words any Christian, after the Ascension and Resurrection, would detect echoes of “I am,” the decisive self-disclosure of God (Ex 3:14; Isa 43:10; 51:12). In Peter himself, the first among the disciples, we discern the drama of every believer: strong when he entrusts himself totally to the Lord, yet threatened and uncertain when he does not take refuge in him alone.
- Matthew 14:25 Fourth watch: 3:00–6:00 A.M. The Romans divided the night into four watches: (1) 6:00–9:00 P.M., (2) 9:00–midnight, (3) midnight–3:00 A.M., (4) 3:00–6:00 A.M. The Jews divided the night into three watches: (1) sunset–10:00 P.M., (2) 10:00 P.M–2:00 A.M., (3) 2:00–sunrise. Apparently, the apostles labored for several hours against the storm waves. Their enthusiasm of the previous evening for an overly earthly Messianism had greatly evaporated in the face of hard labor and the fear of being shipwrecked.
- Matthew 14:33 Son of God: the apostles probably used this title in a Messianic way (see Mt 3:17; 11:25-30) but with superficial understanding. Since Jesus’ divine nature was hidden during his life on earth, the disciples did not yet grasp his divinity at this time (Phil 2:5-8). But they were beginning to realize that he was the Messiah.
- Matthew 14:34 Gennesaret: the plain northwest of the lake of the same name.
Mateo 14
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Muerte de Juan el Bautista
14 (A)Por aquel tiempo[a], Herodes el tetrarca(B) oyó la fama de Jesús, 2 y dijo a sus sirvientes: «Este es Juan el Bautista(C). Él ha resucitado de entre los muertos, y por eso es que poderes milagrosos actúan en él».
3 Porque antes(D)Herodes había prendido a Juan, y lo había atado[b] y puesto en la cárcel(E) por causa de Herodías(F), mujer de su hermano Felipe; 4 porque Juan le decía: «No te es lícito tenerla(G)». 5 Y aunque Herodes quería matarlo, tenía miedo al pueblo[c], porque consideraban[d] a Juan como un profeta(H).
6 Pero cuando llegó[e] el cumpleaños de Herodes, la hija de Herodías[f](I) danzó ante[g] ellos y agradó a (J)Herodes. 7 Por lo cual le prometió con juramento darle lo que ella pidiera. 8 Ella, instigada por su madre, dijo*: «Dame aquí, en una bandeja la cabeza de Juan el Bautista».
9 Y aunque el rey se entristeció, a causa de sus[h] juramentos y de sus invitados[i], ordenó que se la dieran; 10 y mandó decapitar a Juan en la cárcel. 11 Trajeron su cabeza en una bandeja y se la dieron a la muchacha[j], y ella se la llevó a su madre. 12 Los discípulos de Juan[k] llegaron y recogieron el cuerpo y lo sepultaron; y fueron y se lo comunicaron a Jesús.
Alimentación de los cinco mil
13 (K)Al oír esto, Jesús se fue de allí en una barca, solo, a un lugar desierto; y cuando las multitudes lo supieron[l], lo siguieron a pie desde las ciudades. 14 Cuando Jesús desembarcó, vio una gran multitud(L), y tuvo compasión de ellos y sanó a sus enfermos(M). 15 Al atardecer se acercaron los discípulos, diciendo: «El lugar está desierto y la hora ya es avanzada; despide, pues, a las multitudes para que vayan a las aldeas y se compren alimentos».
16 Pero Jesús les dijo: «No hay necesidad de que se vayan; denles ustedes de comer». 17 Entonces ellos dijeron*: «No tenemos aquí más que cinco panes y dos peces(N)». 18 «Traigan acá los panes y los peces», les dijo.
19 Y ordenando a la muchedumbre que se sentara sobre la hierba, Jesús tomó los cinco panes y los dos peces, y levantando los ojos al cielo, bendijo los alimentos(O). Después partió los panes y se los dio a los discípulos y los discípulos a la multitud. 20 Todos comieron y se saciaron; y recogieron lo que sobró de los pedazos: doce cestas llenas(P). 21 Y los que comieron fueron unos 5,000 hombres, sin contar las mujeres y los niños.
Jesús anda sobre el mar
22 (Q)Enseguida Jesús hizo que los discípulos[m] subieran a la barca y fueran delante de Él a la otra orilla, mientras Él despedía a la multitud. 23 Después de despedir a la multitud, subió al monte a solas para orar(R); y al anochecer, estaba allí solo. 24 Pero la barca ya estaba muy lejos[n] de tierra, y era azotada[o] por las olas, porque el viento era contrario. 25 A la cuarta vigilia(S) de la noche (3 a 6 a.m.), Jesús vino a ellos andando sobre el mar.
26 Y los discípulos, al ver a Jesús andar sobre el mar, se turbaron, y decían: «¡Es un fantasma(T)!». Y de miedo, se pusieron a gritar. 27 Pero enseguida Jesús les dijo: «Tengan ánimo, soy Yo(U); no teman(V)».
28 Y Pedro le respondió: «Señor, si eres Tú, mándame que vaya a Ti sobre las aguas». 29 «Ven», le dijo Jesús. Y descendiendo Pedro de la barca, caminó sobre las aguas, y fue hacia Jesús. 30 Pero viendo la fuerza del viento tuvo miedo, y empezando a hundirse gritó: «¡Señor, sálvame!». 31 Al instante Jesús, extendiendo la mano, lo sostuvo y le dijo*: «Hombre de poca fe, ¿por qué dudaste(W)?».
32 Cuando ellos subieron a la barca, el viento se calmó. 33 Entonces los que estaban en la barca lo adoraron, diciendo: «En verdad eres Hijo de Dios(X)».
34 (Y)Terminada la travesía, bajaron a[p] tierra en Genesaret(Z). 35 Y cuando los hombres de aquel lugar reconocieron a Jesús, enviaron a decirlo por toda aquella región de alrededor y le trajeron todos los que tenían algún mal. 36 Y le rogaban que les dejara tocar siquiera el borde de Su manto(AA); y todos los que lo tocaban quedaban curados(AB).
Footnotes
- 14:1 O aquella ocasión.
- 14:3 O encadenado.
- 14:5 O a la multitud.
- 14:5 Lit. tenían.
- 14:6 Lit. ocurrió.
- 14:6 I.e. Salomé.
- 14:6 Lit. en medio de.
- 14:9 Lit. los.
- 14:9 Lit. de los que se reclinaban a la mesa con él.
- 14:11 I.e. Salomé.
- 14:12 Lit. Y sus discípulos.
- 14:13 Lit. oyeron.
- 14:22 Lit. obligó a los discípulos que.
- 14:24 Lit. muchos estadios. Un estadio aprox. 180 metros.
- 14:24 Lit. atormentada.
- 14:34 Lit. llegaron a la.
Matthew 14
New King James Version
John the Baptist Beheaded(A)
14 At that time (B)Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 3 (C)For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 Because John had said to him, (D)“It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, (E)because they counted him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”
9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Feeding the Five Thousand(F)
13 (G)When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He (H)was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 (I)When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, (J)He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Sea(K)
22 Immediately Jesus [a]made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 (L)And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. (M)Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now [b]in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him (N)walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, [c]“Be of good (O)cheer! [d]It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw [e]that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of (P)little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat [f]came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly (Q)You are the Son of God.”
Many Touch Him and Are Made Well(R)
34 (S)When they had crossed over, they came [g]to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only (T)touch the hem of His garment. And (U)as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
Footnotes
- Matthew 14:22 invited, strongly urged
- Matthew 14:24 NU many furlongs away from the land
- Matthew 14:27 Take courage
- Matthew 14:27 Lit. I am
- Matthew 14:30 NU brackets that and boisterous as disputed.
- Matthew 14:33 NU omits came and
- Matthew 14:34 NU to land at
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
