"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Chapter Fourteen
Word of Jesus’ ministry came to Herod the tetrarch, and Matthew tells
how Herod killed John the Baptist (1-12). Hearing of John’s death,
Jesus sought privacy but was followed by the multitudes and fed over
5000 with five loaves and two fish (13-21). Sending His disciples away
by boat, Jesus dispersed the crowd and went to the mountain to pray. He
later joined His disciples by walking on the sea (22-33). In the land
of Gennesaret, Jesus healed all who came to Him by simply letting them
touch the hem of His garment (34-36).
POINTS TO PONDER
* The unlawful marriage of Herod that led to John’s death
* Two miracles that demonstrate Jesus’ power over nature
* The inverse relationship between fear and faith
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- The death of John the Baptist - Mt 14:1-12
- Jesus feeds the five thousand - Mt 14:13-21
- Jesus walks on the sea - Mt 14:22-33
- Jesus heals many in Gennesaret - Mt 14:34-36
2) Who did Herod think Jesus was when he heard about Him? (1-2)
- John the Baptist, risen from the dead
3) What led to Herod’s arrest of John the Baptist? (3-4)
- John’s rebuke of Herod’s unlawful marriage to Herodias (cf. Mk
6:17-18)
4) How was Herod tricked to have John beheaded? (6-10)
- By Salome’s dance, Herod’s foolish oath, and Herodias’ prompting
5) When Jesus heard of John’s death, what did He try to do? What
happened? (13)
- Go to a deserted place; the multitudes followed Him
6) What prompted Jesus to heal the sick and feed the hungry? (14-15)
- His compassion for them
7) How many were fed, and with what? (16-21)
- 5000 men, besides women and children; five loaves and two fish
8) As Jesus walked on the sea, what led to Peter sinking? (25-31)
- Fear, which Jesus attributed to little faith
9) How were the sick in the land of Gennesaret healed? (34-36)
- As many as touched the hem of Jesus’ garment