5/2/12

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Fourteen by Mark Copeland

                        "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