The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 14 -

(Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus

and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod

so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.

Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted

and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.

John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

(Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15)

When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.

And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water

(Mark 6:45–52; John 6:16–21)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.

After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,

but the boat was already far

(a)

from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night,(b) Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”

“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

But when he saw the strength of the wind,(c) he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.

Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Jesus Heals at Gennesaret

(Mark 6:53–56)

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him

and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Footnotes

(a)14:24 Greek many stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters

(b)14:25 That is, between three and six in the morning

(Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9)

At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”

For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”

The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,

and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

His head was brought on a platter and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother.

His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

(Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15)

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”

But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”

He said, “Bring them here to me.”

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, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.

Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water

(Mark 6:45–52; John 6:16–21)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

In the fourth watch of the night,(a) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.(b)

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! (c) Don’t be afraid.”

Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”

He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

Jesus Heals at Gennesaret

(Mark 6:53–56)

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick;

and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe

(d)

of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

Footnotes

(a)14:25 The night was equally divided into four watches, so the fourth watch is approximately 3:00 a.m. to sunrise.

(b)14:25 ℘ See Job 9:8

(d)14:36 or, tassel