1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
Herod was suffering from a guilty conscience for having beheaded John the Baptist (Mark 6:16; Luke 9:7-9). So upon hearing of Jesus and His mighty deeds, Herod worried that Jesus was John back from the dead, coming to revenge his wrongful death. This in spite of the fact that John had worked no miracles in his lifetime. Herod’s fear of John was well-founded, for a more holy and just man has never lived (Mat 11:11). It is revealing that Herod would think it possible for John to rise from the dead, for he seems to have been a member of the Sadducees, who did not believe in life after death. The parallel passage is in Mark 6:14-29.
Herod Antipas was ruler of Galilee and son of Herod the Great (Luke 3:1). While a professing Jew, Herod had blatantly broken the Mosaic Law (Lev 18:16) by marrying his brother’s wife Herodias. It was strictly forbidden by the Law for any man to marry a close relative and Herodias was a sister-in-law to Antipas. It was actually unlawful for either of the brothers to marry Herodias, for she was the daughter of Aristobulus, who like Herod Antipas and Herod Philip was a son of Herod the Great. Herodias was their niece. John the Baptist warned Herod that it was unlawful for him to have her as wife. He must divorce her. Herod knew that John was right, but he refused to heed his warning and had him imprisoned instead.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that a man should not divorce his wife, saving for the cause of fornication. The Greek word does not mean adultery (unfaithfulness in marriage), but refers to incestuous relationships (see note on Mat 5:32). Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law fell squarely in this category and John the Baptist was right to require him to put away Herodias. Contrary to the opinions of some, this passage does not directly teach against the practice of divorce and remarriage because the Old Covenant allowed that. It does speak directly to the unlawfulness of incest, or marrying close relatives, and that accords with Jesus’ teaching.
This account conspicuously teaches that an unlawful marriage is a continuing sin before God and that the unlawful partners must separate. Unfortunately, most Christian denominations teach otherwise. They judge that yes, second marriages are wrong, but that the sin is only a one-time act of remarrying. According to them, the subsequent married state is not sin. Many divorced and remarried people within the church justify themselves in this way. John however, believed that being married contrary to the law was a continuing sin. John’s message was repentance – separate yourself and stop sinning. For telling Herod what he must do, John lost his head. Sometimes we avoid pointing out sin because of what it will cost us!
5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. 9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
While Herod Antipas was content to let John languish in prison, his new wife Herodias was not (Mark 6:19-20). She waited her time, determined to rid herself of this constant prick of guilt. Having her daughter dance sensually for Herod was apparently all part of Herodias’ plot to have the Baptist killed. Herod tried to postpone John’s death, but she found a way to deprive him of that option, “Give me here and now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” At some other time Herod could have agreed to John’s death but then delayed it indefinitely. But demanded in front of all his guests, Herod could not deny her request and still look kingly. He gave the wicked order.
John’s head was brought to the murderers on a platter. What a vicious, bloodthirsty mother! No trace of the attractive feminine traits of sympathy, kindness and love. Guilt should stimulate one to repentance and righteousness, but sometimes it leads to angry attempts to remove the object causing the guilt. The reason many atheists are not content to let Christians live the Bible way is because the Gospel life is a constant reminder of their guilt. There is no other reason they should antagonize a people of peace and goodwill! Nothing in history has been so benevolent and blessed to a nation as the true Kingdom of God, yet atheists are sadistically antagonistic to her. They cannot stand her truth and righteousness because it is a constant reminder of their guilt before God.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Did Jesus leave to escape Herod’s hand? Earlier when the Jews were plotting to kill Him, Jesus had also left quietly (Mat 12:14-15). Some of the mob were intent upon making Him their king (John 6:15) in the place of Herod, who had surely stirred their anger against Rome even more by killing the people’s prophet, John the Baptist (Luke 3:19-20). Herod even ventured that Jesus was John risen from the dead.
See Mark’s account for added details about Jesus going into a private place with His disciples (Mark 6:30-33). The twelve had recently returned from their mission and Jesus wanted some time alone with them. This event apparently took place on the shores of Galilee near the town of Bethsaida (John 6:1; Luke 9:10). Jesus travelled in a boat, but near enough to land that the people could follow Him on foot. The boat passed by seashore villages and the crowd of followers continued to expand with people curious to see and hear Jesus again. By the time Jesus had landed on the shore, the multitude had grown to 5000 men plus women and children.
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
When the disciples saw that the sun had begun to decline, they advised Jesus to send the multitude away to look for food in the surrounding villages. Jesus however, saw the people as sheep without a shepherd (Mat 9:36) and He looked upon them with compassion. Their spiritual leaders had led them so poorly; now they were wandering about without direction or understanding. Mark says that He taught them many things that day (Mark 6:34), though none of the Gospels give record of what He said. Looking upon that great expectant multitude, Jesus told His disciples, They need not depart; give YE them to eat.
The miracle of feeding the 5000 is found in all four Gospels. The parallel passages are in Luke 9:10-17, Mark 6:30-44 and John 6:5-14. Two of the Gospels (Matthew and Mark) record a separate miracle at which 4000 men were fed (Mark 8:1-9). By this we convinced that variances in the Gospel accounts are sometimes based in different events being related – the anointing of Jesus’ feet, for example. Skeptics have doubted this particular miracle more harshly than most other miracles that Jesus performed. And no wonder, for there is no possibility of sleight of hand tricks in it. To take five loaves of bread and multiply them unto feeding 5000 people requires “ex nihilo” creation. Only the Creator could work such a miracle.
One person, at least, had thought to bring along a lunch: a lad who had five barley loaves and two small fishes (John 6:8-9). These weren’t loaves of bread such as we might have today, but were probably thin, cracker-style bread. Imagine the story this young boy told his friends for years to come! Jesus took his lunch that day and multiplied it into 5000 lunches. Maybe there were others in the multitude with a little food too, but here was one who was willing to share. The story of the boy David volunteering to fight Goliath comes to mind.
The numbers in this account might teach us by their symbolic meanings elsewhere in the Word of God. Five is the number of God’s grace, two is the number of God’s choice and twelve is the number of God’s elect. God’s grace extended to those who He has chosen and who have accepted Him are transformed miraculously into the elect saints of God. In the next chapter, Jesus feeds four thousand men. See note on Mat 15:36 for a comparison of the symbolism in the two accounts.
Perhaps there is symbolism also in the way Jesus takes the bread, blesses it and gives to His disciples who then distribute to the multitude. How shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom 10:13-15). The bread of life is available to all. More is left over than what was there at the beginning.
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
We can only speculate why Jesus created this “alone” time for Himself, but it does speak to the importance of personal prayer and worship for all persons, maybe even more so for those in leadership positions. Notice that Jesus made sure His flock was cared for and that His workers were instructed for their task, and then He went up into a mountain apart to pray. It is a lesson for every pastor, minister and gospel worker that prayer and communion with God cannot be neglected.
Jesus may have constrained His disciples to leave without Him in order to disrupt the plans of the people to take Him by force and make him a king (John 6:15). Even the disciples were expecting Jesus to rise to the political throne of Israel and break the yoke of Herod, who had just killed their prophet. But this was not in line with God’s mission for the Messiah, so Jesus avoided their plans by dividing them and then slipping away.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
The parallel accounts are in Mark 6:47-51 and John 6:17-21. They are very similar except that Matthew alone describes Peter walking upon the water. The disciples had started out across the Sea of Galilee at dusk, toiling at the oars for most of the night before Jesus overtook them. The Romans divided the night into four watches: the first watch was 6-9PM, the second was 9-12AM, the third was 12-3AM, and the fourth was 3-6AM. The Jews, on the other hand, seem to have divided the night into three watches of four hours each (Judges 7:19; 1Sam 11:11). It was early in the morning when Jesus came walking on the water and the disciple had been rowing a long time against a stiff wind.
When they saw a figure on the water, the disciples thought it was a ghost. It seems that throughout history, men have thought that the spirits of the dead reappear in this world from time to time. Jesus did not identify Himself by name, but expected His disciples to recognize Him by voice (compare Acts 12:13-14). The disciples’ amazement quickly turned into a teaching lesson when Peter asked Jesus to help him walk on water too.
How often is our own experience like Peter’s! We step forward with a little faith, but when difficulties arise and dangers threaten, then we become afraid. Lord, save me! we cry. Faith is so important for God to work in our lives and this example helps to define Biblical faith: Peter heard, believed, accepted and obeyed, but he failed to trust. Some theologians define faith as nothing more than believing, but that is far too simplistic for the Biblical examples in Heb 11, for instance. The opposite of faith is also multi-faceted: Ignorance/disinterest, Unbelief/doubting, Rejection/rebellion, Disobedience/pride and Fear/discouragement. “Unfaith” was the sin of the children of Israel in the desert (Heb 3:12). They heard God, but rejected, disobeyed and mistrusted Him (Mat 13:58). An important part of Biblical faith is trust (Pro 3:5) and that was Peter’s error upon seeing the storm. He heard, believed and obeyed, but he failed to trust and persevere in faith. He became fearful and began to doubt. Then God’s power on his behalf began to disappear.
We wonder what to make of Peter’s question: Lord, if it be thou… Did he doubt it was Christ? No, but perhaps his words reveal just a little insecurity, a faint doubt, “If it is You, and You are willing and able…” We as Christians tend to do the same: “If it is Your will, then open the door.” When the door does open, we respond with an act of faith, perhaps with a little of Peter’s timidity too. We leave the safety of the boat and began to walk on the water! But then, feeling alone and threatened, we become distracted by the wind, the waves and the furious sea. Fears set in, worries about the future; we begin to waver – and suddenly we feel ourselves beginning to sink.
Life’s problems will always deepen when we get distracted from the battle and focus on ourselves! Our feelings, our concerns, our worries, our doubts. These distractions just grow worse as we stop looking outward and upward. Remember that Christ is our Rock of refuge and He has invited us to cast our cares upon Him (1Pet 5:7).
Little faith. The Greek gives the idea of a short-term faith that soon dies out. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus we will not be distracted by fears and doubts! The actual idea of walking on water first occurred to Peter, it wasn’t a command of Christ. That detail is often true in the Christian experience. We have an idea, a daring plan to do something for the Kingdom. So we petition God and we see the signs that He is saying, “Yes, go do it.” Remember the example of Peter and do not retreat under fears and strifes! A good work begun for the Kingdom of Heaven is sure to attract the attention of that Wicked, who will do all in his power to discourage and trouble the once enthusiastic intentions of good men and women.
The five aspects of faith must be present in the individual or else he does not possess a saving faith. Faith is the criteria by which God has chosen to redeem mankind (Eph 2:8), and it grows by stages (Rom 1:17; 2Pet 1:5) to maturity and completion (James 2:22; Eph 4:13; 1Thes 3:10). In its simplest definition, Faith is an active, unshakeable conviction to live by the Truth. The
- The five facets of the Faith (Rom 1:5; Jude 1:3) in the New Testament Scriptures:
- Acceptance of the Truth (Rom 10:9;).
- Greek variations of of pistis – faith:
- apistia, n: faithlessness, disobedience
- apisteo, v: unbelieving, disobey
- apistos, adj: disbelieving, untrustworthy, heathen
- pistis, n: trust, be persuaded
- pisteuo, v: to trust, be convinced
- pistikos, adj: trustworthy, authentic
- pistos, adj: trustworthy, trusting
- pistoo, v: to assure
34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
John says the disciples headed for Capernaum (John 6:17), while Mark says it was Bethsaida (Mark 6:45) in the land of Gennesaret (Mark 6:53). Bethsaida and Capernaum were just a few miles apart. Luke says the miracle of feeding the 5000 was near to Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). The miracles of chapter 9 had taken place in this region and Jesus was very well-received by the people there. The overflowing power of Christ is demonstrated by the sick being healed only by touching His clothes.