“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist.’ See the power of conscience! He is miserable because he is guilty; being continually under the dominion of self-accusation, reproach, and remorse. No need for the Baptist now: conscience performs the office of ten thousand accusers! But, to complete the misery, a guilty conscience offers no relief from God - points out no salvation from sin.— ‘he is risen from the dead’ - From this we may observe: that the resurrection of the dead was a common opinion among the Jews; and that the materiality of the soul made no part of Herod's creed.— ’and therefore these powers are at work in him.’ (1-2) Bad... as he was it was not deemed by him a thing impossible with God to raise the dead.” (Adam Clarke)
Click link to the next study in my sequential chapter study through the Gospel of Matthew. https://www.mymorningmanna.com/post/matthew-15
"’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. Because John had said to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. And when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.’ 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. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother." "Herod stands with his kingdom and abomination for the world, the prince of this age, and his persecutions. The record is put in here to show that during the absence of the King, the world will hate and persecute those who are of the Truth, but it carries us on to the end likewise, when a false king will rule once more -- the Antichrist; typified by Herod." (Arno Gaebelein) "Then His disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.” (3-12) That is what John would have wanted.
“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. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 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.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ And they said to Him, ‘We have here only five loaves and two fish.’ He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’ 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, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (13-21) )“Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves of bread is reminiscent of Moses’ giving the Israelites manna (Exodus 16). The strength of Mosaic imagery here lies not in any specific linguistic parallels40 but solely in the nature of the miracle itself, viz., the supernatural appearance of bread. The miracle of manna (which God called “bread from heaven” [Exod 16:4]), was forever etched in the hearts of Jews (cf. Ps 78:23–25; 105:40; Neh 9:15; John6:14, 31). It is clear from John’s account of the feeding that when the multitudes saw the miraculous multiplication of loaves they immediately connected it with Moses’ manna miracle: “Therefore, when the people saw the sign he did, they said, ‘Truly this is the prophet who is to come into the world’” (John 6:14). [41— Cf. Eccles. Rab. 1:28: ‘As the former redeemer caused manna to descend ... so will the latter redeemer cause manna to descend.’] While Matthew’s account is not as starkly Mosaic in its presentation, the miracle itself is enough to elicit thoughts of the former redeemer [42— Surely if Jesus miraculously provided quail instead of bread, thoughts of Moses would not be far behind.].” (Mosaic Imagery In The Gospel Of Matthew by Wayne S. Baxter) --“’And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples.’ “The description recalls the Last Supper [which recalls the Passover] of which this miracle is a premonition…. “‘And the disciples gave to the multitudes.” This points out the duty of the Twelve, and of the ministry in general.” (Schaff's Popular Comm.)
“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (22-27) Water is an emblem of the first death in the Bible. “For that reason many great Old Testament stories … the Creation narratives, the story of Noah and the ark, Jonah’s encounter with a great fish, and, of course, the deliverance of the people of Israel from captivity in Egypt by passing through the Red Sea … are all set in the context of a struggle with water. God is seen as the power that delivers people from chaos and destruction, forces identified with the Deep.” (The Rev. Roy Almquist)
“And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!‘ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt’ Here is an instance of the characteristic ardor and rashness of Peter. He had less real faith than he supposed, and more ardor than his faith would justify. He was rash, headlong, incautious, really attached to Jesus, but still easily daunted and prone to fall. He was afraid, therefore, when in danger, and, sinking, cried again for help. Thus he was suffered to learn his own character, and his dependence on Jesus: a lesson which all Christians are permitted sooner or later to learn by dear-bought experience. "And when they were come into the ship the wind ceased. And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’” (28-33) "He that has power over winds and waves has all power.” (Albert Barnes)
“‘When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.’ (34-36) Jesus is that blessed antitype of the serpent in the the wilderness. . (John 3:14-17) “Oh, for grace to eye Christ, in the several blessed views here given of Him; in feeding and supporting His people, and healing all their diseases, Precious Lord Jesus! do Thou manifest Thyself to my poor soul under that endearing character, as, Jehovah Rophe, the Lord that healeth the people.” (Robert Hawker)
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