Bible Chapter Summary
Matthew 14 Summary
John's Death and Feeding the Five Thousand
Herod the tetrarch, hearing of Jesus's fame, believes he is John the Baptist risen from the dead. The text recounts John's imprisonment for rebuking Herod over Herodias and John's beheading when Herod's daughter dances before him on his birthday. After learning of John's death, Jesus withdraws to a desert place, but the multitudes follow him. He heals their sick, and when evening comes, his disciples ask him to send them away to buy food, but Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, with twelve baskets remaining.
Key themes
Key verses
Matthew 14:3-11
“For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.”
Matthew 14:14
“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
Matthew 14:19-21
“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.”
Matthew 14:25-33
“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.”
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