Matthew 14

Present Response to Jesus

Mark 6:14–16; Luke 9:7–9

14At that time ^aHerod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus ²and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

Recount of the Murder of John the Baptist

Mark 6:17–29

^3bFor Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. ⁴Because John had said to him, ^c“It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, ^dbecause they counted him as a prophet.

⁶But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. ⁷Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

⁸So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”

⁹And 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. ¹⁰So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. ¹¹And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. ¹²Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds 5,000

Mark 6:31–44; Luke 9:11–17; John 6:1–13

^13eWhen 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. ¹⁴And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He ^fwas moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. ^15gWhen 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.”

¹⁶But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

¹⁸He said, “Bring them here to Me.” ¹⁹Then 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, ^hHe blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. ²⁰So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. ²¹Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water

Mark 6:45–52; John 6:14–21

²²Immediately Jesus ¹made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. ²³ⁱAnd when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. ^jNow when evening came, He was alone there. ²⁴But the boat was now ²in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

²⁵Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶And when the disciples saw Him ^kwalking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ³“Be of good ^lcheer! ⁴It is I; do not be afraid.”

²⁸And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

²⁹So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw ⁵that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

³¹And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of ^mlittle faith, why did you doubt?” ³²And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

³³Then those who were in the boat ⁶came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly ⁿYou are the Son of God.”

Jesus Heals Many

Mark 6:53–56

^34oWhen they had crossed over, they came ⁷to the land of Gennesaret. ³⁵And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, ³⁶and begged Him that they might only ^ptouch the hem of His garment. And ^qas many as touched it were made perfectly well.