Matthew 14:2  “…he is risen from the dead…”
Guilty conscience.  If he’d been paying attention, he would have known about Jesus.  But that’s the problem when you’re so absorbed with yourself.

8  “…having been prompted by her mother…”
The woman was as evil as Herod.  She saw a way to remove the bothersome John since her current husband was afraid to kill him.  I couldn’t find it in the commentaries, but I wonder if Herod and Herodias are both titles of a sort, like the Pharaohs of Egypt.  Herod the title of whoever is king and Herodias as his consort.  Would make some sense, but just speculation on my part until I can find any confirmation.  Finally found a reference saying Herodias was the female form of the ruling royal family name during the time of Jesus, Herod.  She was the granddaughter of Herod the Great and thus a relative of the men she married, niece I think.  Can’t find any mention of her given name, only the title.  It was unlawful for Herod Antipas to have her as she was his brother’s wife and also a close familial member, the daughter of another brother.

13  “When Jesus heard it, He departed from there…”
I’m sure John would have meant much to Jesus were he just the forerunner, but he was also Jesus’s cousin.  As a man He would have experienced the loss of a close family member.

14  “…He was moved with compassion for them…”
Even in His own grief, He expended Himself for others.

18-21  “…five loaves and two fish…they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments…five thousand men, besides women and children”
Will happen again with seven loaves.  This one fed easily ten thousand.

23  “…He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray…”
Where He started when the crowds showed up before.  He still needed some time alone with the Father and to grieve.  We must remember that in ministry.  If Jesus took time to rest, relax, and recharge, then we certainly must.

25  “…the fourth watch of the night…”
Commentaries say this was probably between 3 and 6 am.  Roman method of dividing the night into watches.  The early dawn hours would have provided enough light for the disciples to see Jesus.

29  “…when Peter had come down out of the boat…”
Many are critical of Peter’s apparent lack of faith in taking his eyes off Jesus and beginning to sink.  But Peter was the only disciple to get out of the boat.  He got out with only a word from a figure claiming to be Jesus.  Yes, his faith wavered, but getting out took a lot.  He also knew where to call when he got into trouble.

31  “…immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him…”
I like the fact that Jesus didn’t wait for some dramatic effect.  He didn’t let Peter submerge or swallow any water.  He reached out and caught him as soon as Peter cried out.

32  “…when they got into the boat, the wind ceased”
Yet another miracle.  Makes you wonder if the contrary wind was just there for the disciples’ sake and left when He no longer needed it.

34  “…the land of Gennesaret”
Commentary says this was a section along the western coast of the Sea of Galilee and contained Capernaum.

35-36  “…they sent out into all that surrounding region…begged Him that they might only touch the hem…”
They knew who He was and what He could do.  Their faith and compassion for others is amazing.  They immediately sent out for all who were sick, and they knew they only need touch His garment to be made well.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.