Matthew 14:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

NIV: When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

NASB: When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

CSB: When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

NLT: Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

KJV: And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

NKJV: And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Jesus has travelled with His disciples by boat for the specific purpose of getting away from the ever-present crowds of people wanting to be healed and to hear His teaching. The people figured out where Jesus was headed and ran along the shore on foot to be in Bethsaida when He arrived. Bethsaida was on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee.

How would Jesus respond? It would seem reasonable to us and, perhaps to the disciples, that Jesus would find another way to escape the demanding crowds. Perhaps they could sail on to another lonely place. After all, that's why they left Capernaum.

Jesus, though, seeing the great crowd waiting for Him on shore is filled with compassion. Paul described Jesus as the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). He shows us what God the Father is like. Jesus reveals in this moment and countless others that God is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction" (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). Jesus had come, in part, to minister to Israel, and here were the people of Israel waiting for Him. He would not turn them away, no matter how great His desire to be alone by Himself.

Matthew 14:13–21 begins with Jesus and His disciples leaving behind the crowds to escape by boat to desolate place. Instead, they find the crowds waiting there for them. Jesus heals people and eventually tells the disciples to feed everyone. The disciples have no food beyond five loaves and two fish. Jesus miraculously feeds more than 5,000 from that simple meal. Twelve baskets full of leftovers remain after everyone has eaten as much as they want. This miracle is recorded in all the four Gospels (Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14).

Matthew 14 begins with a backstory about the arrest and execution of John the Baptist by Herod the tetrarch, the Jewish ruler of the region. Jesus and the disciples take a boat to a desolate place only to find crowds waiting. Jesus heals many and then feeds as many as twenty thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Later, the disciples row against a strong wind until Jesus walks on the water to meet them and calm the wind. Peter walks on water briefly and then doubts and begins to sink. The disciples worship Jesus. On the other side of the lake, Jesus continues to heal the sick.

Matthew 13 included more of Jesus' parables and an unfortunate incident where His own hometown rejected His ministry. Chapter 14 begins with news that Herod the tetrarch—the man who killed John the Baptist—is aware of Jesus' fame and power. Jesus and the disciples intend to withdraw to somewhere desolate, but a crowd is waiting for them. Jesus heals people, miraculously feeds thousands, and walks on water. When they reach the other side, Jesus heals more people. Chapter 15 sees Jesus once again debating with His critics and performing more healings.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.