Matthew Chapter 14
Showing all 36 verses for Matthew Chapter 14.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, "
"News about Jesus's growing fame reached Herod Antipas, the local ruler of the region."
"My words and actions were becoming known even to those in power. Living truthfully means your life eventually gets noticed - don't let that intimidate you into hiding who you are."
"And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. "
"Herod told his officials he believed Jesus was John the Baptist, raised from the dead, which was why he could do such powerful things."
"Herod's fear was really his own guilt talking. Facing what you've done is always better than letting it haunt every new thing you see."
"For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. "
"Herod had earlier arrested John, chained him up, and put him in prison because of Herodias, who was his brother Philip's wife."
"John challenged a king's private life because it was wrong, whatever the risk. Speaking honestly about right and wrong shouldn't bend just because someone has power over you."
"For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. "
"John had told Herod directly that it was not lawful for him to have Herodias as his wife."
"I want you to know that truth doesn't change depending on who's listening. Say what's right calmly and clearly, even to someone who could make your life hard for it."
"And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. "
"Herod wanted to have John killed but was afraid to, because the crowds regarded John as a genuine prophet."
"Herod held back only from fear of what people thought, not from love of what was right. I want your goodness to come from within, not from fear of being watched."
"But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. "
"At Herod's birthday celebration, Herodias's daughter danced in front of the guests and delighted Herod."
"A moment of delight at a party set something terrible in motion. Watch how easily good judgement slips when you're caught up in wanting to look impressive in front of others."
"Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. "
"Herod was so pleased that he swore an oath to give the girl whatever she asked for."
"Herod's foolish oath, made to impress a room, set in motion something he couldn't take back. Think before you make big promises just to look good in front of others."
"And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. "
"Prompted by her mother, the girl asked Jesus for John the Baptist's head on a platter."
"A mother's grudge was carried out through her own child. Be careful never to use someone you love as the instrument of your own bitterness."
"And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. "
"The king was sorry, but because of his oath and his guests watching, he ordered it to be done anyway."
"I knew he was sorry even as he gave the order - he just cared more about appearances than about doing right. Don't let the fear of embarrassment push you into something you already know is wrong."
"And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. "
"Herod sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison."
"John gave his life for telling the truth. His death reminds you that living honestly can cost something real - but it's never wasted, even when it looks like defeat."
"And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. "
"John's head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother."
"A human life was treated as a party favour. Never let entertainment, status, or convenience numb you to the value of a single person's life."
"And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. "
"John's disciples came, took his body, buried it, and then went and told Jesus what had happened."
"John's friends honoured him in death even though they couldn't save him in life. When someone you love is gone, showing up to care for what's left is itself an act of love."
"When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. "
"When Jesus heard the news, he took a boat to a remote, quiet place alone - but the crowds heard and followed him on foot from the towns."
"I needed a quiet moment after losing someone close to me, and people still found me needing help. It's fine to need space to grieve - but don't let grief close your heart entirely to those who need you."
"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. "
"Jesus came out, saw the huge crowd, felt deep compassion for them, and healed the sick among them."
"Even carrying my own grief, I looked at that crowd and felt compassion, not annoyance. Caring for others doesn't require you to have nothing left yourself."
"And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. "
"As evening came, the disciples suggested Jesus send the crowd off to the villages to buy their own food, since it was a remote place."
"My friends wanted to send the problem away rather than deal with it. Sometimes the easiest response to someone's need is to pass it on - consider what it looks like to meet it yourself instead."
"But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. "
"Jesus told the disciples the crowd didn't need to leave - they themselves should feed the people."
"I told my friends to do the giving themselves, not to outsource it. I still ask you to be the one who acts, even when what you have feels nowhere near enough."
"And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. "
"The disciples said all they had was five loaves of bread and two fish."
"All they had was five loaves and two fish - almost nothing against thousands. Whatever little you're starting with, it's never too small a starting point."
"He said, Bring them hither to me. "
"Jesus told them to bring the loaves and fish to him."
"Bring me what little you have; that's all I ever ask as a starting point."
"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. "
"Jesus had the crowd sit on the grass, took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to the disciples, who gave it to the people."
"I gave thanks before I could see it would be enough. Practise gratitude for what you have now, and notice how it grows the more freely you share it."
"And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. "
"Everyone ate until they were full, and the leftovers filled twelve baskets."
"There was more left over than we started with. Give freely from what little you have, and don't be surprised if it turns out to be more than enough."
"And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. "
"About five thousand men had eaten, not counting the women and children also present."
"The real number fed that day was far bigger than the headline count. What I give reaches further than you might first realise - don't underestimate its reach."
"And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. "
"Jesus immediately made his disciples get into a boat and go ahead of him while he sent the crowd home."
"I sent my friends on ahead so I could have that space. However busy you are, you're allowed to arrange time alone when you need it."
"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. "
"After sending the crowds away, Jesus went up a mountain alone to pray, staying there into the evening."
"After giving everything to that crowd, I went alone to pray. However drained you feel, make space to be still and reconnect with what grounds you - it's not selfish, it's necessary."
"But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. "
"Meanwhile the boat was far out on the water, being battered by waves because the wind was blowing against them."
"My friends were caught in a storm while I wasn't visibly with them. Struggling against something bigger than you doesn't mean you've been abandoned."
"And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. "
"Very early in the morning, Jesus came towards the disciples, walking on the surface of the water."
"I came to them in the middle of the storm, not after it had passed. I don't wait for your hardest moments to be over before showing up - I meet you inside them."
"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. "
"When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified, thinking he was a ghost, and cried out in fear."
"They were so afraid they mistook me, coming to help, for something to fear. When you're already scared, be careful not to assume the worst about what's approaching you."
"But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. "
"Jesus immediately spoke to reassure them: take courage, it's me, don't be afraid."
"I told them plainly: it's me, don't be afraid. Recognising that I'm present with you, even in chaos, is enough to loosen fear's grip."
"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. "
"Peter called out, asking Jesus, if it was really him, to tell him to come to him on the water."
"Peter wanted to come to me, out of the boat, into the impossible. That kind of bold faith - stepping towards me even into uncertainty - is exactly what I welcome."
"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. "
"Jesus said "Come," and Peter climbed out of the boat and actually walked on the water towards him."
"For a moment, Peter did the impossible because his eyes were fixed on me. Focus on what's true and trustworthy instead of the danger around you, and you can do more than you think."
"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. "
"When Peter noticed how strong the wind was, he got scared, started sinking, and cried out, "Lord, save me.""
"The moment Peter looked at the wind instead of at me, he began to sink. When fear creeps back in, what matters is that you still cry out rather than give up."
"And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? "
"Jesus immediately reached out, caught Peter, and asked him why he had so little faith and had doubted."
"I caught him before he went under, and only then asked why he doubted. I will always reach for you first - the question of why can come after, not as a condition of my help."
"And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. "
"As soon as they got back into the boat, the wind stopped."
"The wind stopped the moment I was back with them. Peace often follows not from the danger disappearing on its own, but from staying close to what you trust."
"Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. "
"Everyone in the boat worshipped Jesus, saying, "You really are the Son of God.""
"After that storm, they finally saw clearly who I am. Sometimes it takes going through real fear and being rescued to understand deep down who or what you can actually trust."
"And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. "
"They crossed the lake and came to land at Gennesaret."
"After the storm and the miracle, we simply landed and carried on. Even extraordinary experiences are followed by ordinary next steps."
"And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; "
"When the local people recognised Jesus, they sent word through the whole area and brought all the sick to him."
"As soon as people recognised who I was, they brought their sick to me without hesitation. Don't wait to bring the people you care about, or your own need, into the light."
"And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. "
"People begged just to touch the edge of Jesus's clothing, and everyone who touched it was made completely well."
"People just needed to reach out and touch even the edge of what I wore, and they were made whole. You don't need grand gestures to find help - sometimes the smallest reach towards what's good is enough."