Matthew Episodes

Tuesday, 2 December 2025 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:29 “And He said, ‘You come!’ And having descended from the boat, Peter, he walked upon the waters to come unto Jesus” (CG). In the previous verse, Peter emphatically challenged Jesus that if it was Him, to command Peter also to come to Him on the waters. In response, we read Matthew’s continued words, “And He said, ‘You come!’” The response is immediate...

Monday, 1 December 2025 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Matthew 14:28 “And having answered Him, Peter, he said, ‘Lord, if You – You are – You command me to come to You upon the waters’” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus called out to the disciples on the boat to be emboldened, for He is! He implored them not to fear. In response to this, the impetuous Peter needs evidence of what his eyes see. Therefore, Matthew records, “And hav...

Sunday, 30 November 2025 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 “And immediately, Jesus, He spoke to them, saying, ‘You embolden! I, I am! You fear not!’” (CG). In the previous verse, the disciples in the boat cried out because they thought they were seeing a phantasm as Jesus walked on the water. With that noted, Matthew next says, “And immediately, Jesus, He spoke to them.” In hearing the voice, there would be an immediate ...

Saturday, 29 November 2025 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. Matthew 14:26 “And the disciples, having seen Him walking upon the sea, they were agitated, saying that it is a phantasm. And from fear, they croaked” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that Jesus walked on the sea to get to the disciples who were in the boat. Continuing that thought, Matthew next records, “And the disciples, having see...

Friday, 28 November 2025 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25 “And the night’s fourth guarding, Jesus, He departed unto them, walking upon the sea” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that the boat the disciples were in was in the middle of the sea, being tossed by the waves. Next, Matthew records some of the most incredible words imaginable, beginning with, “And the night’s fourth guarding.” It is the same word, phulaké, found in M...

Thursday, 27 November 2025 But the boat was now [b]in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Matthew 14:24 “And the boat: already it was amidst the sea being tormented by the waves, for the wind, it was contrary” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus dismissed the multitudes and then went up on the mountain alone and prayed alone. Matthew next says, “And the boat, already it was amidst the sea.” In John’s gospel, he records that the boat was about 25 or 30 stadia...

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. Matthew 14:23 “And having dismissed the crowds, He ascended to the mountain, off alone, to pray. And evening, having arrived, He was there solo” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus compelled the disciples to get in the boat and cross to the other side while He dismissed the crowds. Next, Matthew records, “And having dismissed the crowds...

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. Matthew 14:22 “And immediately, Jesus, He compelled His disciples to in-step into the boat and precede Him to the beyond until which He dismissed the crowds” (CG). The previous verse noted that those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Now that the meal was over, it next says, “And immediately, Jesus, He co...

Monday, 24 November 2025 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:21 “And those eating, they were about five thousand men, besides women and children” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that all the people present ate, were gorged, and they collected twelve baskets of pieces that were left over. Matthew next records, “And those eating, they were about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Each gospel narrative notes the num...

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Dove in the Distant Oak.” A miktam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. 1 God, be merciful to me because people are chasing me. The battle has pressed me all day long. 2 My enemies have chased me all day. There are many of them fighting me. 3 When I am afraid, I will trust you. 4 I praise God for his word. I trust God. So I am not afraid. What can human beings do to me? 5 All day long they twist my words. All their evil plans are agai...

Sunday, 23 November 2025 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Matthew 14:20 “And they ate all, and they gorged, and they lifted the superabounding pieces – twelve handbaskets full” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus prayed over the bread and fish and gave them to the disciples. They, in turn, gave to the multitudes. Now, after the people were satisfied, it says, “And they ate all, and they gorged.” It is an amazing sentiment. F...

Saturday, 22 November 2025 Then 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, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. Matthew 14:19 “And having commanded the crowds to recline upon the grass, having taken the five loaves and the two fish, having up-looked to the heaven, He blessed, and having broken, He gave to the disciples the loaves, and the disciples ...

Friday, 21 November 2025 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Matthew 14:18 “And He said, ‘You carry to Me here – them.’” (CG). In the previous verse, the disciples said to Jesus that they only had five loaves and two fish. Matthew next records, “And He said, ‘You carry to Me here – them.’” These words are only found in Matthew. Elsewhere, it notes that these were carried by a young boy and were comprised of five loaves of barley along with the two small fish. Notice how Jesus rephrases their w...

Thursday, 20 November 2025 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” Matthew 14:17 “And they, they say to Him, ‘Not we have here, if not five loaves and two fish’” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that the great crowd did not need to go away. Instead, He instructed the disciples to give them something to eat. In response to that, we read, “And they, they say to Him, ‘Not we have here.’” The way they began their statement tells us the disciples’ ...

Wednesday, 19 November 2025 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16 “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘They have no need to depart. You, you give, them to eat’” (CG). In the previous verse, the disciples came to Jesus, noting the remoteness of the area and the late hour, imploring Him to send the people away so they could buy food. In response to that, it now says, “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘They have no need to depart.’” Although ea...

Tuesday, 18 November 2025 When 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.” Matthew 14:15 “And evening having come, they came to Him, His disciples, saying, ‘Desolate, it is, this place, and the hour, it passed already. You dismiss the crowds that, having departed into the villages, they should buy themselves food’” (CG). In the previous verse, ...

Monday, 17 November 2025 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 “And Jesus, having withdrawn, He saw a great crowd, and He gut-wrenched upon them and He cured their sick” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus, having heard the news about Herod, withdrew in a boat from where He was to a desolate place. At the same time, the crowds followed him on foot. Next, it says, “And Jesus, having withdrawn.” The most...

Sunday, 16 November 2025 When 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. Matthew 14:13 “And Jesus, having heard, He withdrew thence in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. And the crowds, having heard, they followed Him afoot from the cities” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that John the Immerser’s disciples came to retrieve his body and bury it. They then went and told...

Saturday, 15 November 2025 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:12 “And his disciples, having come, they lifted the body and they interred it. And having come, they told Jesus” (CG). In the previous verse, John’s head was brought to Herodias’ daughter on a platter. From there, she took it to her mother. With that noted, it next says, “And his disciples.” This refers not to Jesus’ disciples but John’s. They probably tended to John w...

Friday, 14 November 2025 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Matthew 14:11 “And his head, it was carried upon a platter, and it was given to the damsel, and she carried to her mother” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that Herod sent and he beheaded John in prison. It next says, “And his head, it was borne upon a platter.” The word pheró, to bear, is introduced here. HELPS Word Studies says, “properly, to bear, carry (bring) ...

Thursday, 13 November 2025 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. Matthew 14:10 “And, having sent, he beheaded John in the prison” (CG). In the previous verse, despite being grieved, Herod commanded that what Herodias’ daughter asked for was to be given to her. Because of that, it next says, “And, having sent, he beheaded John in the prison.” The word apokephalizó, to decapitate or behead, is first seen here. It is from apo, from or away, and kephalé, head. The meaning is clear. A separ...

Wednesday, 12 November 2025 And 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. Matthew 14:9 “And grieved, the king, but through the oaths and those co-reclining, he commanded it given” (CG). In the previous verse, Herodias’ daughter made her petition to Herod to give her the head of John the Immerser on a platter. In response, Matthew records, “And grieved, the king.” A new word is seen, lupeó. It signifies di...

Tuesday, 11 November 2025 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” Matthew 14:8 “And having been instigated by her mother, she says, ‘You give me here upon a platter the head of John the Immerser’” (CG). In the previous verse, Herod offered by oath whatever Herodias’ daughter asked for. With his offer made, it next says, “And having been instigated by her mother.” A new word, found only here in the New Testament, is seen, probibaz...

Monday, 10 November 2025 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Matthew 14:7 “Whence with an oath He assented to give her what if she should ask” (CG). In the previous verse, it was noted that Herod had a birthday celebration and that Herodias’ daughter danced for him, pleasing him. Matthew continues the narrative, saying, “Whence with an oath He assented to give her what if she should ask.” The word that confirms the oath is homologeó, to assent. It signifies...