Matthew 14 and 2 Chronicles

Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 14 and 2 Chronicles

For BibleInTen.com  By DH, 9th December 2025

Welcome back to Bible in Ten!

In the last episode, we explored how every event in Matthew 14 functions as a living re-enactment of the entire history of Israel. Building on the astounding groundwork laid in the previous commentary - where CG showed how Israel’s past and future are woven typologically and chronologically into Matthew’s narrative - we now turn to yet another beautiful structural pattern in Scripture.

Matthew’s Gospel contains 28 chapters, and remarkably, it mirrors the first 28 books of the Old Testament as arranged in the Christian Bible.

So in this episode, having concluded our walk through Matthew 14, we’ll now look at its fascinating counterpart: Book 14 of the Old Testament, 2 Chronicles.

The Gospel of Matthew has been recognised for its deep structural connection to the Old Testament, and one striking pattern is how each chapter of Matthew echoes themes found in the corresponding book from the Old Testament.

Superior Scholars of the Word like Charlie Garret from the Superior Word have explained this pattern before.    Check out the episode linked in the description “the book of Matthew an introduction part 2 a” https://www.bibleinten.com/the-book-of-matthew-an-introduction-part-iia/  

As book 1, Genesis introduces origins and genealogies, Matthew 1 opens with the genealogy of Christ. As book 2, Exodus recounts Israel’s deliverance and early threats against God’s chosen deliverer, Matthew 2 presents Jesus’ birth, the flight into Egypt, and Herod’s murderous rage. This pattern continues throughout the Gospel, with Matthew’s chapters reflecting, summarizing, or re-framing the major themes of each Old Testament book.   So that the readers of the Old Testament have another source of proof to consider when evaluating the authority of the New Testament.   God certainly is not through with the Jew!

Whether or not Matthew intended this one-to-one mapping seems unlikely but, All Scripture is God breathed and so we can say God did intend them!   Furthermore we can therefore gain further confidence in book order and authority of the Scriptures as presented in the Christian Bible. The parallels are rich and unmistakable, showing Jesus as the fulfillment, continuation, and climax of Israel’s story from Genesis to 2nd Chronicles.

And the parallels are stunning.

• Parallel 1 - Sound advice is rejected.   (2 Ch. 10)
• Parallel 2 - Death Ends an Era    (2 Ch. 11)
• Parallel 3 - The people enter wilderness/exile.  (2 Ch. 12)
• Parallel 4 - God remains faithful.   (2 Ch 21)
• Parallel 5 - Out of Control and under threat.  (2 Chr 36)
• Parallel 6 - Restoration under a new leader (2 Chr 36:22-23)

Now let us consider how every one of these six steps reappears in the same sequence in Matthew 14.

Rehoboam rejects the counsel of the elders.      IN 2 Chronicles 10:6-8  (ICB)

6 There were some elders who had helped Solomon make decisions during his lifetime. So King Rehoboam asked them what he should do. He said, “How do you think I should answer these people?”

7 They answered, “Be kind to these people. Please them and give them a kind answer. If you do, they will serve you always.”

8 But Rehoboam did not listen to the advice the elders gave him. 

Herod plays a similar role.  He rejects John the Baptist, the final prophet under the Law.  Matthew 14 opens with the murder of the prophet

After Solomon’s death, the kingdom fractures. Rehoboam wants to fight and restore unity, but God says:

“You shall not go up or fight against your brothers…
for this thing is from Me.”  2 Chronicles 11:4

At this moment where God:

• cuts off the northern tribes from the Davidic monarchy,
  
• ends the united kingdom,
  
• begins a new era: Judah and Israel now separated.

John the Baptist’s death signals the end of the old covenant era.
The Law and the Prophets are closing; the Messiah’s ministry moves into a new phase.

Just as Solomon’s death closed an age, John’s death announces another ending—and a new beginning.

Israel repeatedly enters “wilderness experiences”: exile, loss, scattering and yet God preserves them and promises restoration.

Israel abandons God (12:1).
God sends Shishak of Egypt to strip them of security (12:2-4).
A prophet says:
“You have abandoned Me; therefore I have abandoned you.” (12:5)
Judah is thrown into deep distress  - a wilderness-like, spiritual low point.
They humble themselves (12:6).
God responds with partial deliverance, not destruction (12:7-8).

Immediately after John’s death, the people follow Jesus into a desolate place.

Here,

• a remnant gathers,
• they receive teaching,
• they are fed miraculously.

Like Chronicles, in the wilderness is the place where God uses to reset the story.

God preserves a remnant who will return and rebuild.  
“Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David,  because of the covenant”   2 Chronicles 21:7

Jesus feeds the remnant in the wilderness:
5 loaves → God’s grace
Bread in the wilderness → Jesus the Bread of Life
12 baskets of Leftovers → abundance for the true Israel

Both narratives insist: Israel is not destroyed; God preserves His people.  God is not finished with Israel.   “All Israel will be Saved” after the Church Age has finished (Romans Chapter 9-11 & the entire book of Revelation)

The exile is described as being:

• Scattered,   2 Chronicles 36:19-20 (implied scattering through destruction and captivity)
  
  
• under threat,
  
  
• carried far away,   

“He carried into exile to Babylon those who had escaped from the sword…”

2 Chronicles 36:20

• yet preserved,    2 Chronicles 36:21

 “The land enjoyed its sabbath rests… until the seventy years were completed…”   This verse shows God’s intentional preservation of His plan, His land, and His people during exile.

• and finally brought home by God (2 Chr 36:23).
  
  

The disciples - symbolizing Israel - enter a boat and are:

• tossed by waves,
  
• in danger,
  
• alone in the night,
  
• visited by their God,
  
• saved by His hand,
  
• and brought safely to the other shore.
  
  

This exile-and-return is played out on the Sea of Galilee.

With the physical visitation of Jesus the God marking this encounter of added signficance.

Peter’s rescue mirrors the believers individual walk:
Beginning with faith in Jesus the Lord, then failing to keep our eyes on Jesus, sinking, crying out and saved.

• A new ruler: Cyrus
  
• A new beginning
  
• A return to the land
  
• A restoration of worship
  
  

• Recognition that Jesus is the God
  
• Safe arrival in Gennesaret “Princely Garden” - a fore shadow of the Renewed Kingdom of the Lord to come
  
• Healing, restoration, and grace
  
• Israel symbolically entering the promise of a renewed covenant
  
  

Jesus is greater than Cyrus, His arrival on this land not only blessed the people in the land at the time, but it also symbolises his own future return which brings an infinitely greater restoration, when Jesus the Lord returns and the curse on the earth is reversed!

The cohesion between 2 Chronicles and Matthew 14 reinforces typological assertions in the previous episode to be valid, correct and intentional.

Matthew 14 isn’t just a miracle chapter, or a super exciting day in the life of Jesus as it has most often been presented in sunday school but It’s Israel’s salvation history - from Israel leader rejection to Israel people exile, preservation and individual salvation offer and final restoration - retold through Jesus in a magnificent way.

2 Chronicles closes the Old Testament storyline.
Matthew 14 shows Jesus stepping into that story as its fulfillment.

He is the Prophet rejected,
the God who walks on the sea,
the Savior who brings His people home.