THE HOLIESTCommentaries on St. Matthew
Tablet Twenty-Three
Chapter 14
"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Esa,""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."
"For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias sake, his brother Philip's wife."
"For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her."
"And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet."
"But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod."
"Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask."
"And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger."
"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."
"And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison."
"And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother."
"And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Esa." (Matthew 14:1-12)
<1>John the Baptist told Herod that he should not marry his brother's wife. Herod became angry because of that and put him in prison. But because he was afraid of people who thought John was a Prophet, he did not kill him. <2>He did not kill him because he was afraid of God!
<3>But at a birthday party, and most probably in a drunken state, he promised to give anything that the daughter of Herodias asked. When she asked for the head of John, he did not use his common sense to refuse such a cruel request, but again because of the people who heard his oath, he ordered John to be beheaded. <4>He did not fear God but men!
"When Esa heard of it, he departed thence by ship unto a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.""And Esa went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." (Matthew 14:13-14)
<5>Esa went away after he heard that John was beheaded. A great multitude followed him!
"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.""But Esa said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat."
"And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes."
"He said, Bring them hither to me."
"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."
"And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full."
"And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children." (Matthew 14:15-21)
<6>Esa fed a great multitude in a miraculous way (by hidden manna).
"And straightway Esa constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.""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." (Matthew 14:22-23)
<7>To go to a place of solitude and to be alone to pray and meditate is a requirement for those who want to elevate their Souls and become close to the Lord.
"But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary." (Matthew 14:24)
<8>To be in the ship (a safe place) in the middle of turbulent water (water is a symbol for manifested consciousness or mind) means being safe from Maya (turbulent water or consciousness), <9>but still afraid (or a possibility) of being drowned in it.
"And in the fourth watch of the night Esa went unto them, walking on the sea." (Matthew 14:25)
<10>But Esa did not need a ship to stay above the turbulent consciousness or Maya. He was beyond it, in Pure Consciousness.
"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.""But straightway Esa spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." (Matthew 14:26-27)
<11>People usually become afraid of a realized person, because he seems so different from them. <12>Also they feel guilt in the presence of such a pure person.
"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." (Matthew 14:28)
<13>Peter desired to become like Christ.
"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Esa." (Matthew 14:29)
<14>Because he trusted Esa and gave up his fear, he came out of his shelter (the ship) and was able to stay above the water (turbulent consciousness, mind).
"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:30)
<15>But when he saw the wind (the power of attraction, desires, attachment, and greed, the four winds) he lost his one-pointedness (faith) and started to sink into the ocean of Maya. <16>He cried for the help of the Lord, "Lord, save me."
"And immediately Esa stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31)
<17>The slightest doubt puts you millions of miles away from the Lord. That is when faith weakens, and you will be drowned in the world. But if you truly ask for help, you will be saved.
"And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.""Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God." (Matthew 14:32-33)
<18>They were more impressed by his miracles than his teachings. However, they realized he was "the Son of God."
"And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.""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;"
"And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole." (Matthew 14:34-36)
<19>The people of this land were more interested in his healing powers than his teachings, so he only healed them.