Matthew 14:1
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,
Herod the tetrarch (4BC–39AD). When Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided among four sons. Herod Antipas was given control of Galilee (Luke 3:1). Since a tetrarch was a ruler of a quarter of a province, he was known as Herod the tetrarch. This Herod was responsible for the murder of John the Baptist (Matt 14:10). He also tried to kill Jesus (Luke 13:31).
Matthew 14:2
and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
John the Baptist; see entry for Mark 1:4.
Matthew 14:30
But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Seeing the wind. Peter took his eyes off the Lord and got distracted by his circumstances.
Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
(a) You of little faith. Peter’s faith had been displaced by doubt. Jesus is not saying there are degrees of faith, for even mustard-seed faith will move mountains (Matt. 17:20). Just as the disciples in the storm were captive to fear (Matt. 8:26), Peter was incapacitated by doubt.
(b) Why did you doubt? Doubt and faith cannot coexist (Matt. 21:21). The one who doubts has the mind of a storm-tossed sea (Jas. 1:6). The remedy to doubt is not to whip yourself into a frenzy of DIY faith, but to stay focused on Jesus.
Matthew 14:33
And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”
God’s Son. The disciples had known Jesus as a gifted teacher and a prophet. Some had even realized that he was the Messiah (John 1:41). But now they all realized the Son of Man was truly the Son of God.
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