The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 61

ver. 5, but after some weeks' or months' who used the framework, but also by the delay psychologically quite possible (cf. one who depended entirely upon bis own note there). Kiibel a.ttributes the change to materials. Bat though St. John's account his conscience recoilin~ when his wish hnd a sudden chance of bemg accomplished ; or of it is on the whole independent, yet even it may be that he still feared the multitude this has expressions which e.re certainly due (of. ver. 5), 1md felt anxious lest he should to the influence of the source used by the bring about some political disturbance. synoptists, or, less probably, of one or other Oaths; for in making the promise of ver. 7 of our present Gospels. he would certainly take more than one. And them whioh BBt with him at meat. The evangelist relates (l) the occasion of Had he uttered the promise and the oaths the miracle ( vers. 13, 14) ; (2) the prepara- in private it would have been different, but tion of the disciples ( vers. 15-18) ; (3) the now there' were so many witnesses. Observe miracle itself (ven rn, 20); (4) a summary that these said nothing to stop him. They statement of the nnmbers fed (ver. 21). were no friends of the enthusiast who was now a prisoner. Ee oomme.nded it to be Ver. 13.-When Jesus heard of it (cf. ver. given her. 12b, note), he departed. (For the form of Vere. 10, 11.-And he sent, and beheaded the sentence, see eh. iv. 12; xii. 15.) Thenoe Johll in the prison, and his head was brought by ship ; in a boat (Revised Version); eh. in a oharger (ver. 8, note), and given (the viii 23. Into e. desert plaoe a.part. De- fourth time that the word "give" he.s come fined in John vi. 3 as" the mouuta.in;" in in five verses; the head of the herald of the Luke ix. 10 a.a "a city called Bethsaida." kingdom becomes e. roye.l gift) to the dam- The spot appears to have been in part of sel-(,-,,; 1<opa11l'I', ver. 6, note)-and she !he plain El-Ba~il}a, which is at the north- brought it to her mother. But a few east corner of the Sea of Galilee on the minutes after she he.d first spoken her re- Gaulonitis side of the Jorda.a, aud in which quest (ver. 8, note). stood Bethsaida-Julias. Mark vi. 45 im- Ver. 12.-And his disciples oame. "And plies that there was a second Bethsaida on when his disciples heard thereof, they ea.me" the western side of the lake, which, though (Mark). Perhaps they were not permit~ed not alluded to by Josephus, is expressly to be so much with him as e.t e.n earlier spoken of in John xii. 21, and is probably period in his impri:'°nment (c~. xi. 2). But referred to in all the other passages of the if the murder we.a m the eveIU.Dg, as would New Testament where the no.me Beth- appear probable from the circ~mstances of saida occurs. And when the people (the it, they would naturally not be m the castle multitudes, Revised Version) had heard e.t the time. And took up the body ; the thereof, they followed him on foot out of the CC>Tpse (Revised Version, TO wTwi,a). And oities. 'file fa.et that it was near e. feast- buried it ; hinl (Revised Version, a~Tov). It time (John vi. 4, the Passover, if the text is right in Ma.rk, but St. Matthew bas pre- be right; and cf, infra, ver. 19, note) per- served the more popular form of expression. hops accounts for the multi tu des being so And (Revised Version adds they) went and large. Some at least would be on their way told Jesus. Matthew ouly. In Mark (vi. up to Jerusalem. 30 ; of. e.lso Luke ix. 10) this expression Ver. 14.-The first half of this verse is clearly belongs to the next paragraph, and found verbally in M111k (vi. 34); comp. also is predicated of the twelve apostles on their eh. ix. 36, note. And Jesus went forth; return from their mission (Mark vi. 7-12; came forth (Revised Version) ; i.e. from the our eh. x. 5). It looks a.a though some con- more retired place where he had been con- fusion had arisen in the source before St. versing with his disciples (cf. Mark and Matthew used it. As the words stand here Luke). And saw a great multitude. "The they show the kindly feelings which both multitudes" of ver. 13 have now become John o.nd his disciples felt towards our one body. And was moved with oompassion Lord toward them ; and he had compastrwn on them (Revised Version). The trueree.ding, Vere. 13-21.-Tlie feeding of the flue thou- hr' a,hois (contrast Mark and eh. xv. 32), •and. Parallel pe.ssages : Mink vi. 30-44 ; regards the Lord's pity at, so to say, n later Luke ix. 10-17; John vi. 1-13. The stage the.n the common rcadiu~, ,.,,' airrous. mire.ole wu.s deemed so che.ractcristio of our It we.a not only directed towarus them, bui Lord's work, in his care for men e.nd_ his actually resting on them. And he hea.J.ed (E9epcl1reu11ev, eh. iv. 23, note) their siok power to sustain them, o.nd more espcc10.lly ( To~r o.i"fiwuTour a~wv). • ANo,u,-os here only in its being e. pe.ro.ble of his readines~ to in l\111tthew, elsewhere in the New Testa- supply spirituo.l food, the.t it was recor~ed ment iu Mark •i. 5, 13 [xvi. l SJ; l Cor. xi. 30. not only by ee.ch of the three ernngchsts As compared with 0.110,vf,s, U" seel.ll.11 to point  64: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [c1L xiv. 1--30.