THE KING'S AUTHORITY OVER ALL NATURE (Matthew 14)

THE KING'S AUTHORITY OVER ALL NATURE (Matthew 14)

H. A. IRONSIDE

MATTHEW 14 - “Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus.” This Herod was as corrupt as any of his ancestors—a monster of iniquity living in unblushing adultery with one who was lawfully the wife of his own brother. To the ears of this vile and licentious ruler came tidings of the wonder-working power of Jesus, filling him with terror.  

“Put him in prison for Herodias’ sake.” A wicked woman was the direct cause of the death of John. Her hatred of the man who dared to condemn openly the grossness of her sins could be satisfied only with the execution of her accuser. 

  When Herod’s birthday was celebrated the shameless daughter of the infamous Herodias came in before the king and his attendants, and pleased them by what was evidently a lascivious dance. The old tyrant was so delighted with this that, in his enthusiasm, he promised with an oath to give the dancer whatever she might ask. After conferring with her wicked mother she came boldly into the presence of the king with the request that he give her John Baptist’s head in a charger. Corrupt as he was, Herod was sorry, for he realized that John had done nothing worthy of death, and doubtless his initial anger had cooled to some extent by this time; but having declared on oath that he would grant the girl’s request, and this before all his courtiers, he had not the hardihood to acknowledge his folly. He commanded, therefore, that John should be beheaded. The gruesome evidence that the execution had been carried out was brought in on a great platter and given to the damsel, we are told, who presented it to her mother. 

  The incestuous relations of these two godless rulers had become a public scandal. It needed a man with the boldness of John the Baptist to say, “It is not lawful for thee to have her.” He was martyred because of his faithfulness, but his reward is sure. Herod went from bad to worse until he died in his sins, a wretched victim of his own vices. Herodias, vain, wilful and unclean, died as she had lived, unrepentant and wicked to the last. They stand out as warnings to all who would tamper with impurity. After John’s death, Jesus did not travel about in Herod’s tetrarchy, but remained in that of Philip. 

This is the only miracle performed by the Lord before His crucifixion which is given in all four Gospels. It is very evident that there is some special lesson in it which God would have us learn. The hungry multitude, the perplexed disciples, and the grace of Christ are vividly portrayed. In Psalm 132:15 we hear Messiah speaking by the Spirit, saying, “I will satisfy her poor with bread.” So God’s Anointed One took the five loaves and two fishes and so multiplied them that abundant provision was made for five thousand men, besides women and children. 

 MATTHEW 14:22-33 - This is a beautiful dispensational picture. In verse 22 we read how Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship and to go before Him back to the other side of the lake, while He dismissed the multitudes. The disciples in the ship without the personal presence of Jesus set forth, dispensationally, the circumstances in which the Church of God was to be found after the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. He who had been with His disciples during the days of His flesh would no longer be manifestly present among them, but they would be left to make their way alone, as it were, across the troubled sea of earthly circumstances, looking forward to the time when they would again behold their Saviour.

He Himself went up into a mountain apart to pray. This suggests His present ministry on behalf of His own people—He has gone up on high where He ever liveth to make intercession for us. 

 While He prayed on the mountain top those in the ship were in real trouble, for their little vessel was passing through a severe storm and was tossed with the waves, and as far as its occupants could see it was likely to be lost. The people of God have been frequently placed in such circumstances during the time that the Lord has been ministering on high in the presence of the Father, and God’s dear people have often thought themselves forsaken and forgotten, but His eye has ever been upon them.