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Passage 1: 1 Samuel 26-27

(1Sa 26:1) Againe the Ziphims came vnto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doeth not Dauid hide him selfe in the hill of Hachilah before Ieshimon?

(1Sa 26:2) Then Saul arose, and went downe to the wildernes of Ziph, hauing three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, for to seeke Dauid in the wildernesse of Ziph.

(Notes Reference) Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand (a) chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

(a) That is, of the most skilful and valiant soldiers.

(1Sa 26:3) And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Ieshimon by the way side. Now Dauid abode in the wildernesse, and he sawe that Saul came after him into the wildernesse.

(1Sa 26:4) (For Dauid had sent out spies, and vnderstood, that Saul was come in very deede)

(1Sa 26:5) Then Dauid arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched, and when Dauid beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the sonne of Ner which was his chiefe captaine, (for Saul lay in the fort, and the people pitched round about him)

(1Sa 26:6) Then spake Dauid, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah, brother to Ioab, saying, Who will go downe with me to Saul to the hoste? Then Abishai said, I will goe downe with thee.

(Notes Reference) Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the (b) Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to (c) Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

(b) Who was a stranger, and not an Israelite.

(c) Who afterward was David's chief captain.

(1Sa 26:7) So Dauid and Abishai came downe to the people by night: and beholde, Saul lay sleeping within the fort, and his speare did sticke in the ground at his head: and Abner and the people lay round about him.

(1Sa 26:8) Then saide Abishai to Dauid, God hath closed thine enemie into thine hande this day: now therefore, I pray thee, let me smite him once with a speare to the earth, and I will not smite him againe.

(Notes Reference) Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not [smite] him the (d) second time.

(d) Meaning, he would make him sure at one stroke.

(1Sa 26:9) And Dauid sayde to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can lay his hand on the Lordes anoynted, and be giltlesse?

(Notes Reference) And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand (e) against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

(e) That is, in his own private cause: for Jehu slew two kings at God's appointment, (2Ki 9:24).

(1Sa 26:10) Moreouer Dauid said, As the Lord liueth, eyther the Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come to dye, or he shall descend into battel, and perish.

(1Sa 26:11) The Lord keepe mee from laying mine hand vpon the Lordes anointed: but, I pray thee, take now the speare that is at his head, and the pot of water, and let vs goe hence.

(1Sa 26:12) So Dauid tooke the speare and the pot of water from Sauls head, and they gate them away, and no man saw it, nor marked it, neither did any awake, but they were all asleepe: for the Lord had sent a dead sleepe vpon them.

(1Sa 26:13) Then Dauid went vnto the other side, and stoode on the toppe of an hill a farre off, a great space being betweene them.

(1Sa 26:14) And Dauid cryed to the people, and to Abner the sonne of Ner, saying, Hearest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered, and said, Who art thou that cryest to the King?

(1Sa 26:15) And Dauid said to Abner, Art not thou a man? and who is like thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lorde the King? for there came one of the folke in to destroy the King thy lord.

(Notes Reference) And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] (f) man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

(f) Esteemed most valiant and fit to save the king?

(1Sa 26:16) This is not well done of thee: as the Lord liueth, ye are worthy to dye, because ye haue not kept your master the Lordes Anointed: and now see where the Kings speare is, and the pot of water that was at his head.

(1Sa 26:17) And Saul knewe Dauids voyce, and sayde, Is this thy voyce, my sonne Dauid? And Dauid sayde, It is my voyce, my lorde O King.

(Notes Reference) And Saul knew David's voice, and said, [Is] this thy voice, (g) my son David? And David said, [It is] my voice, my lord, O king.

(g) By this it appears, that the hypocrite persecuted David against his own conscience and contrary to his promise.

(1Sa 26:18) And he sayde, Wherefore doeth my lorde thus persecute his seruant? for what haue I done? or what euill is in mine hand?

(1Sa 26:19) Now therefore, I beseech thee, let my lord the King heare the wordes of his seruant. If the Lord haue stirred thee vp against me, let him smell the sauour of a sacrifice: but if the children of men haue done it, cursed be they before the Lord: for they haue cast me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Goe, serue other gods.

(Notes Reference) Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him (h) accept an offering: but if [they be] the children of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve (i) other gods.

(h) Let his anger toward us be pacified by a sacrifice.

(i) As much as lay in them, they compelled him to idolatry because they forced him to flee to the idolaters.

(1Sa 26:20) Nowe therefore let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the King of Israel is come out to seeke a flea, as one would hunt a partridge in the mountaines.

(1Sa 26:21) Then sayde Saul, I haue sinned: come againe, my sonne Dauid: for I will doe thee no more harme, because my soule was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I haue done foolishly, and haue erred exceedingly.

(Notes Reference) Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was (k) precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

(k) Because you saved my life this day.

(1Sa 26:22) Then Dauid answered, and saide, Beholde the Kings speare, let one of the yong men come ouer and set it.

(1Sa 26:23) And let the Lord rewarde euery man according to his righteousnesse and faithfulnesse: for the Lord had deliuered thee into mine handes this day, but I woulde not lay mine hand vpon the Lords anointed.

(Notes Reference) The LORD render to every man his (l) righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into [my] hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

(l) Thus he protests his innocency toward Saul, not defending his justice in the sight of God, in whose presence none is righteous, (Psa 14:3, Psa 130:3).

(1Sa 26:24) And beholde, like as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes: so let my life be set by in the eyes of the Lord, that he may deliuer me out of all tribulation.

(1Sa 26:25) Then Saul said to Dauid, Blessed art thou, my sonne Dauid: for thou shalt doe great things, and also preuaile. So Dauid went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

(Notes Reference) Then Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great [things], and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his (m) place.

(m) To Gibeah of Benjamin.

(1Sa 27:1) And Dauid said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: is it not better for me that I saue my selfe in the lande of the Philistims, and that Saul may haue no hope of me to seeke me any more in all the coastes of Israel, and so escape out of his hand?

(Notes Reference) And David said in his heart, I shall now (a) perish one day by the hand of Saul: [there is] nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

(a) David distrusts God's protection and therefore flees to the idolaters, who were enemies to God's people.

(1Sa 27:2) Dauid therefore arose, and he, and the sixe hundreth men that were with him, went vnto Achish the sonne of Maoch King of Gath.

(1Sa 27:3) And Dauid dwelt with Achish at Gath, he, and his men, euery man with his housholde,Dauid with his two wiues, Ahinoam the Izreelite, and Abigail Nabals wife the Carmelite.

(Notes Reference) And David (b) dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, [even] David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

(b) Thus God by his providence changes the enemies hearts, and makes them favour his in their need.

(1Sa 27:4) And it was tolde Saul that Dauid was fled to Gath: so he sought no more for him.

(1Sa 27:5) And Dauid saide vnto Achish, If I haue nowe founde peace in thine eyes, let them giue me a place in some other citie of the countrey, that I may dwell there: for why should thy seruant dwel in ye head citie of the kingdome with thee?

(Notes Reference) And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, (c) let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?

(c) Let your officers appoint me a place.

(1Sa 27:6) Then Achish gaue him Ziklag that same day: therefore Ziklag pertaineth vnto the kings of Iudah vnto this day.

(1Sa 27:7) And the time that Dauid dwelt in the countrey of the Philistims, was foure moneths and certaine dayes.

(1Sa 27:8) Then Dauid and his men went vp, and inuaded the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites: for they inhabited the lande from the beginning, from the way, as thou goest to Shur, euen vnto the lande of Egypt.

(Notes Reference) And David and his men went up, and invaded the (d) Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those [nations were] of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

(d) These were the wicked Canaanites, whom God had appointed to be destroyed.

(1Sa 27:9) And Dauid smote the lande, and left neither man nor woman aliue, and tooke sheepe, and oxen, and asses, and camels, and apparell, and returned and came to Achish.

(1Sa 27:10) And Achish said, Where haue ye bene a rouing this day? And Dauid answered, Against the South of Iudah, and against the South of the Ierahmeelites, and against the South of ye Kenites.

(Notes Reference) And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the (e) Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

(e) A family of the tribe of Judah, (1Ch 2:9).

(1Sa 27:11) And Dauid saued neither man nor woman aliue, to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tel on vs, and say, So did Dauid, and so will be his maner all the while that he dwelleth in the countrey of the Philistims.

(1Sa 27:12) And Achish beleeued Dauid, saying, He hath made his people of Israel vtterly to abhorre him: therefore he shalbe my seruant for euer.

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Passage 2: Jeremiah 3

(Jer 3:1) They say, If a man put away his wife, and she goe from him, and become another mans, shall hee returne againe vnto her? shall not this land be polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many louers: yet turne againe to mee, sayeth the Lord.

(Notes Reference) They (a) say, If a man shall put away his wife, and she shall go from him, and become another man's, shall he return to her again? shall not that land (b) be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many (c) lovers; yet (d) return again to me, saith the LORD.

(a) According as it is written, (Deu 24:4).

(b) If he take such a one to wife again.

(c) That is, with idols, and with them whom you have put your confidence in.

(d) And I will not cast you off, but receive you, according to my mercy.

(Jer 3:2) Lift vp thine eyes vnto the hie places, and beholde, where thou hast not plaied the harlot: thou hast sit waiting for them in the waies, as the Arabian in the wildernesse: and thou hast polluted the lande with thy whoredomes, and with thy malice.

(Notes Reference) Lift up thy eyes to the high places, and see where thou hast not been lain with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the (e) Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy harlotry and with thy wickedness.

(e) Who dwells in tent and waits for them that pass by to rob them.

(Jer 3:3) Therefore the showres haue beene restrained, and the latter raine came not, and thou haddest a whores forehead: thou wouldest not bee ashamed.

(Notes Reference) Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there hath been no (f) latter rain; and thou hadst an (g) harlot's forehead, thou didst refuse to be ashamed.

(f) As God threatened by his law, (Deu 28:24).

(g) You would never be ashamed of your acts and repent: and this impudency is common to idolaters, who will not cease, though they are openly convicted.

(Jer 3:4) Diddest thou not stil crie vnto me, Thou art my father, and the guide of my youth?

(Notes Reference) Wilt thou not from this time cry (h) to me, My father, thou [art] the guide of my youth?

(h) He shows that the wicked in their miseries will cry to God and use outward prayer as the godly do, but because they do not turn from their evil, they are not heard, (Isa 58:3-4).

(Jer 3:5) Wil he keepe his anger for euer? will he reserue it to the ende? thus hast thou spoken, but thou doest euill, euen more and more.

(Jer 3:6) The Lord saide also vnto me, in the daies of Iosiah the King, Hast thou seene what this rebell Israel hath done? for she hath gone vp vpon euery high mountaine, and vnder euery greene tree, and there plaied the harlot.

(Notes Reference) The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding (i) Israel hath done? she hath gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

(i) Meaning the ten tribes.

(Jer 3:7) And I sayde, when shee had done all this, Turne thou vnto me: but she returned not, as her rebellious sister Iudah sawe.

(Jer 3:8) When I sawe, howe that by all occasions rebellious Israel had plaied the harlot, I cast her away, and gaue her a bill of diuorcement: yet her rebellious sister Iudah was not afraied, but shee went also, and plaied the harlot.

(Notes Reference) And I saw, when for all the causes by which backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put (k) her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

(k) And gave her into the hands of the Assyrians.

(Jer 3:9) So that for the lightnesse of her whoredome shee hath euen defiled the lande: for shee hath committed fornication with stones and stockes.

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass through the (l) lightness of her harlotry, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with trees.

(l) The Hebrew word may either signify lightness and wantonness, or noise and brute.

(Jer 3:10) Neuerthelesse for all this, her rebellious sister Iudah hath not returned vnto mee with her whole heart, but fainedly, sayth the Lord.

(Notes Reference) And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned to me with (m) her whole heart, but deceitfully, saith the LORD.

(m) Judah pretended for a time that she returned, as under Josiah and other good kings, but she was never truly touched, or wholly reformed, as appeared when opportunity was offered by any wicked prince.

(Jer 3:11) And the Lord said vnto me, The rebellious Israel hath iustified her selfe more then the rebellious Iudah.

(Notes Reference) And the LORD said to me, The backsliding Israel hath (n) justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

(n) Israel has not declared herself as wicked as Judah, who yet has had more admonitions and examples to call her to repentance.

(Jer 3:12) Goe and crie these woordes towarde the North and say, Thou disobedient Israel, returne, sayeth the Lord, and I will not let my wrath fall vpon you: for I am mercifull, sayeth the Lord, and I will not alway keepe mine anger.

(Notes Reference) Go and proclaim these words toward (o) the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause my anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever.

(o) While the Israelites were now kept in captivity by the Assyrians, to whom he promises mercy, if they will repent.

(Jer 3:13) But knowe thine iniquitie: for thou hast rebelled against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy waies to the straunge gods vnder euery greene tree, but yee woulde not obey my voyce, sayeth the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Only acknowledge thy iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast (p) scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

(p) There was no way which you did not hunt to seek after the idols, and to go on a pilgrimage.

(Jer 3:14) O yee disobedient children, turne againe, sayeth the Lord, for I am your Lord, and I will take you one of a citie, and two of a tribe and wil bring you to Zion,

(Jer 3:15) And I will giue you pastours according to mine heart, which shall feede you with knowledge and vnderstanding.

(Jer 3:16) Moreouer, when yee be increased and multiplied in the land, in those daies, saieth the Lord, they shall say no more, The Arke of the couenant of the Lord: for it shall come no more to minde, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visite it, for that shalbe no more done.

(Notes Reference) And it shall come to pass, when ye shall be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The (q) ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they miss [it]; neither shall [that] be done any more.

(q) This is to be understood of the coming of Christ: for then they will not seek the Lord by ceremonies, and all figures will cease.

(Jer 3:17) At that time they shall cal Ierusalem, The throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered vnto it, euen to the Name of the Lord in Ierusalem: and thence foorth they shall follow no more the hardnesse of their wicked heart.

(Notes Reference) At that time they shall call Jerusalem (r) the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

(r) Meaning, the Church, where the Lord will be present to the world's end, (Mat 28:20).

(Jer 3:18) In those daies ye house of Iudah shall walke with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the lande of the North, into the lande, that I haue giuen for an inheritance vnto your fathers.

(Notes Reference) In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together from the land of the (s) north to the land that I have given for an inheritance to your fathers.

(s) Where they are now in captivity.

(Jer 3:19) But I sayde, Howe did I take thee for children and giue thee a pleasant lande, euen the glorious heritage of the armies of the heathen, and saide, Thou shalt call mee, saying, My father, and shalt not turne from me?

(Jer 3:20) But as a woman rebelleth against her husband: so haue yee rebelled against me, O house of Israel, sayeth the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Surely [as] a wife treacherously departeth from her (t) husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

(t) The Hebrew word signifies a friend or companion, and here may be taken for a husband, as it is used also in (Hos 3:1).

(Jer 3:21) A voice was heard vpon the hie places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they haue peruerted their way, and forgotten the Lord their God.

(Notes Reference) (u) A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping [and] supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, [and] they have forgotten the LORD their God.

(u) Signifying, that God, whom they had forsaken, would bring their enemies to them, who would lead them captive, and make them to cry and lament.

(Jer 3:22) O yee disobedient children, returne and I wil heale your rebellions. Behold, we come vnto thee, for thou art the Lord our God.

(Notes Reference) Return, ye backsliding children, [and] I will heal your backslidings. (x) Behold, we come to thee; for thou [art] the LORD our God.

(x) This is spoken in the person of Israel to the shame of Judah, who stayed so long to turn to God.

(Jer 3:23) Truely the hope of the hilles is but vaine, nor the multitude of mountaines: but in the Lord our God is the health of Israel.

(Jer 3:24) For confusion hath deuoured our fathers labour, from our youth their sheepe and their bullocks, their sonnes and their daughters.

(Notes Reference) For shame hath devoured the labour of our (y) fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

(y) For their idolatry God's vengeance has light on them and theirs.

(Jer 3:25) Wee lie downe in our confusion, and our shame couereth vs: for we haue sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers from our youth, euen vnto this day, and haue not obeyed the voyce of the Lord our God.

(Notes Reference) We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: (z) for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

(z) They justify not themselves, or say that they would follow their fathers, but condemn their wicked doings and desire forgiveness for the same, as in (Ezr 9:7; Psa 106:6; Isa 64:6).

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Passage 3: Matthew 14

(Mat 14:1) At that time Herod the Tetrarche heard of the fame of Iesus,

(Notes Reference) (1) At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

(1) Here is in John, an example of an invincible courage, which all faithful ministers of God's word ought to follow: in Herod, an example of tyrannous vanity, pride, and cruelty, and in short, of a refined conscience, and of their miserable slavery, who have given themselves over to pleasure: in Herodias and her daughter, an example of whore-like licentious women, and womanly cruelty.

(Mat 14:2) And sayde vnto his seruaunts, This is that Iohn Baptist, hee is risen againe from the deade, and therefore great woorkes are wrought by him.

(Notes Reference) And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty (a) works do shew forth themselves in him.

(a) By works he means that force and power by which works are performed, and not the works which are often seen before.

(Mat 14:3) For Herod had taken Iohn, and bounde him, and put him in prison for Herodias sake, his brother Philips wife.

(Mat 14:4) For Iohn saide vnto him, It is not lawfull for thee to haue her.

(Mat 14:5) And when hee woulde haue put him to death, hee feared the multitude, because they counted him as a Prophet.

(Mat 14:6) But when Herods birth day was kept, the daughter of Herodias daunced before them, and pleased Herod.

(Notes Reference) But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased (b) Herod.

(b) There were three Herods: the first of them was Antipater's son, who is also called Ascalonius, in whose reign Christ was born, and it was he that caused the children to be slain. The second was called Antipas, Magnus his son, whose mother's name was Malthaca or Martaca, and he was called Tetrarch, because he enlarged his dominion, when Archelaus was banished to Vienna in France. The third was Agrippa, Magnus his nephew by Aristobulus, and it was he that slew James.

(Mat 14:7) Wherefore he promised with an othe, that he would giue her whatsoeuer she would aske.

(Mat 14:8) And shee being before instructed of her mother, sayde, Giue mee here Iohn Baptists head in a platter.

(Mat 14:9) And the King was sorie: neuerthelesse because of the othe, and them that sate with him at the table, he commanded it to be giuen her,

(Mat 14:10) And sent, and beheaded Iohn in the prison.

(Mat 14:11) And his head was brought in a platter, and giuen to the maide, and shee brought it vnto her mother.

(Mat 14:12) And his disciples came, and tooke vp the bodie, and buried it, and went, and tolde Iesus.

(Mat 14:13) And when Iesus heard it, hee departed thence by shippe into a desert place apart. And when the multitude had heard it, they followed him on foote out of the cities.

(Mat 14:14) And Iesus went foorth and sawe a great multitude, and was mooued with compassion toward them, and he healed their sicke.

(Notes Reference) (2) And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

(2) Christ feeds a great multitude with five loaves and two little fish, showing by it that they will lack nothing who lay all things aside and seek the kingdom of heaven.

(Mat 14:15) And when euen was come, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desart place, and the time is alreadie past: let the multitude depart, that they may goe into the townes, and bye them vitailes.

(Mat 14:16) But Iesus saide to them, They haue no neede to goe away: giue yee them to eate.

(Mat 14:17) Then saide they vnto him, Wee haue here but fiue loaues, and two fishes.

(Mat 14:18) And he saide, Bring them hither to me.

(Mat 14:19) And hee commanded the multitude to sit downe on the grasse, and tooke the fiue loaues and the two fishes, and looked vp to heauen and blessed, and brake, and gaue the loaues to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

(Mat 14:20) And they did all eate, and were sufficed, and they tooke vp of the fragments that remained, twelue baskets full.

(Mat 14:21) And they that had eaten, were about fiue thousande men, beside women and litle children.

(Mat 14:22) And straightway Iesus compelled his disciples to enter into a shippe, and to goe ouer before him, while he sent the multitude away.

(Mat 14:23) And assoone as hee had sent the multitude away, he went vp into a moutaine alone to pray: and when the euening was come, hee was there alone.

(Mat 14:24) And the shippe was nowe in the middes of the sea, and was tossed with waues: for it was a contrarie winde.

(Notes Reference) (3) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

(3) We must sail even through mighty tempests, and Christ will never forsake us, so that we can go wherever he has commanded us to go.

(Mat 14:25) And in the fourth watch of the night, Iesus went vnto them, walking on the sea.

(Notes Reference) And in the (c) fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

(c) By the fourth watch is meant the time nearer to day break: for in ancient times they divided the night into four watches in which they posted watches.

(Mat 14:26) And when his disciples sawe him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit, and cried out for feare.

(Notes Reference) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a (d) spirit; and they cried out for fear.

(d) A spirit, as it is taken here, is that which a man imagines to himself vainly in his mind, persuading himself that he sees something when he sees nothing.

(Mat 14:27) But straight way Iesus spake vnto them, saying, Be of good comfort, It is I: be not afraide.

(Mat 14:28) Then Peter answered him, and saide, Master, if it be thou, bid me come vnto thee on the water.

(Notes Reference) (4) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

(4) By faith we tread under our feet even the tempests themselves, but only by the power of Christ, which helps that faith, which he by his mercy has given.

(Mat 14:29) And he saide, Come. And when Peter was come downe out of the shippe, he walked on the water, to goe to Iesus.

(Mat 14:30) But when he sawe a mightie winde, he was afraide: and as he began to sinke, he cried, saying, Master, saue me.

(Mat 14:31) So immediatly Iesus stretched foorth his hande, and caught him, and saide to him, O thou of litle faith, wherefore diddest thou doubt?

(Mat 14:32) And assoone as they were come into the ship, the winde ceased.

(Mat 14:33) Then they that were in the ship, came and worshipped him, saying, Of a trueth thou art the Sonne of God.

(Mat 14:34) And when they were come ouer, they came into the land of Gennezaret.

(Notes Reference) And when they were gone over, they came into the land of (e) Gennesaret.

(e) This Gennesaret was a lake near Capernaum, which is also called the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias; so the country itself grew to be called Gennesaret.

(Mat 14:35) And when the men of that place knewe him, they sent out into all that countrey rounde about, and brought vnto him all that were sicke,

(Notes Reference) (5) 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;

(5) In that act where Christ heals the sick, we are shown that we must seek remedy for spiritual diseases at his hands: and that we ourselves are bound to not only run to him, but also to bring others unto him.

(Mat 14:36) And besought him, that they might touch the hemme of his garment onely: and as many as touched it, were made whole.