Num 21:8-9, Mat 14:36, Joh 3:14-15 | Barnes

Numbers 21:8-9

Matthew 14:36

(t) "hem of his garment" Nu 15:38, Mt 9:20, Mk 3:10, Lk 6:19 Acts 19:12

(u) "as many" Jn 6:37

REMARKS ON MATTHEW 14

(1.) We learn from this chapter the power of conscience, Mt 14:1-4. Herod's guilt was the only reason why he thought John the Baptist had risen. At another time he would altogether have disbelieved it. Consciousness of guilt will at some period infallibly torment a man.

(2.) The duty of faithfulness, Mt 14:4. John reproved Herod at the hazard of his life. And he died for it. But he had the approbation of conscience and of God. So will all who do their duty. Here was an example of fidelity to all ministers of religion. They are not to fear the face of man, however rich, or mighty, or wicked.

(3.) The righteous will command the respect of the wicked. Herod was a wicked man, but he respected John, and feared him, Mk 6:20. The wicked profess to despise religion, and many really do. But their consciences tell them that religion is a good thing. In times of trial they will sooner trust Christians than others. In sickness and death they are often glad to see them, and hear them pray, and desire the comfort which they have; and, like Balaam, say, "Let me die the death of the righteous," Nu 23:10. No person, young or old, is ever the less really esteemed for being a Christian.

(4.) Men are often restrained from great sins by mere selfish motives--as Herod was--by the love of popularity, Mt 14:5. Herod would have put John to death long before, had it not been that he feared the people. His constantly desiring to do it was a kind of prolonged murder. God will hold men guilty for desiring to do evil; and will not justify them, if they are restrained, not by the fear of him, but by the fear of men.

(5.) We see the effect of what is called the principle of honour, Mt 14:9. It was in obedience to this that Herod committed murder. This is the principle of duelling and war. No principle is so foolish and wicked. The great mass of men disapprove it. The wise and good have always disapproved of it. This principle of honour is often the mere love of revenge. It is often the fear of being laughed at. It produces evil. God cannot and will not love it. The way to prevent duels and murders is to restrain the passions, and cultivate a spirit of meekness and forgiveness when young; that is, to come early under the full influence of the gospel.

(6.) Men should be cautious about promises, and especially about oaths. Herod made a foolish promise, and confirmed it by a wicked oath, Mt 14:9. Promises should not be made without knowing what is promised, and without knowing that it will be right to perform them. Oaths are always wicked, except when made before a magistrate, and on occasions of real magnitude. The practice of profane and common swearing, like that of Herod, is always foolish and wicked, and sooner or later will bring men into difficulty.

(7.) Atonements are often attended with evil consequences, Mt 14:6-11. The dancing of a gay and profligate girl was the means of the death of one of the holiest of men. Dancing, balls, parties, and theatres, are by many thought innocent. But they are a profitless waste of time. They lead to forgetfulness of God. They nourish passion and sensual desires. They often lead to the seduction and ruin of the innocent. They are unfit for dying creatures. From the very midst of such scenes, the gay may go to the bar of God. How poor a preparation to die! How dreadful the judgment-seat to such !

(8.) Jesus will take care of the poor, Mt 14:14-21. He regarded the temporal as well as the spiritual wants of the people, Rather than see them suffer, he worked a miracle to feed them. So rather than see us suffer, God is daily doing what man cannot do. He causes the grain to grow; he fills the land, and seas, arid air, with living creatures; nay, he provides, in desert places, for the support of man. How soon would all men and beasts die, if he did not put forth continued power and goodness for the supply of our wants!

(9.) It is the duty of Christians to be solicitous about the temporal wants of the poor, Mt 14:15. They are with us. By regarding them, and providing for them, we have an opportunity of showing our attachment to Christ, and our resemblance to God, who continually does good.

(10.) A blessing should be sought in our enjoyments, Mt 14:19. It is always right to imitate Christ. It is right to acknowledge our dependence on God, and in the midst of mercies to pray that we may not forget the Giver.

(11.) We see the duty of economy. The Saviour, who had power to create worlds by a word, yet commanded to take up the fragments, that nothing might be lost, Jn 6:12. Nothing that God has created, and given to us, should be wasted.

(12.) It is proper to make preparation for private prayer. Jesus sent the people away, that he might be alone, Mt 14:22,23. So, Christians should take pains that they may have time and places for retirement. A grove, or a mountain, was the place where our Saviour sought to pray; and there too may we find and worship God.

(13.) In time of temptation, of prosperity, and honour, it is right to devote much time to secret prayer. Jesus, when the people were about to make him a king, retired to the mountain, and continued there till three o'clock in the morning, Jn 6:16.

(14.) When Christ commands us to do a thing, we should do it, Mt 14:22. Even if it should expose us to danger, it should be done.

(15.) In times of danger and. distress, Jesus will see us, and will come to our relief, Mt 14:25,26. Even in the tempest that howls, or on the waves of affliction that beat around us, he will come, and we shall be safe.

(16.) We should never be afraid of him. We should always have good cheer when we see him, Mt 14:27. When he says, "It is I;" he also says, "Be not afraid." He can still the waves, and conduct us safely to the port which we seek.

(17.) Nothing is too difficult for us, when we act under the command of Christ. Peter at his command leaves the ship, and walks on the billows, Mt 14:29.

(18.) Christ sometimes leaves his people to see their weakness and their need of strength. Without his continued aid, they would sink. Peter had no strength of his own to walk on the deep; and Christ suffered him to see his dependence, Mt 14:30.

(19.) The eye, in difficulty, should be fixed on Christ. As soon as Peter began to look at the waves and winds, rather than Christ, he began to sink, Mt 14:30. True courage, in difficulties, consists not in confidence in ourselves, but in confidence in Jesus, the Almighty Saviour and Friend.

(20.) Prayer may be instantly answered. When we are in immediate danger, and offer a prayer of faith, we may expect immediate aid, Mt 14:31.

(21.) Pride comes before a fall. Peter was self-confident and proud, and he fell. His confidence and rashness were the very means of showing the weakness of his faith, Mt 14:31.

(22.) It is proper to render homage to Jesus; and to worship him as the Son of God, Mt 14:33.

(23.) We should be desirous that all about us should partake of the benefits that Christ confers. When we know him, and have tested his goodness, we should take pains that all around us may also be brought to him, and be saved, Mt 14:35.

(24.) Jesus only can make us perfectly whole. No other being can save us. He that could heal the body, can save the soul. A word can save us. With what earnestness ought we to plead with him that we may obtain his saving, grace! Mt 14:36.

John 3:14-15

Verse 14. And as Moses. Jesus proceeds in this and the following verses to state the reason why he came into the world; and, in order to this, he illustrates his design, and the efficacy of his coming, by a reference to the case of the brazen serpent, recorded in Nu 21:8,9. The people were bitten by flying fiery serpents. There was no cure for the bite. Moses was directed to make an image of the serpent, and place it in sight of the people, that they might look on it and be healed. There is no evidence that this was intended to be a type of the Messiah, but it is used by Jesus as strikingly illustrating his work. Men are sinners. There is no cure by human means for the maladies of the soul; and as the people who were bitten might look on the image of the serpent and be healed, so may sinners look to the Saviour and be cured of the moral maladies of our nature.

Lifted up. Erected on a pole. Placed on high, so that it might be seen by the people.

The serpent. The image of a serpent made of brass.

In the wilderness. Near the land of Edom. In the desert and desolate country to the south of Mount Hor, Nu 21:4.

Even so. In a similar manner and with a similar design. He here refers, doubtless, to his own death. Comp. Jn 12:32, 8:28. The points of resemblance between his being lifted up and that of the brazen serpent seem to be these:

1st. In each case those who are to/be benefited can be aided in no other way. The bite of the serpent was deadly, and could be healed only by looking on the brazen serpent; and sin is deadly in its nature, and can be removed only by looking on the cross.

2nd. The mode of their being lifted up. The brazen serpent was in the sight of the people, So Jesus was exalted from the earth--raised on a tree or cross.

3rd. The design was similar. The one was to save the life, the other the soul; the one to save from temporal, the other from eternal death.

4th. The manner of the cure was similar. The people of Israel were to look on the serpent and be healed, and so sinners are to look on the Lord Jesus that they may be saved.

Must. It is proper; necessary; indispensable, if men are saved. Comp. Lk 24:26, 22:42.

The Son of man. The Messiah.

(l) "as Moses" Nu 21:9 Verse 15. That whosoever. This shows the fulness and freeness of the gospel. All may come and be saved.

Believeth in him. Whosoever puts confidence in him as able and willing to save. All who feel that they are sinners, that they have no righteousness of their own, and are willing to look to him as their only Saviour.

Should not perish. They are in danger, by nature, of perishing--that is, of sinking down to the pains of hell; of "being punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power," 2Thes 1:9. All who believe on Jesus shall be saved from this condemnation and be raised up to eternal life. And from this we learn,

1st. That there is salvation in no other.

2nd. That salvation is here full and free for all who will come.

3rd. That it is easy. What was more easy for a poor, wounded, dying Israelite, bitten by a poisonous serpent, than to look up to a brazen serpent? So with the poor, lost, dying sinner. And what more foolish than for such a wounded, dying man to refuse to look on a remedy so easy and effectual? So nothing is more foolish than for a lost and dying sinner to refuse to look on God's only Son, exalted on a cross to die for the sins of men, and able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him.

(m) "That whosoever" Jn 3:36, Heb 7:25