June 24th, 2023

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, and the Gospel reading for this Sunday is a portion of the tenth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, a part of the second of the five sermons in that gospel account. In these writings we are a little bit ahead of that, as we just finished looking at the third of the five sermons, and we are moving on to what is commonly known as the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew.

If one would consider what has been often overlooked in this section, what may be most interesting is the use of what is commonly known as the historical present. That is where a past tense verb is expected, but a present tense is used.

What follows is the entirety of so-called chapter fourteen, in a somewhat-literal translation. Since it is so long, comments regarding it will be saved for next week’s writing; and the historical presents are in bold print; perhaps you see a pattern in their usage:

In that, the appointed time, he heard, Herod, the tetrarch, the report of Jesus, and he said to the servants of him: “This is John the Baptist. He himself was raised from the dead, and, on account of this, the powerful deeds work in him.” For the Herod, seizing the John, he bound him, and in prison, he put away, on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip, the brother of him; for he was saying, the John, to him, “Not it is permitted for you to have her.” And wishing, him, to kill, he feared the crowd, because as a prophet, him, they had.

Now on the birthday, happening, of Herod, she danced, the daughter of the Herodias, in the midst, and it was pleasing to Herod, from where, with an oath, he confessed to her, to give whatever she might ask. Now she, being brought forward by the mother of her, “Give to me,” she says, “here on a plate the head of John the Baptist.” And, being grieved, the king, on account of the oaths and the ones reclining at table with him, he commanded to be given, and sending, he beheaded the John in the prison. And it was brought, the head of him, on a plate, and it was given to the maid, and she brought to the mother of her. And approaching, the disciples of him, they took the corpse, and they buried him, and, coming, they reported to the Jesus.

Now hearing, the Jesus, he departed from there in a boat into a wilderness place according to his own. And hearing, the crowds followed him, on foot, from the cities. And going out, he saw a great crowd, and he was compassionate over them, and he healed the without strength of them.

Now evening happening, they approached him, the disciples, saying, “Wilderness is the place, and the hour already has passed; dismiss the crowds, in order that, going away into the villages, they may buy for themselves foods.” 

Now the Jesus said to them, “Not a need, they have, to go away; give them, you, to eat.”
Now they say to him, “Not we have here, except five breads and two fishes.”

Now he said, “Bring to me, here, them.” And having commanded the crowds to recline on the grass, taking the five breads and the two fishes, looking up into the heaven, he blessed, and breaking, he gave to the disciples the breads, then the disciples to the crowds. And they ate, all, and they were satisfied. And they took the excess of the fragments, twelve baskets full. Now the ones eating were men, about five thousand, apart from women and children.

And immediately he compelled the disciples to embark into the boat and to go before him into the other side, until he would dismiss the crowds. And having dismissed the crowds, he went up into the mountain, according to his own, to pray. Now evening happening, alone, he was there.

Now the boat, already stadia, many, from the land, it was away, being harassed by the waves, for it was, contrary, the wind. Now in fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking upon the sea. Now the disciples, seeing him upon the sea, walking, they were terrified, saying, “A phantasm it is.” And from the fear, they were crying out.

Now immediately he was speaking, the Jesus, to them, saying, “Be of good cheer, I am. Stop being afraid.”

Now, answering him, the Peter, he said: “Lord, if you are, command me to come toward you upon the waters.”

Now he said, “Come.”

And going down from the boat, the Peter walked upon the waters, and he came toward the Jesus. Now seeing the wind, strong, he feared, and beginning to be drowned, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Now immediately, the Jesus, stretching out the hand, he took hold of him, and he says to him, “Few-faith, why did you doubt?”

And going up, they, into the boat, it ceased, the wind. Now the ones in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly, of God, Son, you are.”
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And crossing over, they came upon the land, into Gennesaret. And recognizing him, the men of the place, that, they sent into all the region around, that, and they brought to him all the evil having, and they were exhorting him that only they might touch the fringe of the garment of him, and as many as they touched, they were thoroughly saved.