Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 14:13-14

"Now when Jesus heard [it], he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard [thereof,] they followed him on foot from the cities. And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick." — Matthew 14:13-14 (ASV)

Glossa Ordinaria: After hearing of the death of His baptizer, the Savior withdrew into the desert, as the scripture says: When Jesus heard this, He departed from there by ship into a desert place. ¹

St. Augustine of Hippo: The Evangelist relates that this happened immediately after the death of John. Therefore, the events mentioned previously, which moved Herod to say, This is John, must have occurred after this. For we must suppose that the reports that reached Herod—which caused him to wonder who this person he was hearing about could be—concerned events that took place after he himself had put John to death. ²

St. Jerome: He did not withdraw into the desert out of fear of death, as some suppose, but out of mercy for His enemies, so that they would not add murder to murder. He was postponing His death until the day of His Passion, on which day the lamb is to be slain as a sacrament, and the doorposts of those who believe are to be sprinkled with the blood.

Alternatively, He withdrew to leave us an example to avoid the rashness that leads people to surrender themselves voluntarily, because not everyone perseveres with the same constancy under the torture to which they offered themselves. For this reason, He says in another place, When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. This is why the Evangelist does not say He “fled,” but elegantly says He “departed from there” (or “withdrew”), showing that He was avoiding persecution rather than fearing it.

Or, He might have withdrawn into a deserted place after hearing of John’s death for another reason: namely, to test the faith of the believers.

St. John Chrysostom: Alternatively, He did this because He desired to prolong the economy of His humanity, since the time had not yet come to openly manifest His deity. This is also why He instructed His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. After His resurrection, however, He wanted this to be made manifest.

Therefore, although He knew in Himself what had happened, He did not withdraw until it was told to Him, so that He might show the truth of His incarnation in every way. For He wanted this to be confirmed not only by sight, but also by His actions. When He withdrew, He did not go into a city, but into the desert by ship so that no one could follow Him. Yet the multitudes did not leave Him even for this; instead, they still followed Him, not deterred by what had happened to John.

This is why the text continues, And when the multitudes heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

St. Jerome: They followed on foot—not riding or in carriages, but by the labor of their own legs—to show the eagerness of their spirit.

St. John Chrysostom: And they immediately reaped the reward for this, for the text continues, And He went out and saw a great multitude, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick. For although the affection of those who had left their cities to seek Him carefully was great, the works He performed far surpassed the reward for any amount of zeal.

He therefore assigns compassion as the reason for this healing. And it is a great compassion to heal all without requiring faith.

St. Hilary of Poitiers: Mystically, at the close of the Law, the Word of God entered the ship (that is, the Church) and departed into the desert. This means that, leaving His walk with Israel, He passes into hearts that are void of divine knowledge. When the multitude learns this, it follows the Lord out of the city into the desert, which means going from the Synagogue to the Church. The Lord sees them, has compassion on them, and heals all their sickness and infirmity; that is, He cleanses their obstructed minds and unbelieving hearts for the understanding of the new preaching.

St. Jerome: Moreover, it should be observed that when the Lord came into the desert, great crowds followed Him, for before He went into the wilderness of the Gentiles, He was worshipped by only one people. They leave their cities, which represents their former way of life and various doctrines.

The fact that Jesus “went out” shows that the multitudes had the will to go, but not the strength to reach Him. Therefore, the Savior departs from His place and goes to meet them.

1. ap. Anselm
2. De Cons. Ev., ii, 45