We continue this issue to the Systematic Study of the New Testament, which includes the study of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the book of Acts. The study is based on the Portuguese version of the New Testament that the reader can see from this link: http://www.bibliaonline.com.br/asv/mt/1. 

Relevant answers to questions are at the end of the text below. 

Questions 

1. Why did King Herod arrested John the Baptist and then decided to kill him? "

2. The first time Jesus fed the multitudes who heard him, it served nearly five thousand men, besides women and children. How many loaves and fishes the disciples had at the time?

3. Jesus was seen by his disciples walking on the sea. Peter wanted to imitate him. The apostle could do it or sank in the water?

4. When Jesus came into the land of Galilee, men of the place brought him all that were sick, and Jesus healed them in a manner not usual until then. How did these cures?

5. What answer gave Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem who said that his disciples transgressed the tradition of the elders, did wash their hands when they eat bread?

Text for Reading 

39. Nobody is a prophet in his land - After narrating all these parables, Jesus said, "understood all these things?" They said, "Yes, Lord." He then said, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." Then he departed thence, and came to his country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that all were astonished, saying, "Where did this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? and not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And there are among us all his sisters? Where it went and all that? "And if they were offended in him. Jesus, however, said: "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his house." And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:51 to 13:58.) 

40. John the Baptist is beheaded - At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the miracles that Jesus did and, believing he is the resurrection of John the Baptist, said to his servants: "This is John the Baptist, risen from the dead, and why these powers work in him." Herod had arrested John and then at the request of Herodias's daughter, beheaded him. Warned that the disciples of John, Jesus departed thence by ship into a desert place apart from there, but the people, knowing him, followed him on foot from the towns. (Matthew 14:1 to 14:14.) 

41. If the blind lead the blind, both fall into the pit - The Pharisees, when they hear Jesus say that what defiles a man is not what enters the mouth but what comes from the mouth, were scandalized. When his disciples tell him of the indignation of them, Jesus asserted, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit. " Then, he explained, at the request of Peter, the significance of teaching that bothered the Pharisees, saying it is the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, adultery, prostitution, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. "Are these things - said the Master - that infect humans, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile the man." (Matthew 15:12 to 15:20.) 

42. Jesus feeds more than four thousand people - Arriving at the sea of Galilee, Jesus went up a hill and came to him a great multitude. They were gathered there: the lame, deaf, blind, crippled and many other patients, and he healed them all, so much so that the people wondered seeing the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walk and the blind to see and for all that they glorified the Lord God of Israel. He then summoned his disciples, Jesus told them: "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and not have to eat, and do not want to send them away fasting, lest they faint on the way." And proceeded then to the second multiplication of loaves and fishes, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, so that everyone - about four thousand men, women and children out - they ate and were filled, with seven baskets left over pieces of bread. (Matthew 15:29 to 15:39.) 

43. The sign of Jonah, the Prophet - Approaching Jesus, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, for they try, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. Behold the Lord's answer: "When it is evening, ye say, good weather, because the sky is red. And in the morning: Today will be foul weather because the sky is red and threatening. You know how the face of the sky, and not discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given, but the sign of Jonah. " (NR: Crossing identical to this one appears in the cap. 12 of the Gospel of Matthew, verse 38 to 45.) That said, Jesus left them and departed. (Matthew 16:1 to 16:4.) 

Answers to Questions

1. Why did King Herod arrested John the Baptist and then decided to kill him?"

Herod had imprisoned John because of his brother's wife Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother. John told him that it was not lawful to possess it. Herod therefore wanted to kill him, but feared the reaction of people who had the Baptist as a prophet. Partying, however, the birthday of King, the daughter of Herodias danced before him, a fact that delighted Herod and he therefore promised to give her whatever she asked. The daughter, put forward by her mother, told him: Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. Herod grieved with the request, but in respect to his promise, he sent and beheaded John (Matthew, 14:1 to 14:10.)

2. The first time Jesus fed the multitudes who heard him, it served nearly five thousand men, besides women and children. How many loaves and fishes the disciples had at the time?  

When Jesus asked his disciples to give the crowd to eat, they told him they had only five loaves and two fishes. Jesus took the five loaves and two fishes, and, raising his eyes to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, gave to the disciples and the disciples to the crowd. And they all ate and were filled up, and up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. (Matthew 14:15 to 14:21.) 

3. Jesus was seen by his disciples walking on the sea. Peter wanted to imitate him. The apostle could do it or sank in the water?  

Jesus called him. Peter got out of the boat, walked on water, to go with him, but, feeling the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. Then he prayed to the Lord to save him. Jesus stretched out his hand, held it, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:24 to 14:31.) 

4. When Jesus came into the land of Galilee, men of the place brought him all that were sick, and Jesus healed them in a manner not usual until then. How did these cures?  

By bringing the sick, men besought Jesus that they could at least touch the hem of his garment, and all who touched it were healthy. (Matthew 14:34 to 14:36.) 

5. What answer gave Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem who said that his disciples transgressed the tradition of the elders, did wash their hands when they eat bread?  

Jesus replied with a question: Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? And he remembered that God commanded, 'Honor thy father and thy mother, and who curses his father or mother, shall surely die. But they had invalidated, by tradition, the commandment of God. Then, calling the multitude said unto them, Hear, and understand: What defiles a man is not what enters the mouth but what comes out of his mouth. And explained that what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and they defile the man, once the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, adultery, prostitution, thefts, false witness, blasphemy. Those are things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile the man. (Matthew 15:1 to 15:11 and 15:15 to 15:20.)