The scheme for July and August can be found here

Prov 12-14; Matt 14; Psalm 78 vs 32-end

Throughout Matthew there are examples of the life of the Beatitudes. Here in Chapter 14 we find the life of those who are persecuted for the sake of Righteousness. John the Baptist speaks truth to power and Herod has him jailed and then executed.

Thus he is numbered amongst those ‘prophets of old’ – making even more plain, ’twere it necessary – that he is that Elijah which is to come to prepare the way of the Lord.

The Way of Jesus is now more starkly revealed than ever. Upon hearing the news of the death of John he retires to a quiet place. But still the crowds come. Here in the most dramatic of all his Signs, as Moses had fed the multitude in Sinai, So the living bread from heaven is revealed amongst the children of Israel. The Disciples as the incipient new Israel are commanded out to be Light – to give them something to eat.

Yet still they doubt – this of course will be a common theme in Matthew to the end.