3For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” 9And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
This section continues Herod’s fear of Jesus’ ministry and his confusion between John the Baptist and Jesus.
14:3
For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
Herod Antipas went to Rome where he met Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Herodias, who had this affair with Herod, hated John the Baptist for calling attention to the affair and asked for his head on a platter. She was a vindictive woman.
14:4
Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
After Herod Antipas committed adultery with Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip I, he divorced his own wife without cause. John the Baptist courageously confronted Herod publically about his illegitimate relationship.
14:5
And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Herod wanted to put John to death, but he feared the crowd because they deemed John a prophet, so he put John in a prison near the northern and eastern end of the Dead Sea.
14:6
But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.
Herodias manipulated Herod by having her daughter Salome lasciviously dance before Herod, titillating his passions.
14:7
Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
Operating on impulse, Herod recklessly made a promise to Salome to give her what she wanted.
14:8
So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”
Herodias, Herod’s wife, held a grudge against John for calling attention to her illicit relationship with Herod publically. Herodias became spiteful toward John over this, so she served up John’s head on a platter.
14:9
And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.
To break an oath was an affront to one’s honor. Typical of a weak man, Herod gave an order to behead John.
14:10
So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
John was in prison in the fortress of Machaerus, four miles east of the Dead Sea and 3,500 feet high.
14:11
And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
What a gruesome site. Hatred toward John the Baptist was palpable.
14:12
Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
John’s disciples buried his body and reported the scene to Jesus.
PRINCIPLE:
Character is more important than reputation.
APPLICATION:
There are people who compromise conviction rather than taking a stand for what they believe. They care more about reputation than character.
