Matthew 14:1-14 NIV
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
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Jesus is grieving the death of His cousin John the Baptist. He had heard what Herod did to him, how he had imprisoned John for confronting Herod's sin and beheaded him at the whims of a dancing girl. For John this was a sad way to go. Jesus held John in high regard saying that there was none born of women better than John. He was the best of His generation, good, faithful, righteous and true. But now John's voice is silenced by an insecure puppet of Rome.
Herod Antipas was tetrarch. He was governor of parts of Palestine, namely Galilee and Perea. The Son of Herod the Great, he shared rulership with Philip. Antipas divorced his Nabatean wife in favour of the divorcee of Herod Philip I, his half-brother. Not only was his marriage to Herodias adulterous, it was incestuous as well. John the Baptist spoke out against Antipas and his sin, so Herod had him imprisoned.
.
Herod grew up in a royal family under the favour of Rome. Now He had inherited a portion of His father's kingdom to rule with Rome's blessing. Herod is willing to break Jewish custom and religious law and do like the Romans do. The Caesars intermarried. Caligula was rumored to have had incestuous relations with His sisters. Herod Antipas clearly abuses his powerful position to do as He pleases.
We see that Antipas is the kind of man who does not like to be held accountable or challenged. When John confronted his sin, he behaves like some of the kings of Judah and Israel from centuries prior who imprisoned or executed the prophets the Lord sent to them. By imprisoning John he hopes to silence him, at least publicly.
We learn that Herod makes rash promises. When the daughter of Herodias pleased him with her dance, he promised her anything she asked for. Because he wanted to appear gracious before his guests, Herod was trapped into doing what the girl asked. Herodias, her mother, wanted John the Baptist to die. She encouraged the girl to ask for John's head on a platter.
We discover that Herod is insecure. He's afraid to look bad in front of his guests. He doesn't want to shirk on his promise. He didn't really want to kill John for fear of how the people of his tetrarchy might react. But because of his fear of looking like a man who doesn't keep his promises, he goes against his better judgement and orders John's execution!
Herod is a man of low character, but Jesus is a different kind of king. Jesus went away to grieve John in solitude. The crowds followed Him. Rather than turn them away, which would be understandable, Jesus has compassion on them. He healed all of their sick.
Now here's a man who is sad and tired and wanting some alone time, but when the needs of others confront Him He chooses to put His needs aside for their sake. Jesus exemplifies love, to give oneself away for the benefit of others.
How often have you felt like God was too busy to hear your prayers or concern Himself with your problems? God is not limited in time, space, or compassion. Though God may seem far away or hiding, persevere in prayer, for the Master will turn with compassion and help you. You belong to the kingdom of heaven and the limitless resources of God.
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus is grieving the death of His cousin John the Baptist. He had heard what Herod did to him, how he had imprisoned John for confronting Herod's sin and beheaded him at the whims of a dancing girl. For John this was a sad way to go. Jesus held John in high regard saying that there was none born of women better than John. He was the best of His generation, good, faithful, righteous and true. But now John's voice is silenced by an insecure puppet of Rome.
Herod Antipas was tetrarch. He was governor of parts of Palestine, namely Galilee and Perea. The Son of Herod the Great, he shared rulership with Philip. Antipas divorced his Nabatean wife in favour of the divorcee of Herod Philip I, his half-brother. Not only was his marriage to Herodias adulterous, it was incestuous as well. John the Baptist spoke out against Antipas and his sin, so Herod had him imprisoned.
.
Herod grew up in a royal family under the favour of Rome. Now He had inherited a portion of His father's kingdom to rule with Rome's blessing. Herod is willing to break Jewish custom and religious law and do like the Romans do. The Caesars intermarried. Caligula was rumored to have had incestuous relations with His sisters. Herod Antipas clearly abuses his powerful position to do as He pleases.
We see that Antipas is the kind of man who does not like to be held accountable or challenged. When John confronted his sin, he behaves like some of the kings of Judah and Israel from centuries prior who imprisoned or executed the prophets the Lord sent to them. By imprisoning John he hopes to silence him, at least publicly.
We learn that Herod makes rash promises. When the daughter of Herodias pleased him with her dance, he promised her anything she asked for. Because he wanted to appear gracious before his guests, Herod was trapped into doing what the girl asked. Herodias, her mother, wanted John the Baptist to die. She encouraged the girl to ask for John's head on a platter.
We discover that Herod is insecure. He's afraid to look bad in front of his guests. He doesn't want to shirk on his promise. He didn't really want to kill John for fear of how the people of his tetrarchy might react. But because of his fear of looking like a man who doesn't keep his promises, he goes against his better judgement and orders John's execution!
Herod is a man of low character, but Jesus is a different kind of king. Jesus went away to grieve John in solitude. The crowds followed Him. Rather than turn them away, which would be understandable, Jesus has compassion on them. He healed all of their sick.
Now here's a man who is sad and tired and wanting some alone time, but when the needs of others confront Him He chooses to put His needs aside for their sake. Jesus exemplifies love, to give oneself away for the benefit of others.
How often have you felt like God was too busy to hear your prayers or concern Himself with your problems? God is not limited in time, space, or compassion. Though God may seem far away or hiding, persevere in prayer, for the Master will turn with compassion and help you. You belong to the kingdom of heaven and the limitless resources of God.
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