1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about
Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist;
he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 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. 4 Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for
you to have her.” 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared
the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter
of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her
whatever she might ask. 8 So she,
having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here
on a platter.”
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. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the
girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and
buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Vs. 3-12 Matthew now recalls the events that preceded the beheading of John the Baptist. For as the Scripture says in Mark’s Gospel before John rebuked Herod for taking his brothers wife Herodias to be his wife he heard John gladly (Mark 6:20). Nonetheless when John rebuked Herod for taking her, telling him it was not lawful for him to have her, Herod had John arrested and put in prison (vs. 3-4), and though Herod wanted to put John to death at that time he did not because as verse five states, Herod feared the multitude because all the people counted John as a prophet. Now while John was in prison, Herod’s birthday was celebrated, and the daughter of Herodias danced before Herod and those attending, and she so pleased Herod that he promised by oath to give her whatever she asked (vs. 6-7). Therefore, having been prompted by her mother she said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” Vs. 8
Now when Herod heard that he was sorry, yet because of oaths and those who were sitting with him, he sent and had John beheaded in prison (vs. 9-10), then John’s head was placed on a platter and given to the girl and she in turn gave it to her mother (vs.11). The whole episode than revealing not just the brutal and evil nature of Herod and his wife, but in some ways reflects the desires of this unbelieving and hostile world, which likewise cannot endure a righteous and holy man declaring the truth to them. And so, this heinous act is very much reminiscent of what God’s people and prophets have suffered down through the ages and will suffer until Christ’s return (see Hebrews 11:32-40). Now with the death of John the Baptist the Scripture says that his disciples came and took away his body and buried it, and having buried it, they then went and told Jesus all that had happened.
Commentary
Vs.
1-2
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about
Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This
is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are
at work in him.”
The Lord Jesus may not have had much of a
reception in Nazareth, but elsewhere His fame was spreading far and wide, so
much so that even Herod Antipas the tetrarch (the then Roman appointed ruler of
the Jews) had heard the report of Jesus and all that He was doing. Now it was
this Herod who had ordered the beheading of John the Baptist to please his
wife, and so when Herod heard all that Jesus was doing; he in his guilty
conscience and spiritual blindness only said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead,
and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
Vs. 3-12 Matthew now recalls the events that preceded the beheading of John the Baptist. For as the Scripture says in Mark’s Gospel before John rebuked Herod for taking his brothers wife Herodias to be his wife he heard John gladly (Mark 6:20). Nonetheless when John rebuked Herod for taking her, telling him it was not lawful for him to have her, Herod had John arrested and put in prison (vs. 3-4), and though Herod wanted to put John to death at that time he did not because as verse five states, Herod feared the multitude because all the people counted John as a prophet. Now while John was in prison, Herod’s birthday was celebrated, and the daughter of Herodias danced before Herod and those attending, and she so pleased Herod that he promised by oath to give her whatever she asked (vs. 6-7). Therefore, having been prompted by her mother she said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” Vs. 8
Now when Herod heard that he was sorry, yet because of oaths and those who were sitting with him, he sent and had John beheaded in prison (vs. 9-10), then John’s head was placed on a platter and given to the girl and she in turn gave it to her mother (vs.11). The whole episode than revealing not just the brutal and evil nature of Herod and his wife, but in some ways reflects the desires of this unbelieving and hostile world, which likewise cannot endure a righteous and holy man declaring the truth to them. And so, this heinous act is very much reminiscent of what God’s people and prophets have suffered down through the ages and will suffer until Christ’s return (see Hebrews 11:32-40). Now with the death of John the Baptist the Scripture says that his disciples came and took away his body and buried it, and having buried it, they then went and told Jesus all that had happened.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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