In prison . Josephus ('Antiq.,' 18.5, 2) informs us that this prison was the fort of Machaerus, on the confines of Galilee and Arabia, and that there John was beheaded. Herod's father had built a magnificent palace within that fort; and so he may have been keeping the anniversary of his birthday there, read more
A soul's tragedy. I. FALSE STEPS . ( Mark 6:17 .) 1 . Unlawful relations . 2 . Resisting the messenger of God . II. CONFLICTING INFLUENCES . The fearless court-preacher and the woman he denounced. The messenger of Truth and the associate in pleasure and vice. Representative of the way in which evil and good incarnate themselves, and work upon the heart of every man. The temptation to which Herod was subject was great; but he was not left without moral witness... read more
The hero's death. I. THE HERO OF CONSCIENCE CONTRASTED WITH THE VOLUPTUARY . The former chooses to be true and loyal to the right rather than to live; the latter postpones everything to "life," in the lowest and most sensual acceptation of the word. Yet the wicked man involuntarily respects the good man. II. THE SLAVE OF SPURIOUS HONOUR CONTRASTED WITH THE SERVANT OF THE TRUTH . Herod excuses his violent deed; nay, he pretends that it is... read more
For John said unto Herod. The Greek tense ( ἔλεγε ) implies more than the simple expression, "he said;" it implies a repeated warning. We learn from St. Matthew ( Matthew 14:5 ) that Herod would have killed John before, but he feared the people. Here St. Mark says that Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she could not; for Herod feared John . There is no contradiction between the two evangelists. The case appears to have been this: that at first Herod... read more
The words in the Authorized Version are, When he heard him, he did many things ( πολλὰ ἐποίει ), and heard him gladly . But according to the best authorities the reading should be ( πολλὰ ἠπόρει ), he was much perplexed. In St. Luke, as stated above, we have ( διηπόρει ), "he was much perplexed." Nor is there any inconsistency in the next clause in St. Mark, if we accept this reading. Herod was not utterly depraved. There was to him a charm, not only in the character, but in... read more
The murderers of John the Baptist. The name of Herod Antipas is associated with that of our Lord on three occasions. The first is mentioned in this chapter. On the second he sends a threatening message through the Pharisees ( Luke 13:31 ); and on the third, with his men of war, he mocked the world's Redeemer ( Luke 23:8-12 ). These together afford an example of the progressive nature of sin. Herod passed from superstitious fear to anger, and from anger to mockery and scorn. He "walked... read more
The words should run thus : And when the daughter of Herodias herself came in καὶ εἰσελθούσης τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς τῆς ἡρωδιάδος . The intention of the evangelist is to point out that it was Herodias's own daughter who danced, and not a mere professional dancing-girl. Josephus mentions that dancing-women were admitted to feasts by the Jews; and Xenophon testifies to the same custom amongst the Greeks. read more
And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? ( τί αἰτήσομαι )—according to the best authorities ( τί αἰτήσωμαι ), What should I ask ? read more
I will that thou forthwith give me in a charger ( ἐπὶ πίνακι ) the head of John the Baptist . John the Baptist seems to have had a presentiment of his speedy end when he said, "He must increase, but must decrease." read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 6:14-29
Parallel passages: Matthew 14:1 , Matthew 14:2 ; 6-12; Luke 9:7-9 . ― The murder of the Baptist. I. CONJECTURES ABOUT CHRIST . The name of Jesus had now attained great celebrity; it was fast becoming a household word; the cures he had effected, the demons he had ejected from human bodies, the dead he had raised—his wonderful works were on every tongue. Some detracted, others wondered, but most applauded. The missionary tour of the apostles, brief as it was, had given fresh... read more