The morals of a tragedy. Here we have a tragedy in which the principal actors are, on the one side Jesus and John the Baptist, and on the other Herod, Herodias, and Salome. We propose to bring out some of its lessons. Learn, then— I. THAT THE HAUGHTIEST DESPOT IS HIMSELF RULED BY THE MEANEST THINGS . 1 . What is meaner than vile passion? 2 . What is meaner than the pander of vile passion? II. THAT THE DIVERSIONS OF THE WORLD ARE ... read more
CHRIST 'S POWER TO SUPPLY AND PROTECT AND HEAL , PREFACED BY A STATEMENT OF HEROD 'S RELATION TO HIM . read more
And said unto his servants. According to Luke, the following assertion was brought forward by some, but was, it would seem, summarily rejected by Herod ( Luke 9:7 , Luke 9:9 ); according to Mark ( ἔλεγον , Westcott and Hort, text ) it was common talk, and agreed to by Herod. If a reconciliation of so unimportant a verbal disagreement be sought for, it may perhaps lie in Luke representing Herod's first exclamation, and Matthew, with Mark, his settled belief. Clearly Herod did not... read more
This is John the Baptist - Herod feared John. His conscience smote him for his crimes. He remembered that he had wickedly put him to death. He knew him to be a distinguished prophet; and he concluded that no other one was capable of working such miracles but he who had been so eminent a servant of God in his life, and who, he supposed, had again risen from the dead and entered the dominions of his murderer. The alarm in his court, it seems, was general. Herod’s conscience told him that this was... read more
Matthew 14:1-2. Now at that time When our Lord had spent about a year in his public ministry, and had sent out his disciples to preach the gospel, to cast out devils, and to heal diseases, and they, by virtue of his name, had been successful in that work; Mark 6:12-14; Luke 9:6-7; Herod the tetrarch King of Galilee and Peræa, the fourth part of his father’s dominions; (see note on Matthew 2:1;) heard of the fame of Jesus Now everywhere spread abroad, in consequence of the marvellous... read more
64. Death of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9)By this time John the Baptist had been executed. When Herod heard the news of Jesus’ miracles, he feared that Jesus was really John come back to life and that supernatural powers were working in him (Matthew 14:1-2; Mark 6:14-16). (The Herod referred to here was Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great; see earlier section, ‘The New Testament World’.)Having mentioned John’s death, the writers go back to record the events... read more
servants = young men or courtiers. Greek. pais. App-108 . the dead. With Art. See App-139 . therefore = on this account. Greek. dia touto. mighty works. See note on Matthew 13:54 , above. in. Greek. en. read more
Matthew 14:2. This is John the Baptist— From Luk 9:7 we learn that Herod and his courtiers were strangely perplexed respecting the fame of Jesus, which occasioned manyspeculations among them. Some supposed that it wasJohn risen from the dead, others, that it was Elias, and others, one of the old prophets; but Herod declared it to be his opinion that it was John; and therefore, says he, mighty works do shew forth themselves in him, that is to say, extraordinary and miraculous powers were exerted... read more
2. And said unto his servants—his counsellors or court-ministers. This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, c.—The murdered prophet haunted his guilty breast like a specter and seemed to him alive again and clothed with unearthly powers in the person of Jesus. Account of the Baptist's Imprisonment and Death ( :-). For the exposition of this portion, see on :-. :-. HEARING OF THE BAPTIST'S DEATH, JESUS CROSSES THE LAKE WITH TWELVE, AND MIRACULOUSLY FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND. ( = Mark... read more
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12
John's death. Herod Antipas is a character not quite easy to understand, but possibly on that account all the more worth understanding. Weak men are always difficult to understand, no principle you can calculate on guiding their conduct. Herod was not a bloody man like his father, but, like Ahab, his irresolution was used by the resolution of his wife. Before his doubly unlawful marriage much hope might have been entertained for him, with men like the apostles among his peasantry, not... read more